Flooding at Richmond Escolme Harrison's residence in Albert Street. R E Harrison was a nurseryman of Hokowhitu, Palmerston North, and after the flood the family was never return to this home. the house is now the Village Inn in Hokowhitu. In May 1941 the Manawatu River flooded about 250 hectares of the city. A stop bank between Fitzroy Street and Jickell Street had been constructed but it proved inadequate for the flood waters.

375 Albert Street, Palmeston North, stood approximately opposite what is now the Hokowhitu shopping centre. In May 1941 the Manawatu River flooded about 250 hectares of the city. A stop bank between Fitzroy Street and Jickell Street had been constructed but it proved inadequate.

Joe Hollander has over 40 years experience in building and construction, engineering, design, planning and development, operations, logistics and deployment management and governance, management and mentoring in New Zealand and overseas, within the NZ Defence Force (NZDF - Regular Army/Corps of Royal NZ Engineers - 1969-1991), Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (ECNZ - Marketing -1991-1993), Massey University (1993-2008), the wider building and construction sector and allied professional and community organisations. Interviewed by Leanne Hickman for the Ian Matheson City Archives. Length: 1 hour, 44 minutes. ABSTRACT: Start: Early education and interest in engineering such as water, drainage and building. Grew up in Christchurch and went to Christchurch Boys High School, Christchurch Polytechnic and at Canterbury University studying earth sciences and engineering along with a Diploma of Management. 1:45: In the late ‘60s Joe was conscripted for National Service, which interrupted formal education but was able to continue later. After the Second World War there was a process of Compulsory Military Training and that continued into the ’60 when it changed to National Service by ballot rather than compulsory. On the 21st birthday the marble went into a box and if you were chosen you were conscripted. After psychiatric tests and aptitude tests the military identified what path people would follow and which corps people would end up in. At that time, it was only Army. 4:30: Early military training. In high school they had School Cadets and many teachers were ex-WW2 veterans, which had an impact. In the first few weeks of the New Year were ‘barrack weeks’ in high school. At senior high school they could go through the ranks, Joe was a corporal then a sergeant. Was sent to a Warrant Officers course in Papakura which was an experience for a teenager. He returned as the training Warrant Officer for the school battalion. During school holidays could pick up an instructional job out at Burnham and was paid pocket money. 7:19: Before Joe left high school the Army was recruiting, and a number of the regular Army individuals tried to convince them to sign up for the regular forces. But Joe wanted to get into work experience. 8:32: After being conscripted, reported to King Edward Barracks in Christchurch. Would be away from home for about three months. The firm Joe had been working for had gone bust, so being conscripted was good timing. Although it interrupted education Joe was ready for adventure. Happy to join the Territorial force and serve for another three years. 9:50: Basic training in Burnham. Drill, field craft, weapon training. Initially put down as going into the Royal New Zealand Engineers as a storeman. Was put on an officer selection board and went away for a week to do other testing. Was then sent from Burnham to Waiouru. 11:36: Spent six weeks at Waiouru on an officer training course. Then went to Linton to the School of Military Engineering to do a basic combat engineering course. Learnt about bridging, demolition, mine warfare, watermanship. Back to Waiouru to finish officer training and then returned to home, now 1970. 12:54: Posted as the Troop Commander for the Dunedin Troop the 3 Independent Field Squadron, which was based out of Christchurch. Began working almost full-time in the headquarters as a Training Officer. Operating out of Addington Barracks. Interesting, varied work. 14:55: Engaged in a number of projects along with local authorities. For example, surveying a new drive for Cracroft House in Christchurch for the Guides Association as a community project. Lots of little practical projects and also running training weekends in Dunedin such as boating, watermanship of the Otago Peninsula or mine warfare in the paddocks. Fun because it was varied. 16:14: Eventually signed up for the Regular Force. A bit complicated because they weren’t transferring territorial commissions to regular commissions. Went back Waiouru on the Officer Cadet Training Unit and continued doing the Officer Training. 17:17: Went back to Linton to do more advanced Engineer training in specific subject areas. In his early 20s at that stage. Became a 4-star advanced Engineer instructor. Began looking after National Service in Linton. Worked between Waiouru and Linton doing courses. 