Manawatū Conversations - Oral History

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 15 January 2019.

Colleen Crooks Part 1 of 2. Summary: How got into doll making. History of porcelain dolls. Runs a dolls’ hospital. Can reproduce antiques in her studio, porcelain and clothing. Method of prod...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          January 15, 2019

Broadcast on Manawatu Peoiple's Radio 25 December 2018.

Part 1, John Ward. Started work as a photo-engraver, December 1953. Called in to work urgently after Tangiwai rail disaster, Christmas Eve. Description of event and photograph processing fo...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          December 25, 2018

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 22 January 2019.

Colleen Crooks Part 2 of 2. Summary: Porcelain doll making – after the porcelain stage. Traditional fabrics. Colours. Has hundreds of dolls, filled a granny flat. Dolls’ hospital. Still teach...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          January 22, 2019

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 18 December 2018.

Colin Dyer Part 2 of 2. Summary: Many Showgrounds events in the 1990s. League test where ran out of balls. National image of Palmerston North. Team announcement after All Black trial. Tina T...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          December 18, 2018

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 11 December 2018.

Colin Dyer Part 1 of 2. Summary: Origins of Showgrounds, A&P Association 1886. Nature of A&P. State of Showgrounds about 1950. 1972 bought by PNCC and redeveloped. 1974, Palmerston North Sho...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          December 11, 2018

Broadcast on Access manawatu, 12 June 2018.

Abbeyfield residents Beryl Ludlam, Bev Marsh, Elaine Morse and Peggy Pedersen describe their experiences. Topics include: School in the war years, air raid practice and shelters, power blackouts, fear ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          June 12, 2018

Broadcast on Access Manawatu, 5 June 2018, Abbeyfield residents talk about Abbeyfield, a residence offering “senior flatting”.

Summary: Part of a global system, started in England, 13 in New Zealand. Semi-independent living. Comparison to retire...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          June 5, 2018

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 4 December 2018.

Alison Mildon. Summary: Family cars. Restrictions on overseas currency. Primary school. Localised communities. World War Two and ages of children. Getting to secondary school (Freyberg). Drivi...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Date:          December 4, 2018

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 27th January 2026.
Radio was once the main source of entertainment in the family home
 Families gathered around the radio for music, requests, and shared routines
 Television later disr...

Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          January 27, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 30th December 2025. 
Mike Lawrence, Anne Weir, Jane Bolton, Stuart Birks.
Christmas memories are shared around a table by friends of different backgrounds.
 Mike recalls never believing...

Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          December 30, 2025

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 13th January 2026. Part 2 of 2.
Stewart Picken describes his long involvement with the National Party.
 His interest was shaped by farming life and family background.
 He held local and...

Place:          Feilding
Date:          January 13, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 23rd December 2025. 
The Cunninghams built a small dwelling on bare land before their main house.
 A house sitter suggested their cosy sleep-out could become a B&B.
 Airbnb was gro...

Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          December 23, 2025

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 6th January 2026. Part 1 of 2.
Stewart Picken grew up on a small Gisborne farm
 He studied agriculture at Massey in the 1950s
 He was the first in his family to attend university
&nb...

Place:          Feilding
Date:          January 6, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 7th April 2026. Part 2 of 6.
Lucas Dreyer discovered clinical exercise physiology in 1985.
 He began working with patients while still a university student.
 Seeing serious health probl...

Creator:      Dianne McConnell
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 7, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 17th March 2026. Part 2 of 3.
Morrie describes his role organising networking hui for community food and environmental groups.
 These hui help people share ideas, skills, and practical experien...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          March 17, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 14th April 2026. Part 3 of 6.
Knee pain is often treated as leading inevitably to knee replacement. 
 X-rays may show damage, but pain does not always match the image. 
 The k...

Creator:      Dianne McConnell
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 14, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 24th March 2026. Part 3 of 3.
Morrie explains the wide scope of Environment Network Manawatū’s work.
 Food sovereignty is one focus, but not the only one.
 Circular economy projects pla...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          March 24, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 24th February 2026. Part 1 of 2. 
Viv Stanley describes jointly owning a large home with a long-time friend in Feilding. The idea developed over many years after retirement di...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          February 24, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 31st March 2026. Part 1 of 6.
Clinical Exercise Physiologists use exercise as medical treatment.
 They are university-trained health professionals.
 They work with people who have chron...

Creator:      Dianne McConnell
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          March 31, 2026

 Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 1st August 2023.   Part 2 of 2. Building a new life in New Zealand. Wife a house surgeon. Mixed race school. Few Maori students at Massey in the 1970s. Been on two protest marches, one in Jo...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          August 1, 2023

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 5th May 2026. Part 6 of 6.
Discussion continues on the PROSTFIT programme for prostate cancer support 
 Pelvic floor muscles act like a hammock supporting bladder and bowel
 Surger...

Creator:      Dianne McConnell
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          May 5, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 21st April 2026. Part 4 of 6.
Exercise is presented as a proven support in cancer treatment 
 It helps patients cope, recover, and sometimes live longer 
 Programmes run befor...

Creator:      Dianne McConnell
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 21, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 28th April 2026. Part 5 of 6.
Prostate cancer affects about 5,000 New Zealand men each year 
 Many undergo major surgery with significant side effects
 Treatments can reduce testos...

Creator:      Dianne McConnell
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          April 28, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 3rd March 2026. Part 2 of 2. 
Part 2 of 2. Viv Stanley discusses sharing a home with a long-time friend.
 Living together requires flexibility and maturity.
 People have different ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          March 3, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 10th March 2026. Part 1 of 3.
Morrie explains the origin of his nickname and combined surname.
 He describes joining the Air Force after high school.
 He works with Environment Network ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          March 10, 2026

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 15th August 2023. Part 2 of 4.  Worked in Bennetts for 7 years. Wife at Teachers College, bond cancelled when became pregnant. Selling Christian books. Joined a Christian Community of Celebration in En...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          August 15, 2023

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 8th August 2023. Part 1 of 4.  Studying English at Massey University in 1965, a time of change. Grew up on a sheep farm. Father died young. Kings in Auckland, then Gisborne Boys High. 70% Maori at prim...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          August 8, 2023

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 6th December 2022. Part 2 of 2.   All Saints Church after the fire. Earthquake strengthening issues. Considerations with the Square, alcohol ban, events. Wide streets and tree planting. Walking tr...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          December 6, 2022

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 29th November 2022. Part 1 of 2.  First elected in 2001 after some previous attempts. Attitude towards the staff. Perspectives as deputy mayor. A big flood. Local Maori. City as a distribution hub and ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          November 29, 2022

 Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 29th August 2023.  Part 4 of 4. To Ethiopia in 2009. Met Amlaku, who said he wanted to go to university. Ric’s family funded him. In contact until now (2023). Fundraising for irrigation. Visited ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          August 29, 2023