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Heritage News

Celebrating Puanga

As New Zealand prepares to celebrate Matariki, Palmerston North marks the Māori New Year with Puanga.

Puanga is the star Rigel and is the brightest star in the Orion constellation. Matariki is seen below Puanga and to the left of Tautoru (the three stars of Orion’s Belt) in the late autumn and early winter night. Matariki is not seen as clearly in some parts of New Zealand, and this is the reason why certain iwi celebrate Puanga before Matariki.

Puanga was a star relied upon by navigators in the great migration from Hawaiiki to Aotearoa, around 1350. Since Maori reached these shores they have looked to Puanga for guidance on when to plant kumara crops. According to the manner of the rising and the setting of these stars they planted either early or late in the season, as this 1937 newspaper article reports.

Following last year’s successful Puanga Twilight Festival in Palmerston North, plans are underway to make sure this year’s event is even bigger and better. This year’s Puanga Twilight Festival will take place on Friday 14 July at the Central Energy Trust Arena’s Pit Lane between 3 - 7pm.

Puanga is a time for celebration, reflection and unity. Join us as we honour the traditions of the Māori new year and create lasting memories with friends and whānau. 

School holiday time!

Manawatū Evening Standard, 1961
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Children in a local store gazing at a school holidays display of aeroplane photographs.

Manawatū Evening Standard, 1961
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School Holidays spent skating at the Memorial Park rink. 

Manawatū Evening Standard 1964
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Boys at the Y.M.C.A. Camp are heading for their swimming pool in the Pohangina River.

Awapuni Community Library, 2019
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The Promise of Puanga school holidays show.

The Promise of Puanga was presented by author Kirsty Wadsworth, who used sand art to illustrate the story. Arumaki Pasene-Grennell brought taonga pūoro to share in a hands on session and tamariki from Te Reo Tupua O Awapuni Kohanga Reo presented a special performance.

Lasting legacy

A small street in the heart of Palmerston North’s CBD - that has a reputation for merging the past with the present - is set to mark a new milestone this July.

On 27 July Coleman Place celebrates 50 years since its redevelopment in the early 70s.

Named in honour of local Borough Councillor and businessman, Sylvester Coleman, this popular destination along with adjoining George Street, were not part of original settlement plans when it was developed in 1866. Instead, land in these locations was defined as Government Reserve. 

In 1875, George Street was developed and the desire to have a cul-de-sac that connected it through to the Square was established by councillors of the day.

Initially there were two small sections that stood in the way of their plans. In December, 1884, the Council Reserves Committee recommended that the sections be bought, but it was not until December, 1886, that the council received an offer of 100 pounds for the sale of a reserve in Rangitikei Street. This provided funds to complete the Coleman Place purchase. 

[Manawatū Heritage 2016P_Postcard35_013222_001]
Street view of Coleman Place circa 1920.

[Manawatū Heritage 2007N_ST41_STR_004]
Coleman Place looking north towards The Square and Broad Street (now Broadway Avenue) circa 1925.

Following its development and connection to George Street, Coleman Place became a hub for local businesses including Councillor Coleman’s accountancy practice, until his death in 1881.

In the early 1900s the street was home to a wide range of retailers from general store Pullar and Burrows, Mrs Bevan and Madame De Luen – ladies outfitters, Pringles giftware, Miss Wilson’s Tea Rooms and Clarkson’s Cycles.

By the 1940’s many businesses had come and gone but the pace of the growing city continued to gain momentum. The street was a popular destination reflecting the buying needs of local residents with retailers Harrison Florists, Scotch Wool and Hosiery Shop and H.H. Blandford’s women’s clothing - some of the streets attractions at the time.

In the 70s Coleman Mall changed with the times. Wills Bookshop, Hallensteins and Para Rubber were among the established retailers that now inhabited the street.

In 1973 the street was redeveloped by Palmerston North City Council in a $40,000 revitalisation project. New asphalting in parking and pedestrian areas and the addition of gardens and a series of large planter boxes helped to refresh its appeal.

Twenty-three years later the street entered the next phase of its life during the development of the Central Library in the former Arthur Barnett building in 1996. 

Ready for change - Coleman Place moved to single entry from the Square, exiting onto George Street, with improved parking and pedestrian areas.

In 2011 Youth Space joined the  neighbourhood, opening its doors on 23 October, delivering a fresh focus for future generations of Palmerstonians.

Fifty years after its redevelopment  Coleman Place is energised with art installations, artisan businesses, cafés, restaurants and a destination for youth.

Alexander Robertson, May 2021
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Fresh view on a favourite street - Coleman Place sculptures add to the local landscape.

70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement

The Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC) has kindly loaned some artifacts to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice - which brought an end to fighting in the Korean War in July 1953. 

The Korean Armed Forces flag was presented to HON COL George W. Butcher, MC, ED, a Colonel Commandant of the Corps of RNZE and also Patron of the Sappers Association (NZ) Inc, before his death.

Butcher was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for "bravery under fire" as a LT in the Korean War.  Butcher was an eminent consulting engineer, with Morrison Coopers & Partners in Wellington, for many years and also with Engineers NZ and the Seismic Engineering Society.  

Make sure you come and see the display on the 2nd floor of Central Library.

Community Archives schedule

As our Community Archives Collection is held offsite, the Heritage Team requires community archive requests to be made by Thursday, 6pm, each week. The retrieved archives will be available the following Monday from 9:00am.

DNA training day - this weekend

Have you done a DNA test and would  like to understand and explore your matches?

Horowhenua Family History Group are hosting a DNA day on Saturday 8 July in Levin.  

Where: Te Takeretanga o Kura- hau- pō  -  Horowhenua Culture and Community Centre

Cost: $10

Email: horofhg@gmail.com

Genealogy tip

Searching for deceased whānau or friends in this area? Visit the Palmerston North cemetery and cremation search, which provides details dating back to 1871. In some cases, images of the headstone are also provided.

Connect with us

Is there something you’d like to see in these newsletters? A question about the library? A suggestion? Let us know and we’ll see if we can help. You can email us at pncl@pncc.govt.nz, or use the phone number below.

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