20:00: In late ’71 Joe was recommissioned and then posted as Training Officer to Petone to 6 Independent Field Squadron. Army going through reorganisation at that time. A lot of the units were re-rolled into different functions such as Engineers changing from a construction focus to a field focus. At Petone until early 1973. Had a goat mascot named Truby King who ate everything. 23:15: Posted to 1 Construction Squadron in Papakura. The Squadron was being changed to a field squadron. Transitioned to a combat engineering role rather and a construction role. Training Officer and the Liaison and Reconnaissance Officer. Stayed with them until 1976. 24:30: Also required to continue training themselves. Training across five streams: basic all-arms training; corps stream – combat or military engineering; instructional stream, became more specialised; officer stream, including administration staff work; professional stream, opportunity where Joe did professional engineering through the US Army Corps of Engineers in State in Fort Belvoir which was just south of Washington at that time. Correspondence initially and then went over to do advanced course. Then went to Virginia Tech University which gave professional engineering status. Rare for someone outside of the States to end up with professional engineering registration. 30:42: 1976 ended up in command of 1 Field Squadron and then was posted to Wellington to Defence Headquarters. A bit of a shock to go from a field unit to a desk job in the Defence Works. Looked after the infrastructure and the camps and bases. Good opportunity to make connections with higher command. Projects such as new barrack construction and mechanical engineering projects such as a medium temperature hot water system throughout Waiouru. New facilities at Papakura Camp which was built on a swamp. During the three years there was able to see some project through to the end. 34:03: Spent several months on secondment with the Australian Army in 1978. In 1979 went on secondment with the Royal Engineers in Germany. Involved in NATO exercises. With the Australian Army, was stationed in Townsville with the 3 Taskforce – the Ready Reaction Force. Attached to a Field Squadron who were on exercise. Also, joined a Diving Survey Team from Innisfail up to Cairns. 36:45: On secondment with the Royal Engineers. Possibly first kiwi posted to a Divisional Headquarters. Based in Lubeka in the North Rhine Germany with the Second Armoured Division Headquarters in the Engineers Division. Had a major NATO exercise where they put 165 000 troops in the field. Joe was responsible for Engineer logistics. Several months preparation, ran the exercise for a month and then the aftermath such as engineer assessments of damage caused by the exercise. 40:25: Also attached to an Engineer Unit in Berlin for a time. Then the Swedish Engineers asked for assistance and went to the Swedish Engineers School. Also, the representative for the various Engineer Regiments for the UK. Often back in UK on training conferences. 41:15. First met the Queen through work and the Engineer Training Brigade who came to visit in 1979 in England. Also escorted the Queen in 1990 as her Escort Officer. 43:20: Had some difficulty coming home due to conflict in Rhodesia in 1979. All the RAF were tied up so took a long time to get back to New Zealand. 43:50: Posted to Army Headquarters into the Chief Engineers Office as Staff Officer – Engineers in Wellington. Responsible for doctrine and Engineer equipment. 45:30: Also supervised the rebuild of Scots Base in Antarctica, which was an Engineer project. Engineers had been there in 1956-7 for the building of Scots Base, and then again 30 years later to replace Scots Base. 47:20: Posted as Force Engineer – South East Asia to Singapore with the family. Officer commanding the New Zealand Works Services Unit. Tri-service so had Navy and Airforce people amongst the staff plus 300 locally employed civilians. Responsible for all the Defence assets on the northern end of Singapore. Also had some responsibility for Foreign Affairs/Embassy stuff from Hong Kong down to Indonesia. Sometimes lectured at the Malaysian School of Engineering. There for 2 and a bit years: 1982-84. 49:42: Posted to Takapuna to Land Force Headquarters in Byron Ave as a Senior Planner and the Engineer Staff Officer for the Force Engineer Southwest Pacific. Meant he had responsibility right across the Pacific for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief. Engaged with Pacific Island to discuss needs for infrastructure assistance. Did that for a couple of years. 51:03: Posted to Linton to the School of Engineering as Principal. Staff of 70 plus and 400 students including from the Pacific Islands. Nowadays about a third of the staff size. Did that for three years and then spent several months in Gisborne/East Coast during Cyclone Bola in 1988. 