Three medals, Gold, Silver and Bronze, produced for the 1990 Special Olympics held in Palmerston North. The medals were donated to the Palmerston North City Council by the Special Olympics Committee in in gratitude for the council's sponsorship of the event. Each medal features the inscription: "Skill Courage Sharing Joy / New Zealand Special Olympics" (obverse): "National Games" (reverse).
Bulls bridge collapse in 1973
Being a College house border I often walked this street
Palmerston North Boy's High Road Race
PNBHS College House boarding school students in the library
Keeping the score PNBHS School Sports Day
Deputy headmaster of Palmerston North Boys High School in 1969
Dr Fred Hirst, Specialist Geriatrician, shares his knowledge and recollections of the Awapuni Hospital, formerly located on Maxwells Line. This talk was captured with the kind support of MPR, Manawatū People's Radio at a 2024 Local History Month event. This event was organised by River Stop Awapuni, in collaboration with Palmerston North City Library, and held at Boho Cafe.
The Awapuni Hospital
In 1906, Ellen Wood, former mayoress and wife of PN MP Michael Wood, expressed concern for the welfare of itinerant men in PN. She advocated for the building of an ‘Old Men’s Home’ and fundraised, by annual subscriptions and holding events.
In May 1910, the local coroner (A.D Thomson) reported the death of an old former soldier, with his body found in distressing, neglected, rat-infested circumstances, which led to public outrage. Palmerston North Health Board responded by approving the building of AOPH in Aug 1912. It accepted 9 ‘inmates’ in Feb 1915 and was officially opened in April.
Rural locations of Homes preferred by charities and hospital boards with land available for cultivation and away from ‘corrupt urban influences…which had been their downfall’ ie access to drink. The term ‘Old Men’s Home’ was inclusive with many accepting women. Their isolation meant poor visitor access. In 1910, 81% of those occupying hospital and charitable aid homes were men. These men > 65 were often disabled or even if fit were not employed as they could not compete in the labour market as younger men for the same union fixed wage. Some sought refuge during the winter months. They were ‘out of sight: out of mind’.’ Characters’, ‘poor old chaps’ and ‘old identities’ were often not tolerated in public view with their idiosyncrasies or if drunk so were placed in Homes where they didn’t fit into institutional life with rigid rules either. They tended to lack family ties.
Photo taken in Featherston Street when work to upgrade the street and install new cycleways was taking place.
The image includes one from the fleet of Palmerston North's new CRRC fully electric buses operated by Horizons Regional Council. You can also see a car window washer at work.
Junior coaching at tennis in the mid-1970s, taking place roughly where the practice wall and run back are now situated.
Caption on the back: 'The Square, Palmerston Nth from roof of Ross Ltd shop - railway visible running through.'
Excerpt from Elmer's diary (an Englishman on his big OE in NZ 1935-39): ‘…took coloured snap of square from roof of Ross & Co - meant climbing over wire fence 7' high.’
Reliable colour film was not available until the 1930s. Elmer bought his first film in colour from Horace Hamilton of H.E Perry Ltd in Christchurch and took his first photo of two children on 22 March 1937. The brand of film was a Dufay which produced six 9 x 6 cm slides that came mounted in 15 x 11 cm black, light cardboard frames. Elmer commented in a letter, ‘The main drawback is one can’t have prints made and one has to hold the negatives [actually positives] up to the light.’ He goes on to say, ‘As it cost over 1/- [one shilling] per snap, I will not be taking too many.’ (Compare this with one shilling being an average price for a three-course restaurant meal at the time.)
Most members dressed up, in some cases on partially, in white clothing in deference to Wimbledon standards, which involved taking refreshments later in the day, including Pimms and Strawberries and Cream. Pictured here from left to right are: (Standing): Doug Laherty, Paul Shaw, Valerie Brown, George Clark, Angela Gill, Clyde Brunton, Jill Shirkey. Alan Smeaton and Jeff Hosken. (Front row kneeling): Graham Scott and Matthew Pearce.
Stop the Tour Graffiti in the concrete of a driveway at 38 Cuba Street in Palmerston North. Presumed to be from the 1981 Springbok Tour.
On the 11th of November 2024, a Hīkoi set off from Cape Reinga toward Parliament. The march was triggered by the introduction of the ACT Party's Treaty Principles Bill which, if passed, would re-interpret Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
On November 16th, the hīkoi was welcomed to Palmerston North with a pōwhiri in Te Marae o Hine the Square. In attendance were representatives of Rangitāne o Manawatū, the Labour and Green parties, local councillors from Palmerston North and Manawatū, as well as members of the public. Te Manawa staff members were also among the crowd, and this image is one of several captured by them on the day.
