A sound recording of the opening of the new Manawatu Sports Stadium, fronting onto Pascal Street in Palmerston North. The opening speeches are made by the Chairman of the the showgrounds Board of Control, Mr J. S. Boldt, and His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) who was touring New Zealand at the time.

Length: 9 mins, 37 secs

This meeting is the last of the former Palmerston North City Council on 1 November 1989. As from this date the new Palmerston North City Council was formed, comprising of the then present Palmerston North City and parts of the then present Manawatu District and Oroua District Councils.

The 1989 New Zealand local government reform saw some 850 local bodies amalgamated into 86 local authorities, made up of regional and territorial levels.

Length: 53 minutes

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Sir Brian George Conway Elwood, CBE, JP, (born 5 April 1933) is a former New Zealand lawyer, politician, and public servant. He served as mayor of Palmerston North from 1971 to 1985, and was the Chief Ombudsman of New Zealand from December 1994 to June 2003. In the latter role, he was responsible for investigating complaints against central and local government agencies, including Ministers of the Crown.

Interview of Brian Elwood as Mayor of Palmerston North, conducted by Ian Matheson on 2 May 1985. Interview length: 1 hour, 36 minutes and 55 seconds.