52:13: Posted to town to the Defence Headquarters that used to be in Main Street, Palmerston North. Support Command Headquarters. Became the Principal Staff Officer for Personnel and Logistics but also did operations and plans. 1990 became Commanding Officer of the Headquarters and Director of Army Land Works and Engineering. 54:03: While Joe was at Takapuna Land Force Headquarters, he commanded the contingent that went into Samoa in 1985, which was the first time since 1929 that New Zealand had gone into Samoa. A lot of aid work: built wells, rebuilt the hospital, sorted the cemeteries. Had a medical and dental team working in the villages. Also, a large Airforce contingent to give mobility. 56:50: Worked on a harbour project in Atiu in the Cook Island in ’74-75 for about five or six months building a harbour. Farmed pineapples but needed to get goods out to a ship. Blasted a harbour in the reef. 1:02:01: Opportunities to work with Airforce and Navy such as in Petone exercised with the HMNZS Alfort which was the Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit in Wellington and go across Cook Strait to the Queen Charlotte Sounds for exercises. 1:04:45: Building projects such as the Officer’s Mess in Waiouru. Projects could take a long time from conception to fruition. 1:05:19: In Singapore, New Zealand had responsibility for the Base. A few thousand people living there. Including the Naval Base. Responsible for refuelling and resupplying, power supply and water supply. A lot of that is gone now. 1:06:58: Cyclone Bola on the East Coast in March 1988. Joe got a call from Support Command Headquarters in Main Street to say that a Defence Coordinator would be needed to support Civil Defence on the East Coast. From memory about 1022 mm of rain in 36 hours. By Wednesday Joe was called to go with Ricki Lucas in a helicopter to Gisborne. Doors off chopper and had to flow ‘nap of the earth’, very close to the ground through gale winds. 1:11:37: Lived under his desk for about two weeks. Established a major logistic base in the Drill Hall for all of the supplies e.g. bottled water, nappies, sanitary pads, bread, blankets etc. The whole Drill Hall was packed. Loaded up supplied into trucks to get them to people on the coast when they could get through the roads. Civil Defence Headquarters across the road and developed a good operation established. Engineer required for roads, bridges, problems with industries like Watties, McWilliams, the vineyards, Sidenco, one of the big fisheries. They had no water, problems with silt. The main water pipe had been destroyed. Engineers established water solutions, such as getting water into milk cartons for distribution. Problems at Gisborne airport with damage. 1:17:15: Massive land slips/erosion and scars in the hills after the cyclone. Ground was like a moonscape with the grass wiped out, new water courses. 1:17:55: End of the disaster phase and Cook Country Council asked if the Engineers could help with opening up the roads and re-establishing the water supply into the water catchment area. In addition, activity in Wairoa as the bridge had gone. Reconstruction phase took about three months. Camped at Waikanae Beach. So were there from Day 3 right to the end of reconstruction. 1:20:25: While working in Wellington in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s for Defence Works there was a bit push for energy efficiency and sustainability. One of the hats that Joe wore as the Defence Energy Engineer responsible for energy efficiency in Defence. In 1990 Joe was invited as part of a UN delegation to go to the Soviet Union. Other delegates pulled out due to the Gulf War and ended up being Joe and four Americans. They spent four months in the Soviet Union. 1:22:27: Initial briefings in New York and then additional briefings in Moscow, in the Kremlin in their major energy control set up. Was attached to Institute for High Temperatures in Moscow. Went to Volgograd (previously Stalingrad). All energy based, looking at energy for such a large country. Including a huge hydro-station and thermal power stations and a nuclear power station on the outskirts of St Petersburg. 1:29:29: Engineer History. Took 39 years to get the history written and raise the $250 000 needed for the project. Covered all the oral history interviews and the research Peter Cooke did. Museum opened in January 1982. Sent Peter to the UK as there were gaps in New Zealand archives. He was able to fill those gaps. Book called ‘_One by the spade_’. 1:33:50: Lived/worked on just about all the New Zealand military bases. Lists almost all of them. 1:37:25: Starting at Linton, the only new thing was the water tower the rest was still from the 1942/3 mobilisation camp. A lot of the tents had been converted to huts. Had to run to the loo through sheep. Operation Kupe in the 1980s, return of battalion from Singapore and had to accommodate them at Linton with building work. Interesting to see development over a 50-year period. 1:40:00: Remembers nightlife in Palmerston North and some of the trouble they got up to.

