Part 1 of 4. Marion Abiss recalls growing up in Feilding during the 1940s
 She walked to Lytton Street School with other local children
 Schools were simple, with cold rooms and oiled wooden floors
 Children brought sa...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          May 12, 2026

Part 2 of 4. Floral art began for Marion Abiss in the 1980s from a love of gardening
 She joined the Feilding Floral Art Group through friends
 Floral art involves creativity beyond simple flower arranging
 Themes guid...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          May 19, 2026

Part 3 of 4. Marion Abiss describes her involvement with the Experiment in International Living 
 It was a global cultural exchange bringing visitors into New Zealand homes
 Students and adults stayed with host families f...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          May 26, 2026

Part 4 of 4. Strong rural community around Halcombe in the 1970s
 Family farmed sheep, cattle, crops and grains
 Deep involvement in Halcombe School life
 PTA, school board and teaching roles
 Small rural schoo...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Feilding
Date:          June 2, 2026

Part 5 of 6. Mark Kilsby has assisted theatre productions at Boys High since 2007.
 He helped students with acting and stage performance skills.
 He preferred co-directing rather than leading alone.
 Junior musical the...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 21, 2026

Part 4 of 6. Mark Kilsby shared stories from acting and volunteer work.
 He took part as a Hobbit at a Wellington film premiere.
 A protest stopped his chance to walk the red carpet.
 He spent the day waiting in costum...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 14, 2026

Part 2 of 2 Jacquie Nutt described growing up in Zimbabwe before moving to South Africa in 2000.
 Her daughter’s serious illness inspired her to rethink life and pursue lactation work.
 She became a lactation consultant after ...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 16, 2026

Part 1 of 2 Jacquie Nutt set up a human milk bank in Palmerston North.
 She had already created two milk banks in South Africa.
 She moved to New Zealand in 2015 as a lactation consultant.
 Jackie says breastfeeding is...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 9, 2026

Part 3 of 6. Mark Kilsby performed in 18 consecutive Summer Shakespeare productions. 
 He developed a deep love for Shakespeare from childhood. 
 He also acted in Shakespeare plays at Centrepoint Theatre. 
&n...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 7, 2026

Part 1 of 6. Mark Kilsby developed a lifelong love of theatre through his mother’s acting interests.
 As a child he attended plays in Palmerston North, including Shakespeare productions.
 He learned speech and drama, once know...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 23, 2026

Part 2 of 6 Mark Kilsby spoke about his long involvement in theatre in Whanganui and Palmerston North.
 He acted with Four Seasons Theatre, Repertory Theatre and musical theatre groups.
 His first paid acting role earned him f...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          June 30, 2026

Part 6 of 6. Mark Kilsby recalls unusual theatre experiences and roles.
 He acted in two different plays on the same evening.
 He raced between theatres and changed costumes quickly.
 One role was a hairy godmother, an...

Creator:      Stuart Birks
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 28, 2026

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council
Date:          2001

An aerial map survey of Palmerston North. Areas are laid out in a grid format and have corresponding alphabetical and numerical numbering that corresponds with the flight path.

The approximate scale is 1:5000.

Creator:      NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd, Hastings
Date:          April 3, 1981

Flooding near lower Ruahine Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North, where the stop bank has not held back the Manawatu River.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Ruahine Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1953

This aerial view of Te Marae o Hine / The Square illustrates the distinct quadrant layout, originating from when Te Marae o Hine / The Square was four quadrants and a central strip separated by roads. Broadway corner is at top left and Coleman Mal...

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          198X

These unidentified Australian airmen were entertained in Palmerston North by the Palmerston North City Council, when visiting Ohakea Air Force Base during the Second World War. The Mayor, A. E. Mansford is standing in the front row extreme left. ...

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1942

This photograph is from the Manawatū District Aero Club archives. The Manawatū Aero Club was established following a public meeting in November 1928, with the objective of promoting aviation in the district. In September 1937, they became the Midd...

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force

Photograph shows Manawatu River in flood at Ashhurst Bridge.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          May 4, 1941

The first event of Centenary Eve was an “air strike” on the Hopwood Clock Tower. The four RNZAF Skyhawks attacked just after 12.45am. As the jets swooped down to 700 ft. 48 explosive charges were set off from a ripple switch by the Army. Simulatin...

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1970

Aerial photograph shows flooding of the new housing area in Takaro, Palmerston North near the flooded Mangaone stream. Streets shown are Birmingham, Gloucester and corner of Seddon and Tremaine.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Takaro, Palmerston North
Date:          1953

Caption on photographs reads, "Birches Lagoon, Rifle Range, Golf Club".

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Hokowhitu, Palmerston North
Date:          May 4, 1941

An aerial view of The Square, Palmerston North, just after being ‘bombed’ by four RNZAF Skyhawks as part of the 1970 Palmerston North Jubilee Celebrations.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1970

Flooding at Awapuni, at the end of the Palmerston North Racecourse. In the centre, the two storied gabled house is the Women’s Division of Federated Farmer’s Union rest home “Kaianga Moe’, which later burnt down in 1958. This house, formerly 'Shal...

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Awapuni, Palmerston North
Date:          January 1953

Aerial photograph shows flooding of farmland near Awapuni Racecourse and Pioneer Highway, Palmerston North. On the far side of the Manawatu River the stopbank has stopped flooding at Linton.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1953

An aerial shot of Palmerston North taken by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Vampire from 35,000 feet. the city is bounded by the Manawatu River at the top and Boundary Road (now Tremaine Avenue) at the bottom.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          November 2, 1954

Image shows flooding at the Fitzherbert Bridge. The flood gauge read 19 feet 2 inches.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Fitzherbert Bridge, Palmerston North
Date:          May 4, 1941

Flooding of the Manawatu River near lower Ruahine Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Albert Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1953

Photograph shows flooding of the new housing are in Takaro, including Clausen Crescent and Featherston Street.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Featherston Street, Palmerston North
Date:          1953

Photograph shows flooding of the new housing area in Takaro, including the flooded Mangaone Stream. Streets shown are Birmingham, Gloucester, Seddon and Botanical Roads.

Creator:      Royal New Zealand Air Force
Place:          Takaro, Palmerston North
Date:          January 1953