Mark Bell-Booth was a member of the Palmerston North City Council 1991-2004, serving as Mayor 2001-2004. Mr Bell-Booth is a businessman and initially came to prominence during his “Save the Avenue” campaign.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The history of Takaro Park, developed during the 1920s. Home of the Takaro Bowling, Tennis and Croquet Club, a special function was held to commemorate the new club in 1923. Amenities included a bowling green on which three games could be played at once, two grass courts and two hard courts for tennis players and a large croquet lawn.

The park's facilities was extensively redeveloped in the 1980s, including the redevelopment of the children's playground. Now called Takaro Sports Club, it remains a popular recreational space.

PalmyProud celebrates the people, places and events in our city. The free quarterly magazine aims to inspire locals and visitors to learn more about this special place we call home. It’s published by Palmerston North City Council.

PalmyProud celebrates the people, places and events in our city. The free quarterly magazine aims to inspire locals and visitors to learn more about this special place we call home. It’s published by Palmerston North City Council.

At this point in time The Square was divided into 5 areas - 4 quadrants and a strip running through the centre for the railway line. In the right foreground can be seen the extension of Rangitikei Street into The Square. The Bank of New Zealand is on the extreme left (corner of Rangitikei Street and the dome belongs to Collinson and Cunningham's store on Broadway. The trees on the left still stand in The Square [2015].

The building near the centre of the image with a bay window, Hepworth's Pharmacy (later known as the Steele's building), was built in 1917. This photograph dates from prior to the construction of the Arts and Craft style O'Connor building, which was built in 1923.

Copied from an original print, the original photograph was taken in February 1931. The architects were believed to be on a visit to Napier to see earthquake damage.

Back row: Unknown, Unknown, Newton Hood (Whanganui), Robin Hood (Palmerston North), Jack Duffill (Hawera) Mr Gibson (Hawera), Lockie Brown (Palmerston North)

Front row: Ernie West (Palmerston North), A.R. Allen (Palmerston North), Unknown

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. History of the Ōpiki Suspension Bridge, also known as Tane Suspension Bridge, Rangitāne Swing Bridge and Opiki Toll Bridge.

Designed byJoseph Dawson and officially opened in 1918, it was then the longest heavy traffic bridge in New Zealand. This river crossing was used by vehicles and stock. It saved local flax mill owners many hours and costs transporting produce to the rail network. The bridge closed in 1969 but remained a significant imposing landmark. It has a Category 1 listing with Heritage New Zealand.

In recent times it has deteriorated significantly, with the collapse of the upstream wire in September 2023.

A celebration of writing by students from non English speaking backgrounds at Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.

A celebration of writing by students from non English speaking backgrounds at Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.

A celebration of writing by students from non English speaking backgrounds at Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School.

A civic welcome to Lord and Viscountess Galway in May 1935 after Lord Galway succeeded Lord Bledisloe as Governor General of New Zealand on 12 April 1935. He is shown here being greeted by Mayor Augustus Edward Mansford. Lord Galway retired from New Zealand on 3rd of February 1941.

This image of nurses holding babies is from a series of slides that shows life at Rostrata Maternity Home in the late 1950s. Situated on the corner of Ruahine and Ferguson Streets, Rostrata was owned by E B Watson who ran it as a private maternity hospital for many years. Mrs E Dujany later held the lease until 1949. The Palmerston North Hospital Board took over maternity services until 1962, when Rostrata was closed due to the Palmerston North Hospital adding 40 more beds to its Maternity section. In the 13 years that the board had Rostrata, there were 6119 patients and 5230 births. The 1973 owner converted the building into flats from the original two houses joined by annexes on the one acre section. The old trees, including a large Australian red gum will remain.

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. Background stories of some of the graves at the historic Terrace End cemetery on Napier Road. One of the oldest remaining headstones is that of Meritini Te Panau, who died in 1888. She was the wife of Kerei Te Panau (died 1908, age 103), a prominent Rangitāne kaumatua. Also buried here are Palmerston North's first mayor and his wife, George and Louisa Snelson.

The Napier Road cemetery is the burial grounds for almost 10,000 people. The land for the cemetery was gifted by Rangitāne in 1875. A new cemetery in Kelvin Grove was opened in 1927 and the older cemetery has been closed for many years. However the descendants of those buried at the Terrace End cemetery can be buried with their relatives if there is room.

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The Māori Battalion trains at the Palmerston North showgrounds in 1940.

Machine operators at work in the new typesetting ‘bay’. Donald Leslie Driver is standing (right). This image was taken (but not used) for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 27th January 1967. On June 30, 1903, when Messrs. H.N. Nash and J. Coombe bought the paper from Messrs. F. and D. Pirani, the Manawatu Standard and Pohangina Gazette had a circulation of 3,000 and a staff of 18. Today the circulation is about 22,000, and the Waikato Times and Southland Times just "pip" the Standard from being the largest provincial newspaper in New Zealand. There are over 300 employees and the payroll is more than £5000 a week.
[The full article can be read on the newspaper microfilm held at the City Library.]

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The Māori Battalion trains at the Palmerston North showgrounds in 1940. Abridged from original article, 22 April 2006.