The cover of a 'give-away' notepad from Morrisons Pharmacy, 96 College Street, Palmerston North. At this period of time it was owned by Bev and Laurie Wolfsbauer.

The cover of a 'give-away' notepad from Morrisons Pharmacy, 96 College Street, Palmerston North. At this period of time it was owned by Bill Morrison, and John Morrison.

The cover of a 'give-away' notepad from Morrisons Pharmacy, 96 College Street, Palmerston North. At this period of time it also served as a Lotto Shop. Morrisons Pharmacy was owned by Bill Morrison, John Morrison and Lynda Hull.

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 30th June 2020. Tom Romley Part 5 of 5.  Buying Ashhurst Engineering. Colleen in the office, children in a caravan. Running the business. Early issues. Hardware shop also. Switch to metric measures from Imperial. Advantages of having a shop, packaging. Garden furniture. Sold business after 15 years due to health problems. Working for Hugh Akers for 17 more years, machinery maintenance, etc., then in the Akers family museum (private). Description of the museum. Problem with a farmer’s well. 

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 17th March 2020. Arnie Evans, life as a regional radio and TV reporter, part 2 of 3. Broadcasting facilities, 1970s and 1980s. Use of phones. Comparison with TV. TV more costly and more prescribed. Mistake with captions. Reporting a riot at Lake Alice. Maori language reporting. Interesting people. Video Dispatch and Eyewitness News. Wide range of stories.

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 24th March 2020. Arnie Evans, life as a regional radio and TV reporter part 3 of 3. Broadcasting in the 80s. Freezing works and other closures, maternity hospitals, factories (caravans). Other stories, jetboats, water skiing. 1985, shift from film to electronic news gathering. Move to “infotainment”, loss of regional news, focus on national and global news. Is there “useful” news? UK and US responses to changing environment. Confrontational reporting.

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 16th June 2020. Tom and Colleen Romley, Part 3 of 5.  Apprenticeship as a fitter-welder in early 1950s. Making horse shoes. Wagon wheels, forge welding. Training at PN Tech. Driving test. 5 year apprenticeship. Building structures, woolsheds, etc.. Going to Australia, Melbourne working in the docks (unions, strike), then glass manufacturers, having a tradesman’s assistant (foreigners). Snowy River dam scheme working underground, living in a camp, shift work (dinner at 7am). 

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 9th June 2020. Tom and Colleen Romley, Part 2 of 5.  Leisure activities. Soccer. Learning to swim in the river. Diving off the bridge. Dentists. Sunday School. Pocket money as a boarder. Cinema. Scouts. Military training at Waiouru, Valentine tanks. Cycling between PN and Ashhurst. Radio – why Colleen was called “Compost”. Few books. Weekly dances, letting a mouse loose. Flower shows. Range of stores in Ashhurst in 1940s and 50s. Brethren community. Many English assisted immigrants. Poms and English. 

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 23rd June 2020. Tom Romley, Part 4 of 5.  Working on the Upper Yarra Dam, living in a camp. Sleeping bags, dead snake inside. Shift work. 2 “lives” and you were out. How got to Australia. Workers from many countries. A stay in Melbourne, Chloe painting in Young and Jackson’s Hotel. Motorbike for touring. Back to NZ after 7 months for 21st birthday. Met Colleen, future wife so stayed in NZ. Engineering in Ashhurst. Working where had been an apprentice. Business growing, designing and erecting woolsheds, etc.. Working away from home on construction in early years of marriage. Old cottage. Earthquake standards. Workplace safety (1950s). Staircase in the Art Gallery, steel framed house. Bought the business in 1973. 

 Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 2nd June 2020. Tom Romley, Part 1 of 5.  Born 1934. Only child. 1938 moved to Ashhurst. Other family in the area. Wood range in the kitchen, open fire in the lounge. Outdoor toilets. Started school in 1940. There by Shetland pony. Discipline in school, the strap. Palmerston North Boys High, 1 year by bus, then a boarder. Went for an apprenticeship as an engine smith at 15 so could leave school.  

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 28th April 2020.  Part 2 of 2. Teacher training in Christchurch from 1951. Catholic Youth Movement. Teaching at Hokowhitu, then Marton Junction (51 children in the class). Then to Terrace End. Other activities. Married. Sole teacher in 1961. Other schools, Lions. Settling in to communities. Limited resources. School libraries. School buses. Principal of Our Lady of Lourdes from 1975. Integration of Catholic schools into the State sector. Catholic teacher training. Left teaching before Tomorrow’s Schools. 

Year 12 and 13 winners of the Palmerston North Secondary Schools History Prize in 2013. Submitted work must use local archives in their research. The prizes were awarded at the opening of Local History Week, 4 November 2013, held in the Palmerston North Central Library From Left: Angela Povey, teacher, Awatapu College; Malma Igatia, Awatapu College, Year 12 and overall winner; Geoff Watson, Senior lecturer, Massey University, and representative for the Heritage Trust; Rosie Simmons, Freyberg High School, Year 13 winner; Pene Wills, teacher, Freyberg High School ​ ​ ​

ANZAC Day Memorial Crosses which were set up in The Square for the 2015 ceremonies. Each cross represented the name of an individual upon the Cenotaph, with 507 installed altogether. The 2015 ceremony, marking the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, was one of the largest held to date.

Protestors with signs at the start of the Peace Action Manawatū Protest in The Square against the New Zealand Defence, Industry & National Security Forum. The forum was held from 31 October to 1 November at Central Energy Trust Arena.

This ANZAC Day quilt was created by staff and customers of the Palmerston North City Library in 2017. Each year it is hung in the library around the ANZAC Day time period.

Gates to the Kelvin Grove Services Cemetery, commemorating World War One and World War Two. Kelvin Grove Cemetery, at 118 James Line, Kelvin Grove, is Palmerston North's main cemetery, providing cremation and burial services to the city and its surrounding districts. It is set on 36 hectares of land, 7 kilometres from the central business district. It has a chapel that can be hired for memorial and committal services and a memorial garden. The cemetery was opened in 1927 to replace the old Terrace End Cemetery on Napier Road. The crematorium and chapel were added in 1954, and a gas-fired cremator was installed in 2003.

The New Zealand Poppy Places Trust has been established to develop, promote, and oversee a nation-wide project to commemorate and recognise as part of the heritage of New Zealanders, the participation of New Zealand in military conflicts and military operational services overseas. Poppy Places website.