Ruahine Reserve.
For more information about the history of the area, see the Back Issues article written by Karla Karaitiana.
Ruahine Reserve.
For more information about the history of the area, see the Back Issues article written by Karla Karaitiana.
Hokowhitu Campus Memorial Wall, Ruahine Reserve
For more information about the history of the area, see the Back Issues article written by Karla Karaitiana.
A view of the old Palmerston North police station from the corner of Church Street (east) and Ashley Street in front of St Andrews Church.
Between the end of July into October 2024, some existing structures on the site were cleared off the property by ARC, an asbestos removal and demolition company. Previously and afterwards, the unoccupied property has been used as a commercial parking space for many of the years since the 'new' police station down the road was opened in 2005. Possibly in an effort to keep the building looking less derelict, boards with a similar colour scheme to the exterior walls were installed on the Church Street facing exterior sometime prior to this demolition work.
The building has been classified as a new Zealand Historic Place Category 2 building since 2010.
This is a view of the partial demolition of the buildings on the site of Palmerston North's old police station. Between July/October, some structures were cleared away on the site, including the old wing building behind the front building.
As seen in this view, there was some effort to prevent people (and animals) entering the remaining main building with fences and the boarding of windows on the second floor.
Currently, the site is used as a carparking space.
A view of the Palmerston North old police station garages before their demolition sometime during July-October 2024.
A view of the partial demolition of the Palmerston North old police station taken from Maple Lane.
Undertaken by ARC, an asbestos removal and demolition company, between July and October 2024, this view shows (through the city's courthouse fence perimeter) the site vacant during the weekend with some of the rubble that was one of the back buildings on the site.
A view of the partial demolition of the Palmerston North old police station taken from Maple Lane.
This view shows the site cleared of rubble and machines during a rainy day.
This view, courtesy of Ray Carter's research, shows the old police station in Church Street from behind.
According to Ray: "the above photograph is possibly the only one taken of the rear of the police station soon after it had been completed in 1939. The photo would have been taken above the garage where the only police car was garaged in 1939."
The original photographer who took this image is unknown.
Another view of the old police station site in Palmerston North before its partial demolition.
The structure on the right-hand side of the photo is of the back wing buildings, which are no longer on the site after the July-October partial demolition work that was carried out.
The site was sometime in the 2010's and after that event used as a parking space since its disestablishment as Palmerston North's central police station.
As part of the events of Heritage Month in March, 2025, academics from Auckland University who had been researching the emergency education scheme (that was enacted in Palmerston North during wartime 1942) delivered a talk to share their findings.
On the table are some of the replica items that were made to recreate the methods and items in which schoolchildren during the scheme took part in new learning.
![[Pope on a Rope]](https://d28dhd8eubcyz4.cloudfront.net/iiif/2/curtis-production2-cache%2F1%2F3%2F1%2F777861-bcd1-4314-b279-b5faf64ae6f5%2Fresize_master_86a4ff75b85a405a48004751d8c58f75.jpg/full/!440,512/0/default.jpg?sig=7fed07681fd70a87b31a05c47d2a07840da8d9a2&ver=1714892262&v=1.2.3 "[Pope on a Rope]")
The information for this image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 29th September 1987
"Remember the final days of Meltdown Record's last venue the Commercial? The bop till you drop seemingly endless succession of fine bands that pulled out all the stops to send the venue out in style before the demolition crew moved in? Well this weekend sees the collapse of Meltdown's latest live night-spot (Super Liquor Man) due to high overheads and the apathy of audiences, and a string of bands are booked for both tomorrow and Friday nights to repeat the performance. Tomorrow sees Three Leaning Men take the stage along with The End and Bassett Road Murders. All are becoming seasoned veterans on stages throughout the country so the standard promises to be high. Friday features , along with fast improving Their Boy Elroy and masters of the surreal Harry Death. Pope on a Rope, a new hard core outfit about town will also be playing, as will The Papatoetoe Pop Parcel. With a barren musical landscape looming on the horizon, either night seems a good opportunity to get the place rocking and catch the finest original bands in the city at the moment. Next week we can all go and listen to U2 from the cover bands, try a disco, or sit at home with out stereos. See you in Wellington."
Taonui Street is named for the Taonui Swamp. While the literal meaning is "big spear" or "big catch," it is a metaphor for an abundance of kai (food) and resources.
The image is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923 by HR Farquar, Civil Engineer and Licensed Surveyor.
The Taonui Basin lies between the Manawatū and Oroua rivers in Kairanga, on the Manawatū Plains. The plains are an ancient sea bed. Earth movement over millions of years shaped the sea bed into domes running roughly parallel with the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges. This, in turn, determined the way in which the Manawatū and Oroua rivers meandered.
