Back Issues

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. 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. 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. 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. In 1922, the Performing Arts Competitions Society commenced with holding an annual programme of competitions for young performing artists. Over the years, young people have competed in categories which include: musical instruments, dance, speech and drama and most recently, musical theatre.

The continued success of the competitions is due to the dedication of local teachers and the volunteers who organised venues, enrolments, judges, accompanists, advertisers, sponsors and special galas.

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. History of New Zealand's School Dental service, started 100 years ago. Before the days of fluoridation and regular treatment, dental health was poor. Children had decaying and infected teeth, which was recognised as having adverse effects on health, nutrition and learning. From the 1920s, school dental clinics treated children whilst they were at school. Local people relate dread and pain when called to the school dental clinic.

The management of the service devolved to area health boards in the 1980s and 1990s.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of Wellington anniversary day and a case for celebrating Palmerston North anniversary separatedly.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In January 1997, members of the 'Save the Avenue' protest group, led by Mark Bell-Booth, occupied the green tunnel of large plane trees which lined Fitzherbert Avenue. The action consisted of people huddling around trees and climbing the trees in an effort to save them from being felled by the Palmerston North City Council. Council wanted to fell the trees to widen the main route between Massey University and the city. The trees needed to be felled to make room for additional lanes, which would fix traffic congestion.

Less dominant plane trees were later planted on the sides of a widened Fitzherbert Avenue. Mark Bell-Booth was elected mayor of Palmerston North in 2001.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. During World War I, anyone seen as linked to enemy countries was a target for hatred. Not even people born in New Zealand were immune. In the Manawatū, German immigrants, people with non-British sounding surnames, Lutheran churches and associated schools suffered discrimination. Many street names associated with Germans were changed.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Life story of influential and distinguished music teacher, Evelyn Mary Rawlins (1889-1977). Her financial legacy funded the Evelyn Rawlins Room and continues to support the development of artists and projects.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of remembrance at Memorial Park includes memories of individual tragedies, World War II deaths, women's work at home and military service during World War II. More recently, Unions Manawatū have erected a memorial at the park to workers killed, injured or made ill at work.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The story of Edward (Ted) Barling, detective, deerstalker and founder of the Himatangi Beach resort, first half 20th Century.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. A detailed account and description of a cricket game in Palmerston North, 1930. The Manawatū team played the touring Marylebone Cricket Club from England. The local team included train driver Alexander (Alec) McVicar, who played 75 matches for Manawatū.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. History of Coleman Place, also known as Coleman Mall, from 1866.

The central city mall between George Street and Te Marae o Hine/The Square was named after Councillor Sylvester Coleman (1828-1881) and over the years has been the hub of a number of businesses and facilities. It was redeveloped into a pedestrian mall in 1973. A further redevelopment occured in the 1990s, with the opening of the new City Library nearby. With heritage objects such as signs, bollards and boulders, it has been branded as Palmerston North's Boutique and Café Quarter.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In1950, the movie "The Secrets of Life" achieved record breaking attendance figures throughout the country and at the local Mayfair Theatre. Its genre was considered "exploitation". It was marketed as a sex-education film and included scenes of childbirth, a Caesarean operation and images of venereal disease. The graphic subject matter generated a lot of interest. Separate screenings were held for men and boys over 14, and women and girls over 14.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Palmerston North has a diverse sporting history. .By the early 1900s, sport clubs in the city included bowls, croquet, golf, tennis, cricket, rugby, hockey and athletics. By 1969, 214 sport clubs operated in the city, reflecting high particiaption in sports at a community level.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. For Local History week this year, the city celebrates its 150th anniversary, 50 years after the 1971 centennial celebrations. A programme of events, talks and activities are being coordinated by the Palmerston North City Library to mark this historic milestone.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of the Manawatū Standard, also known as the Manawatū Evening Standard for many years. Founded by Alexander McMinn in 1880, it started as a one page morning paper. From its earliest days, the paper has seen changes in ownership, management, equipment and technology.

Adrian Broad, General Manager 1987-1996, oversaw the major shift to computer technology. He believes that the region can be proud of the contribution the daily newspaper has made over the past 143 years.