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“Busy programme for Carters”

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Description: This image was taken by the Evening Standard on the 10th of February 1984 but was not published. It depicts police and security members at Fitzherbert Motor Inn during the arrival of former United States president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn in the city for a three-day visit.

The article “Busy programme for Carters” was written by Warren Barton:

“FORMER United States president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn arrive in Palmerston North this afternoon at the start of a three-day informal and private stay in the city.

The Carters' first visit to New Zealand is at the invitation of the Lions Clubs of Central Districts and Manawatu.

Mr Carter has come primarily to address the fourth annual Lloyd Morgan Lions Club Charitable Trust dinner at Pascal Street Stadium on Sunday evening.

The trust was established by Lions Clubs throughout New Zealand to commemorate Lloyd Morgan's year as international world president of the Lions organisation in 1980-81. Mr Morgan was the first New Zealander to hold the post.

The aim of the trust is to apply income for the blind and for research into the origin and causes of blindness and sight impairment.

Mr Carter, whose great compassion for the handicapped is well known, is himself a Lion and was a district governor in 1968-69.

A relaxed, but interesting programme has been arranged for Carters during their weekend in Palmerston North and members of the public will have a number of opportunities of seeing the former president and his first lady.

Mr and Mrs Carter arrived in Wellington this afternoon, calling on acting Prime Minister Duncan MacIntyre at Parliament Buildings before attending a press conference in the Beehive.

They came by road to Palmerston North, arriving late this afternoon.

The Carters' first public appearance in the city comes tonight when the couple will attend the second half of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's Summer Promenade concert at the Pascal Street Stadium. They will arrive at 8.15pm.

At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the visitors will go to the sheep farm of Richard and Barbara Walton at Aokautere, where they will see demonstrations, including shearing and other rural activities.

They will attend a luncheon hosted by Mayor Brian Elwood, Mrs Elwood and city councillors at the Civic Centre at 12.30pm.

At 2pm the Carters go to Highden Stud Farm at Green Road. Highden Stud Farm at Green Road, Awahuri. There they will see broodmares owned by Herrick and Judy Perry, who will also give the visitors an insight into the thorough-breed industry in New Zealand.

Highlight of the afternoon itinerary will be the Carters' stopover at Parewahawaha Marae, Bulls, for their only official Maori welcome in this country.

The marae will be having its annual gala day and the Carter visit at 3pm is expected to draw up to 2000 people. One hundred and fifty specially invited guests from the community will also attend.

After the official welcome Mr and Mrs Carter will inspect the meeting house and also be entertained by pupils of the Hato Раога College and Turakina Maori Girls’ College College.

Mr Carter will plant a golden totara on the marae. The tree symbolises light, growth and strength to the Maori people and such a ceremony indicates the mana of an ariki (high ranking chief).

The Carters will attend a private function in the evening.

After attending 10.30 morning service at Central Baptist Church in Palmerston North on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Carter will attend a private luncheon with the Rev. Roy Bullen and his parishioners at noon.

During the afternoon the couple will be escorted on a sightseeing tour of the city by Mr and Mrs Elwood.

In the evening Mr Carter will deliver his address, ‘The Challenges of the 1980s’, to the Lloyd Morgan Charitable Trust dinner.

On Monday Mr Carter will visit Allflex International plastics plant in Tremaine Avenue at 9.30am, while Mrs Carter goes to the Crippled Children Society in Main Street.

They will leave shortly afterward for the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru, lunching at the officers’ mess at Waiouru before heading to Taupo for a fishing holiday.

On their way to Auckland next Wednesday, Mr and Mrs Carter will make stops at the Wairakei geothermal area and power station and later visit the Rotorua National Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.

During their overnight visit to Auckland they will call on the Governor-General, Sir David Beattie.

Before they leave on Thursday to fly back to Plains, Georgia, the Carters will take a sightseeing cruise aboard the Albatross and Mrs Carter will attend a civic reception in her honour and give an address on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and the World Federation for Mental Health.

Mr and Mrs Carter leave for the United States on Thursday evening.”

Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter jnr) served as the 39th President of the United States of America, between 20 January 1977 and 20 January 1981. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for his work in conflict resolution and advancing human rights in the decades since serving as president. His wife Rosalynn Carter (nee Smith) spent 5 decades advocating for causes in mental health and caregiving support among many others. Together, they founded the Carter Center – which works today to foster world peace and health programmes. Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100 on 24 December 2024. Rosalynn passed a year earlier, on 19 November 2023.