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Heritage News

Contacting us

As the festive season approaches, Heritage staff are taking leave. To make sure your enquiries are answered in a timely manner, please send them to the general email, heritage@pncc.govt.nz.

NZOQ: quest for quality for 50 years

For five decades one Palmerston North organisation, the New Zealand Organisation for Quality (NZOQ), has shown commitment to quality. Dedicated to providing leadership in the adoption of the principles of quality management and best practice in New Zealand, the NZOQ, has established an expert reputation  - both nationally and internationally.

“Quality is one of those intrinsic concepts we experience every day,” says Dan Forsman, the local Board Director. “It effects our choices on what we purchase, the services we use and what we invest our time and money in. We may sight a quality promise poster or an ISO9000 certificate on a wall to ensure us of safe basic services or reliable products. But just look at the latest water supply woes in the Wellington region to see where quality has lapsed,” says Dan.

NZOQ Director, Dan Forsman [Image supplied]

Possibly one of Palmerston North’s best kept secrets, NZOQ origins date back to the 1976 conference organised by Massey University’s Department of Industrial Management and Engineering. “A national conference of industry and academia was convened to discuss the idea of a national organisation for quality assurance in New Zealand. A steering committee was set up with the aim of forming a professional body,” Forsman explains.

The following year the need for a professional body for quality assurance, in line with the American Society for Quality, was established. By early 1978, NZOQ was registered as an Incorporated Society, delivering a framework that became vital in its development and the role New Zealand would play in quality assurance. NZOQ is a society of organisations and professionals in many fields. It has both individual and corporate members, and provides training to its members and the public. 

With its headquarters in Palmerston North, NZOQ is a New Zealand organisation with international relationships.

Recent releases

Leisure landmark

Palmerston North’s swimming destination, the Lido Aquatic Centre, opened its doors on 15 October 1966.

After extensive fundraising and planning, The Lido Aquatic Centre opened on 15 October 1966 to capacity crowds. [Manawatū Heritage, 2015S_2010-71_012348]

Built on part of the former Awapuni golf course, the Lido replaced the city’s previous swimming complex, Ashley Street Municipal Swimming Baths, located behind the Opera House (now the site of Farmers department store and the Plaza). 

The Lido marked a new era of recreational facilities for the city with an artificial beach alongside a 50-metre leisure pool. There was also pool for swimming competitions and a 4.65 meter deep diving pool. 

In the 1960s, the Lido set the standard for public swimming pools in New Zealand.

This photograph was published in the Manawatu Evening Standard with the caption, "These boys frolic in the main pool at the Lido yesterday afternoon as it was being filled for the coming seasons, which begins on Saturday. They are, from left: Noel Robertson, Alan Moys, Neil MacDonald and Steve Henderson."

Manawatū Evening Standard, 15 October 1969   [Manawatū Heritage, 2016N_IMCA-DigitalMaster_013436]

In 1983 the 25-metre John Boldt indoor pool was added to the complex, ensuring year-round swimming. In 2002 roofing over a specialised learn-to-swim pool, spa pool and a 'lazy river', and two indoor hydroslides were added to the Lido’s attractions 

In 2014 further upgrades to the complex included the Lido Superbowl and Speed slide, the first in the country, and a zero-depth aqua-play area with a 600 litre dump bucket. 

The Lido Aquatic Centre celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016.

Remember when?

From the early years of Pākehā settlement, rail transport has been a vital link for Palmerston North. 

Provincial surveyor for the Wellington district, John Tiffin Stewart, was charged with devising plans that would connect the Palmerston North tramway between Palmerston and Te Awahou (Foxton) in 1865.

Starting with a tramway that ran between Palmerston North and Foxton from 1873 to 1876, The Square served as a hub for passengers and freight until the line was constructed from Wellington to Longburn by the private Wellington and Manawatū Railway Company (W&MR).

Walkley's Commercial Hotel can be seen on the left of the photograph. It stood on the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue and The Square. The people are waiting on the train platform at the Railway Station. The Post and Telegraph Office stands next to the station. [Manawatū Heritage, 2014P_Rsq6_007689]

Initially trains terminated at Longburn, forcing passengers to change trains to New Zealand Rail services (NZR) to Palmerston North.

Under the Railways Construction and Land Act in 1881, the government granted 210,500 acres of land for the railway and the first train, carrying 500 passengers, arrived in Palmerston North on November 29, 1886. The opening was celebrated with a banquet held in the Theatre Royal.

Owing to the increasing traffic, the train station and rail yards were moved from The Square to Main Street in 1891 (opposite the present Railway Hotel).

Passengers at Palmerston North railway station. [Manawatū Heritage, 2007N_Rm12_RAI_0670]

Eventually, NZR and W&MR finalised an interchange agreement, allowing W&MR passenger and mail trains to travel seamlessly to Palmerston North Central Station without changes. 

Following the completion of the North Island Main Trunk line in 1908, the government acquired the Wellington and Manawatū Railway Company, and the first Auckland - Wellington service, with a stop in Palmerston North, ran on 14 February  1909, taking 19 hours, 13 minutes.

For many Palmerstonians the activities and sounds of the city’s rail hub were part of their every-day lives and a vital means of connection with the outside world. Circa 1940. [Manawatū Heritage, 2014N_Sq280_008678]

In the decades that followed, as Palmerston North grew and freight and passenger numbers increased, the need to move the central city station gained momentum. 

In October 1963 the rail hub was relocated to the Milson deviation and the main station moved to Matthews Avenue off Tremaine Avenue.

The relocation of rail infrastructure changed the landscape of Palmerston North, as railway tracks that had divided the city were removed. Te Marae o Hine | The Square was redeveloped into one consolidated space with four quadrants, and a green space developed between Pioneer Highway and Church Street.

An aerial view during the demolition of the railway following the removal of trains running through the centre of the city. [Manawatū Heritage, 2019P_IMCA-DigitalArchive_027938]

With the rail hub firmly established on the eastern side of the city, a monument to the city’s early rail origins was installed in 2019.

A gift from rail enthusiast Tony Batchelor, six historic cast iron and steel wheels on railway track – similar to the type that were once used by the Manawatū Railway Company's steam trains – can be observed on the corner of Pitt and Church Streets on the site of the former railway yards.

The monument commemorates the significant role the site played in Palmerston North's history.

In 2019 rail enthusiast Tony Batchelor donated the six wheel railway sculpture to Palmerston North. [Manawatū Heritage, COMM1565832052]

Genealogy

Do you have Scottish ancestory? Take a look at the presentations available during the Scottish Indexes Conference. It's free to register and time-zone friendly.

Manawatū Mysteries

More than 1700 images on Manawatū Heritage, are currently unidentified and with the support of the Manawatū Guardian, our weekly appeal is yielding results.

Thank you to all those history detectives out there! With your help we have now identified five images since the weekly feature began in the Manawatū Guardian. Our team is absolutely wrapped with the response.

Below, some examples of unidentified images...

Unidentified machine. This photo was taken by Bert (Bertie) Albert, circa 1927.

He was employed as a storeman/driver at Goldingham & Becketts in King Street. This image, made from a glass plate negative was donated to the City Archives in 1971.

The photographs were probably taken by Bertie to send home to family in England.

[Manawatū Heritage, 2015G_AlbertB1_011079] 

Portrait of a young woman, circa 1920s. She is possibly related to the Pike family.

This image was donated by Anderson's Photography Studio.

[Manawatū Heritage, 2019P_2015-28_026497]

Connect with us

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The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Palmerston North City Council.

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Palmerston North City Library
Palmerston North, Manawatu 4410
Phone: (06)3514100