The meandering of the rivers, particularly from Opiki to the sea, created lagoons and basins that became separate from the main flow when the rivers changed paths. In times of high rainfall, the Manawatū and Oroua rivers would overflow and the water, full of silty alluvium, became trapped in the basins, forming swamps. Taonui Swamp was among the largest of these.
Semi-swamp forest formed on the low lying land surrounding the swamp. It was dominated by Aotearoa New Zealand’s tallest native tree, kahikatea (white pine), and pukatea (Laurelia novae-zelandiae). Within the swamp was harakeke (flax) and raupō (Typha orientalis). The Taonui swamp had a plentiful supply of tuna (eels). The site was a major and important source of kai (food) and resources for Rangitāne and Ngāti Kauwhata.
The sale of Te Ahu a Tūranga Block, first offered to the government by Rangitāne rangatira, Te Hirawanui Kaimokopuna, in 1858, was finalised in 1864. Payment was made to Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata and Ngāti Tumokai. To learn more about Te Hirawanui Kaimokopuna, look at Te Hirawanui Drive. To learn more about the sale, read these Back Issues articles, An anniversary with meaning for Manawatū by Toi Warbrick, and The trio who oversaw a momentous land sale by Virginia and Warren Warbrick. In 1867 the first sections were being sold in Karere.
When a survey of the Kairanga block was completed by Mr Thomas M Drummond in 1878, drainage was implemented. The land block adjoined the Taonui Swamp, which remained in Māori ownership. Kairanga County land sales were made in 1881.
Where Māori viewed the swamp with opportunities and benefits, settlers saw challenges. European farmers set about clearing vegetation and swamp forest in order to introduce paddocks of crops and livestock. This act of clearing resulted in higher incidence of flooding, the centre basin was open to water up to three quarters of the year. Finding drainage particularly difficult to maintain in winter, farmers also carried out their own drainage systems.
The deep drain originally cut through the centre of the block, joined up with the Te Puke Stream and emptied into the Taonui Swamp. It was after 1894, when the Manawatū Drainage Board straightened and deepened the main drainage outlets, that Taonui Swamp began to empty. As it emptied, harakeke and blackberry, the latter introduced by settlers, encroached. Eventually the food species completely disappeared and the forest almost followed.
There are two remnants of the semi-swamp forest today, Buchanan’s Bush (now Clausen’s) and Sutherland’s Bush. The forest that used to entirely surround the Taonui Basin can never be fully regenerated, as drainage has lowered the water table irreversibly. When the Clausen family purchased their dairy farm in 1979, they recognised the significance of the forest remnant. They fenced the 5-acre area of bush and spent a great deal of time and energy towards enabling the forest to regenerate and become healthy.
Heagney, G. (2023, September 11). With a name comes a kaupapa: The history of Māori names of significance in Feilding. Stuff NZ.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300966028/with-a-name-comes-a-kaupapa-the-history-of-maori-names-of-significance-in-feilding
Knight, C. (2018). Ravaged beauty (2nd ed.). Totara Press.
Taonui Street was the first subdivision in the town, with the northern end (Featherston Street end) D.P.1, surveyed in 1872. The owner of this section, 301, was Mr William Henry Welch Haines of Greytown. Through an oversight it was not dedicated until 1951. The southern end (Cuba Street end) D.P.16, was surveyed in 1874, being section 302, owner not stated. In 1878, twenty-eight chains (chain = 66 feet/20.12 metres) of the street was metalled.
Taonui Street was one of the first streets to have a continuous row of dwellings. By 1878 there were seven houses on the northern end and six on the southern.
While early residents were community movers and shakers, most sold their allotments and residences within a few years to less prominent owners. Over time the street lost its prestige. As early as 1878 Taonui Street acquired the name "Soapsuds Alley," because of the narrowness of the street and all the clotheslines strung up along the way.
In March of 1880, an application was made by Taonui Street ratepayers to have work done in a street leading on to Rangitikei Line. Likely Cuba or Featherstone Street (later called Featherston Street). The council agreed that if ratepayers carried out the work, they’d be reinstated once the borough had commensurate funds.
Meanwhile, on Taonui Street, there was a problem with water accumulating due to a depression in the lie of the land. This was reported to the Borough Council in May of 1881. By August, a plan was made to reform and regrade the road and footpaths. However, the works weren’t immediately carried out as Borough Engineer, Mr Edward John Armstrong, was experiencing challenges in response to tenders. It wasn’t until November of 1884 that water tables were made in the street, and stagnant water removed. Surface water was to remain an issue.