One of the images in the photographic exhibition "Belonging [Hononga] [Pertencimento]". _"My name is Doris Adeyinka and am originally from Nigeria (West Africa). We moved with my family to New Zealand in January 2007 (15years). I came to New Zealand with student visa to study for my doctoral degree in Veterinary Science at Massey University, Palmerston North and graduated in 2013._ _Initially, I came with four kids within the ages of 12 – 5 years old without knowing anyone except my supervisor who promised to pick me up from the airport. My supervisor (Richard Laven) brought the Massey University van to pick us up and took us to a motel which I thought we had booked but did not go through. He was kind enough to look for another motel we could stay which took more than 2 hours to settle for the night. This made me question if I had taken the right decision of coming with young kids to study without knowing what I was getting myself into. That soon changed when I went to church right next to the Motel on Sunday and everyone welcomed us and visited us after the service. I got a lot of help from my ‘Kiwi Mums and dad’ about schools for the children and donated furniture and a car I can use before buying mine. Massey University international office played a vital role in settling into the community, which made me feel like home._ _As a migrant, my kids were bullied at first, and was difficult to make friends but as soon as i told some of their teachers, that was well addressed. My husband could not get a job in his field of expertise (Animal breeding and genetics). Also, as a doctoral students, I got involved with helping in science labs for undergraduate students and they would not ask any question as they thought I would not know the answers. I soon gained their confidence and made friends with them._ _Despite these challenges, we applied for residency and eventually got citizenship. We love New Zealand and this is home for me and my family."_ "The exhibition reflects on the personal experience of the photographer, Aline Frey, as a migrant woman who chose Palmerston North as a new home for her family and herself. "Belonging" is a series of 10 portraits celebrating migrant women who made Palmy their new home. By allowing characters to share their narratives as they open their hearts to spectators, the exhibition focuses on a multiplicity of ethnicities and biographies. It follows migrant stories while giving a nuanced portrayal of the city's ethnic and cultural diversity. Above all, the exhibition aims to give visibility to migrants' diverse roles in PN society, as attendees can learn and better understand the challenges and achievements of each person's journey. Attendees are also invited to reflect back on their own whakapapa and family memories while making connections and recognising the city’s multicultural formation. The exhibition was organised by Palmeirinhos – Brazilian Heritage Group. All events organised by Palmeirinhos are open to the general public and have been attended by many members of different communities, as well as local kiwis. These Palmeirinhos events have been giving Brazilian children a sense of belonging to the new land that their parents chose to call home. Those children are learning to be proud of who they are and at the same time learning to respect and accept the cultural differences of this very diverse city.

Ernst West (left) with James (known as Lynn) Fielding, on horseback in the backyard of 11 Victoria Avenue. When the house was removed to make way for the offices of the Horizons Regional Council, the upper two levels were transported to a lifestyle block outside of Ashhurst. The ground level double cavity brick walls were demolished. Ernst Vilhelm West (c1886 - 1961) was a Palmerston North architect and served as a City Councillor 1921-1925.

Festival of Cultures week is Palmerston North City's biggest event celebrating the rich cultural diversity of our City. It is an annual event organised by Palmerston North City Council and MMC. The week has a series of events including The Festival of Cultures - World Fair Day, Parade of Cultures (Costume Parade), Lantern Parade/ Carnavale, Teas and Coffees of the World and various workshops/ seminars. Photograph of the Palmerston North City Library information stand at the Festival of Cultures in The Square, utilising he mobile library bus.

Peter Thomson with Steve McQueen's leather motorcycle trousers. Peter Thomson developed his own museum from his collection of motorcycles, at 1154 Rongotea Road Kairanga. It has over 100 motorcycles on display, dating from 1904 to present day, as well as motorcycling memorabilia, brochures, motor cycle magazines, parts and workshop manuals.

Peter Thomson with an Excelsior 999cc Big Twin motorcycle. Peter Thomson developed his own museum from his collection of motorcycles, at 1154 Rongotea Road Kairanga. It has over 100 motorcycles on display, dating from 1904 to present day, as well as motorcycling memorabilia, brochures, motor cycle magazines, parts and workshop manuals.

Peter Thomson developed his own museum from his collection of motorcycles, at 1154 Rongotea Road Kairanga. It has over 100 motorcycles on display, dating from 1904 to present day, as well as motorcycling memorabilia, brochures, motor cycle magazines, parts and workshop manuals.

In 2018 the City Library hosted a morning tea for supporters of Local History Week, which had been held annually since 2018. The morning tea took place on the 2nd floor of the Central Library.

In 2018 the City Library hosted a morning tea for supporters of Local History Week, which had been held annually since 2018. The morning tea took place on the 2nd floor of the Central Library.

In 2018 the City Library hosted a morning tea for supporters of Local History Week, which had been held annually since 2018. The morning tea took place on the 2nd floor of the Central Library.

In 2018 the City Library hosted a morning tea for supporters of Local History Week, which had been held annually since 2018. The morning tea took place on the 2nd floor of the Central Library.