Grant Smith was elected mayor of Palmerston North in 2015. This interview covers his early years living in Palmerston North and Masterton.
Interview of Grant Smith, Mayor of Palmerston North, conducted by Maria Shiva on 28 February 2018. Interview length: 33 minutes and 50 seconds.
Oral Interview Abstract
Date: 28 February 2018
Interviewee: Grant Smith
Interviewer: Maria Shiva
00'59 FAMILY: Born PN 14/6/1966. Parents/grandparents - Scottish/Irish descent
1'27 FATHER: ANTHONY SMITH (TONY), OWNED 4 Square Stores the joined Social Security Office, became social worker. Family moved PALMERSTON NORTH to WANGANUI to PALMERSTON NORTH to MASTERTON to PALMERSTON NORTH.
1'57 MOTHER: BERNADETTE SAVAGE, family owned Wairarapa sheep stations. Occupation: nurse
2'40 SISTERS: SARAH and LOUISA, younger. Both currently live in PALMERSTON NORTH with their families.
3'05 EDUCATION: Primary - WEST END SCHOOL (2 years), CORNWALL STREET SCHOOL, MASTERTON: school now closed.
Intermediate - MASTERTON INTERMEDIATE: had a farm, agricultural experience
Secondary - (1) WAIRARAPA COLLEGE: co-ed school with strong school community.
5'52 PALMERSTON NORTH: Family moved back to PALMERSTON NORTH. Grandparents lived Cnr Victoria and Brodway Avenues.
Secondary Education - (2) PALMERSTON NORTH BOYS HIGH SCHOOL: boys only school. Strict discipline, standards.
8'48 WEST END SCHOOL: Memories, open plan classroom.
9'54 PALMERSTON NORTH: Memories of central city.
10'54 MOTHER: Got a new job at COLLINSON AND CUNNINGHAME DEPARTMENT STORE. Escalator, lift, SANTA'S CAVE. 'terribly sad' [EXPRESSION] when COLLINSON AND CUNNINGHAME closed down.
11'24 BICYCLE : Cycled everywhere - MEMORIAL PARK, THE ESPLANADE, THE LIDO.
12'20 MILSON AIRPORT: First travelled by air as a teen. Grandparents went on a trip to Australia. Memory: meeting them at the Airport on their return. New terminal. Stages of development of the airport.
13'36 UNION AIRWAYS: Head of this airway was in PALMERSTON NORTH. First commercial flight from south of PALMERSTON NORTH. UNION AIRWAYS ultimately became AIR NEW ZEALAND.
15'24 THE SQUARE: riding bike down RANGITIKEI STREET, through PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL building basement. Memory: bicycle accident. THE SQUARE : more segmented back then, CITY HEART project upgrade opened it up.
16'53 OUTINGS WITH GRANDPARENTS: PDC tea rooms - had an escalator. DIC tearooms - quite flash. Morning teas and lunches.
18'00 MANAWATU RIVER: Remembers swimming in the river. End of ALBERT STREET, MAXWELLS LINE. City had turned it's back on the river then. Swam at HORSE SHOE BEND and ASHHURST. MANAWATU RIVER more accessible now.
19'51 PAPER RUN: Masterton
20'00 MILK RUN: Biggest milk run in PALMERSTON NORTH. Boss was BARNEY CONLON. Enjoyed milk run.
20'48 VEHICLES: Commented on vehicles owned by PARENTS and GRANDPARENTS.
22'22 SPORTS: Played RUGBY, TENNIS. Tennis coach - ERIC WHITE (CHALKY). Beating AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Good tennis players were DAVID ANDERSON and SIMON DICKIE.
25'05 SQUASH: SQUASH CLUB in LINTON STREET. Discusses other sports played and sporting venues in PALMERSTON NORTH.
27'19 ROLE MODELS/SIGNIFICANT FIGURES: In early life - ERIC WHITE, IAN CALQUHOUN (COKE), IAN BROOKIE all from PALMERSTON NORTH BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. Also art teacher WILLIE DOCKERTY. pupil in Mr DOCKERTY's first art class. CAREER in DESIGN and ART. BOB PRINGLE - teacher from MASTERTON.
31'00 PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL CIVIC ADMININSTRATION BUILDING: Functional building that has stood the test of time. Being elected MAYOR. Contacting SIR BRIAN ELLWOOD, PAUL RIEGER about the role of mayor:.
33'50 END OF FILE