In August of 1883, councillor Walker proposed that owners of unfenced sections in Taonui Street receive notice to fence. Councillor Ferguson seconded the motion.
The narrowness of Taonui Street was discussed regularly. In September of 1917, the council officially stated that the width of Taonui Street would not meet future requirements. Section 117 of the Public Works Act gave the council power to set frontages back to an appropriate distance. Almost a decade later, in April 1927, the council decided not to apply the Public Works Act to Taonui Street. As an alternative, consideration was given to compensating owners who were asked to set back their frontage.
The widening of Taonui Street was eventually carried out in the early 1960s, and a stormwater sump unit installed.
Residents made the council aware of problems or opportunities arising from businesses operating in, or nearby the street. In February of 1886, for example, councillor Snelson presented a petition from residents complaining of night soil contractors keeping their carts in the vicinity of houses.
The tarring and sanding of footpaths had just been completed, when, in February of 1905, herds of cattle and horses driven down the street, tore up the new walkways. While residents brought this to the council's attention, apart from regular upkeep, there wasn’t a solution. Taonui Street remained a recommended stock route.
By October of 1906 the main waterworks were completed, allowing Taonui Street residents to be connected. Two years later, all premises on Taonui Street were connected to the sewer.
From c. 1910 old houses in the street increasingly came under scrutiny. As the earliest residential street in Palmerston North, Taonui Street contained the oldest houses, some becoming increasingly derelict. Decisions were made in the ensuing years on whether such dwellings should be condemned and demolished.
This cottage, formerly 23 Taonui Street, was one of the earliest homes still standing in 1979. On its section was a 40-year-old pine which was recommended for inclusion in the city’s tree register. The cottage was on the City Council’s register of historic buildings. It was dismantled in 1980, by carpenter Mr Graham Norman, who planned to reconstruct the building in James Line. Mr Roy Mudgeway chopped down the pine before it was officially protected as one of the city’s notable trees.
In 1913 there was talk, initiated by a special committee appointed by the Borough Council, of changing the name from Taonui Street to Nelson Street. There was discussion in the Manawatū Standard on preservation of local Māori names, versus honouring the overseas hero of Trafalger. The local Māori name endured.
May of 1930 saw the street excavated to a new formation level, and metalled. A welcome move in reducing surface water. In March of 1933 the street was tar-sealed, which went a long way to mitigating the dust output from the previous metalled roadway.
For a comprehensive history of the street's development, businesses, and who lived there, take a look at the lecture notes of Brian Mather and supplementary material from the Palmerston North Historical Society, circa.
2006.
The addresses on Taonui Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.258 and p.259 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
This audience is gathered to observe the laying of the Massey Agricultural College Foundation Stone by Governor General, Sir Charles Fergusson, accompanied by his wife, Lady Alice Fergusson. The vice-regal party were out of shot on a stage to the front right, facing the crowd.
The dignitaries included, George William Forbes (Minister of Agriculture), Sir George Fowlds (chairman of the Massey College Council), and Professor Geoffrey Sylvester Peren (College Principal). Also present was James Alfred Nash (former Mayor of Palmerston North, 1908-1923), whose wife, Elizabeth Nash, is seated on the left in the front row (next to the woman with the fox fur on her lap).
The bunting above the audience was at the old Batchelar homestead, site of the new main building in construction. The mortar and trowel appear on the right side of the photo, next to the edge of the foundation stone.
The Manawatu Standard reported, "The function was described as an epoch making event in the agricultural history of New Zealand, and as marking a great forward movement." It was expected that 200 students would be enrolled by the following year.
Ian Matheson 12/9/1969 notes: This photograph was taken from either the footbridge over the railway lines or the signal box alongside the lines and looks eastwards towards the Square. The railway station (with roofed platform) can be seen on the left, directly opposite Roger Mulrooney’s Masonic Hotel (which is the building standing today, on part of section 340). Further along Main Street can be seen the three-storey Railway Hotel on the corner of David Street (section 338). This hotel building was erected in 1904-05, thus helping to date this photo. In the far distance (over the roof of the railway station) can be seen some scaffolding rising into the sky. This appears to be the Post Office Clocktower under construction which also helps to date this photo as 1905-06. In the centre distance can be seen the top of the Grand Hotel, a building which was erected in 1906. The railway siding in the left foreground crosses Main Street to a timber yard situated on section 342. The Station was established in 1889. On 1 June 1964 the last passenger excursion train left the Main Street Station. See the souvenir ticket for last excursion. On June 7 1965 the last goods train to ever pass through The Square traveled through. From 1964-68 all railway buildings were demolished and removed from the Main Street site.