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.
