The fruits that Isabel Fraser brought from China were called Yang Tao. As soon as New Zealanders harvested the first fruit, they gave it the name Chinese gooseberry.

When plans for export took shape, the name gooseberry proved to be a flawed choice, since sizeable export duties had to be paid on gooseberries. Very briefly the alternative melonette was put forward, but melons were also subject to high duties at the time. 

In June 1959 the name kiwi was coined. Proud New Zealanders (who are also referred to as Kiwis) wanted to name the fruit after the kiwi bird, New Zealand’s national symbol. This was in recognition of “their” kiwi bird, but also and in particular because the small flightless bird, with its round stomach and light-brown feathers, bore a striking resemblance to the fruit. After brief consultations and a test, the name was given the green light. Kiwi henceforth became the name for a bird and a kind of fruit.