Back Issues

Back Issues is a local history series that appears weekly in the Manawatū Standard Saturday broadsheet. Each article is the work of Manawatū historians and researchers.

Back to all Collections

Back Issues: Peering back at the future

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 examin...

Creator:      Peter Ridge
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 6, 2024

Back Issues: Shouting into the silence

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...

Creator:      Jaime Ridge
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          February 10, 2024

Back Issues: Strength in numbers

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 ...

Creator:      Vernon Tile Vamaua
Date:          March 4, 2023

Back Issues: Life on the wire

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 a...

Creator:      Margaret Tennant
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          July 30, 2022

Back Issues: Welcome to Papaioea

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Historian Margaret Tennant explores the controversial history behind the name Palmerston North.

Creator:      Margaret Tennant
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          February 5, 2022

Back Issues: Last of the swagmen

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 ...

Creator:      Nick Watson
Place:          Lower North Island
Date:          April 30, 2022

Back Issues: The hidden history of the hedgehog

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. While common in England and parts of Aotearoa, hedgehogs were still a rarity in Manawatū in the early 20th century.

Creator:      Russell Poole
Place:          New Zealand
Date:          October 19, 2024

Back Issues: Portrait of an early settler

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The life story of Danish immigrant Olga Monrad, née Berg (1843-1884). The Monrad family were early settlers in Karere, near Longburn.

Creator:      Lesley Courtney
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          January 18, 2025

Back Issues: Girls' Flock House

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 r...

Creator:      Russell Poole
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          August 12, 2023

Back Issues: An anniversary with meaning for Manawatū

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.

Creator:      Toi Warbrick
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          January 29, 2022

Back Issues: The ascension of creative teaching

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...

Creator:      Russell Poole
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          February 3, 2024

Back Issues: A pioneering town planner

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 ...

Creator:      Tim Upperton
Place:          Manawatu-Whanganui
Date:          November 19, 2022

Back Issues: 1970s Decade of protest

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 severa...

Creator:      Linda Burgess
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 27, 2024

Back Issues: Fowl affairs in Manawatū

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 dom...

Creator:      Tracey Armstrong
Place:          New Zealand
Date:          June 29, 2024

Back Issues: Not just an old trough

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. T...

Creator:      Val Burr
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          August 24, 2024

Back Issues: A man for all seasons

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 news...

Creator:      Murray Brown
Date:          August 31, 2024

Back Issues: A pavilion for the people and the 'pusses'

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.

Creator:      Val Burr
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          September 24, 2022

Back Issues: The fight for women's votes

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, ...

Creator:      Dorothy Pilkington
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          September 17, 2022

Back Issues: Celebrating 'the people's playground'

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.

Creator:      Geoff Watson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 18, 2022

Back Issues: The heart of Saturday night

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 dem...

Creator:      Steve Stannard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 9, 2022

Back Issues: Remembering a Friday night

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Article about Friday night shopping in Palmerston North and Feilding before weekend trading.

Creator:      Dorothy Pilkington
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          July 16, 2022

Back Issues: The forgotten history of flax

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 boto...

Creator:      Joshua Reid
Place:          Manawatū-Horowhenua
Date:          October 8, 2022

Back Issues: The White House of Palmerston

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In 1906, Jinnie Rawlins became the proprietress of the White House tearoom, situated between Coleman Mall and Rangitīkei Street in the Square. Jinnie was an influential busine...

Creator:      Kerry Bethell
Date:          November 5, 2022

Back Issues: The schooling 'fad' that stuck

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Intermediate schools first opened in New Zealand in 1922. Palmerston North Intermediate opened 5 February 1941 with a roll of 645 pupis and 21 teachers. Now called Palmerston ...

Creator:      Lesley Courtney
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          December 24, 2022

Back Issues: Give the gift of memories

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Article about the importance of preserving historical family records electronically and sharing the material with family and the community. The City Library has options and ad...

Creator:      Tracey Armstrong and Jaime Ridge
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          December 10, 2022

Back Issues: The mammoth restoration of The Regent

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In 2023, it has been 25 years since restoration was completed of the Regent on Broadway. Originally opened in 1930, its beauty astounded people. By the 1940s it became part of...

Creator:      Dr Tania Kopytko
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 29, 2023

Back Issues: Rise of the silent majority

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Early 1970s nationwide protest against New Zealand's participation in the Vietnam War; Palmerston North played its part. The reported silent majority who demonstrated and prot...

Creator:      Lesley Courtney
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 13, 2024

Back issues: The success of Memorial Park

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. History of the development of Memorial Park. Before it became a public park, it was used by New Zealand Railways as a ballast pit. The Council purchased the site and Fitzroy P...

Creator:      Geoff Watson
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          January 7, 2023

Back Issues: Firestorm summers of the 1880s

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In the 1880s, fire was a tool and a threat in the Manawatū. Trees were felled to meet demand for timber, leaving stumps for years which presented a fire danger. In addition, c...

Creator:      Margaret Tennant
Place:          Manawatū
Date:          January 14, 2023

Back Issues: Marking a century of 'The Comps'

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 co...

Creator:      Tania Kopytko
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          September 30, 2023