One of a group of photographs from Ron Grammer's working life in bridge engineering in the 1940s and 1950s. This bridge could be a different angle of the Fernhill Bridge over the Ngaruroro River in Hawkes Bay.

One of a group of photographs from Ron Grammer's working life in bridge engineering in the 1940s and 1950s. This bridge could be a different angle of the Fernhill Bridge over the Ngaruroro River in Hawkes Bay.

Memorial alcove within the Māori Battalion Hall on the corner of Cuba and Pitt Streets. Inscribed on brass plates are the names of soldiers from the 28th Māori Battalion who died while serving overseas, with photographs of members surrounding the panels. Four carved wooden statues, each uniquely identifying A, B, C & D companies of the Battalion, lie in the foreground on either side of the alcove.

Presentation by (Rtd.) Major George Kereama on The Military History of Palmerston North - The Māori Battalion Hall at The Globe Theatre in Palmerston North on 26 June 2021.

Length: 7 min 19 sec

A brief history of the Palmerston North Showgrounds, now Arena Manawatu, by Leanne Hickman.

Established in 1886 by the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the showgrounds were also used for military purposes during both World War I and World War II, including being the home of the Maori Battalion. As well they have been associated with many city events over the years. The grounds are now owned by the Council and are the major facility for sports and recreation fixtures in the region.

Invitation to Charlotte Warburton, to attend the 28th Māori Battalion Ball held at the Showgrounds, Palmerston North, 29 April 1940. Charlotte Warburton (1883-1961) was chairwoman of the Women's War Service Auxiliary in Palmerston North and was very actively involved in the war effort. From the archive of 'C E Warburton'.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The story of the dog Tiger, a great dane, mascot of the Māori Battalion during World War 2. Tiger was the companion dog of Captain Harding Waipuke Leaf (Ngā Puhi). Tiger stayed in New Zealand when Captain Leaf departed for service overseas. Sadly he died in Crete in 1941.

Members of the Palmerston North Business Girls' Association met on Monday nights to make knit, write letters and pack parcels to send to soldiers of the Māori Battalion, serving overseas in World War Two. From left: Rene Elliott, Eath Englefield, Gladys Bales, Joyce Carty, Vera Royal, Audrey Kerslake, Jean Ladyman, Murial Watt, Dulcie Newth (secretary), Murial Marshall, Marie McManus, Clarice Boddy, Mary Sankey, Nell Erenstrom, Mildred Verry. Published in the 'NZ Free Lance' 3 July 1940, captioned "MAORI BATTALION FOSTER MOTHERS'.

The Māori Battalion trained at the Palmerston North Showgrounds during World War Two. This is one of a set of images showing their final parade from the Showgrounds, with this one being taken in The Square. Images from the Newth family album. The album is digitised in its entirety at 2018A_NewthS1V1_024687

The Māori Battalion trained at the Palmerston North Showgrounds during World War Two. This is one of a set of images showing their final parade from the Showgrounds, with this one being taken in Cuba Street. It appears to be taken from the top of a building on the other side of Cuba Street, and shows the Battalion marching past the corner of Lombard Street and the Hotel Carlton (now the Distinction Hotel). Images are from the Newth family album. The album is digitised in its entirety at 2018A_NewthS1V1_024687

This image was taken by Keith Collinson, of the family who owned the Collinson & Cunninghame's department store. He was a Sergeant based in the Records Department at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. The Māori Battalion trained at the Showgrounds from January to May of 1940. On the back of the photograph Keith wrote, “Māori Battalion Parade at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. Tall building at right, lost in Ordnance Fire, midnight New Year’s Eve.” The fire was in 1945.

Images contributed by Keith's great-nephew, Palmerston North city councillor, Mark Arnott.

This image was taken by Keith Collinson, of the family who owned the Collinson & Cunninghame's department store. He was a Sergeant based in the Records Department at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. The Māori Battalion trained at the Showgrounds from January to May of 1940.

Images contributed by Keith's great-nephew, Palmerston North city councillor, Mark Arnott.

Tiger was a Great Dane belonging to Captain Harding Waipuke Leaf (Ngā Puhi), of the Māori Battalion. Harding and Tiger trained at the Palmerston North Showgrounds between January and May of 1940. The images were taken by Keith Collinson, of the family who owned the Collinson & Cunninghame's department store. He was a Sergeant based in the Records Department at the Showgrounds. On the back of the photographs Keith wrote, “Mascot of the Māori Battalion.”

Images contributed by Keith's great-nephew, Palmerston North City Councillor, Mark Arnott.

Alexander McMinn was the founder of the 'Manawatu Daily Standard' (forerunner of the Manawatu Standard), the first daily paper published between Wellington and Wanganui, which produced it’s first issue on 29th November 1880. The newspaper was sold to Frederick Pirani in 1891. Archibald McMinn was said to be a compositor–typesetter. From left. Standing : Leslie McMinn; Gordon McMinn; Archibald McMinn; Garnet McMinn. Seated: Alexander McMinn, F Alex McMinn and Lassie the dog. Leslie, Gordon, Archibald, Garnet and F Alex were all sons of Alexander.