Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. This year marks 20 years since local government was required to make 10-year plans (LTCCP) every three years. The first 10 year plan was developed in 2006. This article examines if Palmerston North in 2016 resembled what the 2006 plan suggested.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of radio listening since 1924. By the 1930's, it is estimated that more than half of New Zealand homes had a radio. Tuning in to the 'wireless' became a communal activity, bringing people together at the same time of day.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Historian Margaret Tennant explores the controversial history behind the name Palmerston North.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Bernet Krumin, also known as Barnett Crumin, Barrett Crumen (or Krumen) was born in Latvia in 1878. He was better known in New Zealand as Russian Jack and walked North Island roads for 53 years. Most of the roads the swagman travelled were in the Manawatū, Wairarapa and Rangitīkei.
Bernet regularly travelled to Palmerston North and visited the Leyland family who lived in College Street. He died aged 90 in 1968 and is buried in Greytown cemetery.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The founding of Manawatū Gay Rights Association (MaGRA) in 1977 occurred during a period of time when queer (LGBTQIA+) experiences were mostly absent from the media and mocked by many in the community. Whilst a lot of progress has been made over the past 50 years changing laws and attitudes to protect sexual orientation as a human right, individuals lives and experiences are rarely recorded. Manawatū Lesbian and Gay Rights Association (MaLGRA) in 2024 is embarking on an oral history project to record the history and experiences of Manawatū's Rainbow community.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Speakers at a meeting held in Palmerston North 17 June 1985 showed it was possible to build widespread support for the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. The meeting was attended by 300 local people, from a wide range of groups. The meeting showed that additional support from groups outside the existing gay groups and organisations could help win over enough support in Parliament for the bill to pass.
MP Fran Wilde was the sponsor of the bill and heard from members of the Manawatū Gay Rights Association (MGRA) how a mass action campaign in support of the bill could be organised and succesfully carried out. A much bigger nationwide campaign followed.
The Homosexual Law Reform Act, decriminalising homosexual acts between consenting males aged 16 and over, came into effect 8 August 1986.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. After World War 1, the Sheep Owners' Association of New Zealand brought sons of British navy war personnel to New Zealand to be trained as farm cadets. They were trained and resided at Flock House, near Bulls. Shortly after the scheme commenced, recruiting the sisters of these men started. The young women were housed in Awapuni in the 1920s, in a large colonial style house then called Shalimar. The house was converted to a hostel and called Girls' Flock House. Instruction for farm life was given as well as training in domestic duties. Not all the young women were suited to farm work and some chose to find work elsewhere. The scheme for women at Shalimar ended in 1930.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of Wellington anniversary day and a case for celebrating Palmerston North anniversary separately.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The growth of teaching cultural activities and the arts in schools has a controversial history. From its earliest days, Palmerston North Teachers' College staff were recruited to teach a broader curriculum than just the recognised basics. Subjects included Māori studies, carving, pottery and modern dance.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Life story of John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913) town planner and government surveyor. He was responsible for the planning of Manawatū's towns in the 19th century, including the Palmerston North, Feilding, Rongotea and Halcombe town squares.
Born in Scotland, he moved to Foxton in 1864. He learnt to speak te reo Māori fluently and worked closely and respectfully with local iwi. In later years, he moved to Whanganui, where he was elected to the Borough Council.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. A photo exhibition at Square Edge includes thirty photographs from the Manawatū Standard archives, showing local protests and demonstrations. The exhibition reflects on several protest and strike action campaigns in the 1970s, culminating with images from the 1981 Springbok Tour protests.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In the late nineteenth century, domestic poultry keeping was very common. More than half of New Zealand households had hens. The care and raising of chickens was often the domain of women and children. Poultry keeping grew in the early twentieth century, as an important sideline on farms and also as independent enterprises. In 1904, leading breeders set up the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, focussing on improved egg production. The importance of poultry keeping was evident by the 1930s. In 1931, Massey Agricultural College offered a poultry certificate course, then an advanced course in 1933.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Four historic roadside livestock drinking troughs can still be found in 2024. They are at Te Manawa, Summerhill Drive, Kendall's Line in Linton and Kimbolton Road, Feilding. This article tells the histories of the local troughs.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. When local author Private Jack Gallichan (1908-1984) was imprisoned in a German prisoner-of-war coal mining labour camp in Poland during World War II, he started a weekly newspaper called The Tiki Times. Gallichan produced 25 copies of the newspaper for fellow prisoners as well as an 856-page diary covering his experiences whilst a prisoner-of-war.
Jack Gallichan was a long time member of the Manawatū Cricket Association, serving as its statistician for many years. After the war, he became a newspaper agent for the Southern Cross and the Manawatū Standard.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Story of the 1970s Centennial pavilion building in Te Marae o Hine and its repurpose as the Kelvin Grove Community Centre in 1980.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The Manawatū/Horowhenua campaign for women's voting rights in the 1890s was led by a group of passionate advocates. These included Learmonth White Dalrymple, Margaret Giesen, her daughter Edith Giesen, Mary Alice Sorley, Clara Lethbridge, Minnie Leary, Mary Butters and Elizabeth Esther Dillon. When the local branches of the women's run Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) were formed, a number of husbands offered support. The WCTU main objective was temperance, which was addressed through the lens of other women's issues, including obtaining the vote.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The Esplanade has long provided unforgettable memories for Palmerstonians. This article outlines the history of Victoria Esplanade and its attractions since opening in 1897.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Between 1911 and 1984, Palmerstonians were entertained on Satuday nights at times in theatre, a skating hall, a dance hall and a ball room in George Street. Buildings were demolished in 1984 to make way for retail premises. However a small wooden building which housed some of the entertainment facilities remains as 52-56 George Street.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Article about Friday night shopping in Palmerston North and Feilding before weekend trading.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The role and history of flax in Manawatū and Horowhenua, from pre-European times to the mid- twentieth century. Harakeke, or New Zealand Flax, was named Phormium tenax by botonists aboard Captain Cook's voyage in 1772. Flax was pivotal to traditional Māori life., health and commerce. As European immigrants settled in Aotearoa, flax became mostly a transitional industry, milled as part of swamp clearance for farmland. In the Manawatū and Horowhenua, the industry was more permanent. The last flax mill in the country was New Zealand Woolpack and Textiles Ltd, Foxton. It closed in 1973.
