Manawatu Standard
Is Ashhurst Domain done for?
The Manawatū and Pohangina rivers have long collided through the corridor bordering Ashhurst Domain, but as unforgiving storms become more frequent, the domain is at risk of being washed away in the next weather event. It wouldn’t just be land lost to...
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Long-serving Lotto lady axed
Pak’nSave Lotto lady Katie Tippler is heartbroken to have been made redundant, a casualty of the physical redevelopment of the Palmerston North store’s entrance. After working at the Ferguson St supermarket for nearly 30 years, she had been forced to...
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Man seriously injured in scaffolding truck incident
A family of four was ready to travel around the country in their caravan when a horrific crash on State Highway 1 shattered that dream. Isaiah Eagar was a jack of all trades, his wife Rebecca Eagar said, and there was nothing he couldn’t do, until he...
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A granddad’s unfinished fight
Against all odds, Taana GageMorgan survived his birth. Delivered at Thames Hospital in the early hours of February 25, 2010, Taana was floppy and unresponsive. He had meconium- a newborn’s first stool - covering his face and coming out of his...
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Budget winners and losers
The proposed rates increase for Palmerston North was sitting just over 4.2% at the end of a day and a half of city council debate this week. Councillors went into the meeting looking at a 4.4% total rates rise for 2026/27, and after adding some items...
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Couple see red over trees
Living beneath redwood trees comes with its perks, but a Marton couple struggling with the burden and cost of their cleanup is calling on the owner for help. Heather and Gary Philip said they loved the council-owned redwoods that hung over their...
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From dairy farm to a filter
The first stage of a $12.5 million wetlands project at Lake Horowhenua designed to improve the health of the polluted waterway should be completed in June. Work began in March on the Arawhata wetland complex on the edge of Punahau (Lake Horowhenua)...
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The science to stronger hair
Jenny-May’s reinvention Why she’s focused on physical transformation and mental wellbeing. Hair damage is a common struggle. For those of us who love to colour, style, or use heat tools, the battle against split ends, breakage, and dullness can feel...
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Band enlists heavyweight
An unlikely shared passion for the All Blacks and heavy metal has led to a highly-regarded music producer working in Palmerston North. Waldemar Sorychta has travelled from Germany to record the third album from Manawatū band Imperial Slave at The...
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It started with a sketch
Even when he was drawing on his mates’ gumboots at school, Manawatū entrepreneur Malachi Kurei had a vision for what he wanted to achieve. Kurei, 21, is the founder of the gumboot company MokoBandz, which are emblazoned with Māori art, and the boots...
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Mayor slams credit card probe
Palmerston North’s newest city councillor Hayden Fitzgerald has forced the release of details of credit card spending by the city’s mayor Grant Smith over the past three years. He said there were items on the list he thought would surprise ratepayers,...
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Director to start paying up
The director a window installation company that went bust owing hundreds of thousands of dollars will start paying reparations – but some victims are disappointed not to see all the money. Michael James Wright was the director of now-liquidated...
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Battle continues for workers
Workplace fatalities are just the headline of New Zealand’s health and safety record, with hundreds of other workers hurt or made ill at work, says Council of Trade Unions (CTU) president Sandra Grey. Speaking at the annual Workers’ Memorial Day event...
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Pukepuke Lagoon in peril
Passion and mana for Pukepuke Lagoon continues to grow while water levels remain low and the cause of what has been described as an “ecological disaster” remains unknown. Pukepuke was found dry with eel carcasses strewn across the lake bed recently,...
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Retailers: Clear The Square
A group of central Palmerston North property owners, landlords and businesses want to get buses off the streets around The Square. They say buses moving around Main St and along The Square to Church St are causing congestion and conflicts with...
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Views vary on rates spending
Defenders of Palmerston North’s arts, culture and sports facilities and services have come out in force to tell city councillors to maintain their investment in the things that make the city a great place to live. During two days of hearing...
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Rector drives school run
Palmerston North Boys’ High School has resorted to using its own vans, sometimes driven by the rector, to pick up children in Shannon and Tokomaru who need a replacement for their cancelled high school bus service. Shannon was one of the areas...
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Horizons region bracing
The entire Horizons region is yet again battling wild weather, with residents from Manawatū, Tararua, Whanganui to Ruapehu navigating another “volatile” day of rain and wind. An orange heavy rain warning remained in place for the Tararua District...
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$20m price tag to fix water
A $20 million price tag to install a new nanofiltration system to improve Marton’s drinking water has been deemed too high, but the Rangitīkei District Council hopes to have short-term improvements done by summer. The council has for years been...
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Nailed it: City tradie claims top regional spot
The region’s best tradies in training showcased their carpentry skills at the 16th annual New Zealand Certified Builders’ Apprentice Challenge regional heats in Palmerston North on Saturday. Kalym Smith, 28, secured victory as the top Manawatū...
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Manukura girls back on the world rugby stage in Japan
The Manukura girls’ rugby team is making a habit of attending big tournaments. The Palmerston North school won the national Condor sevens title at the end of last year to qualify for the Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament in Japan. They leave...
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Horizons workshop infuriates
“Damning”, “self-indulgent” and likely to trigger immediate sackings; these were among the warnings from three Horizons Regional councillors opposed to spending more than $40,000 on a workshop in February. The council hired writer, speaker, and...
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Ol’ razzle dazzle for Chicago
A Palmerston North theatre company has finally reached the end of months of preparations and rehearsals to bring a flashy show about the American justice system to life. Act Three Productions’ staging of Chicago opens at The Regent on Broadway...
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Artefacts need a home, stat
A medical museum without a home is still finding ways to showcase its historical treasures. The exhibition, Remarkable Remedies: A Journey Through Medical History, has just ended its run at Palmerston North Library as part of the city’s heritage...
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Mountainbiker gears up for second cup series
A young Palmerston North mountainbiker is well on his way to making his dream of becoming a professional rider come true. Jonty Williamson, 17, is just weeks away from heading to South Korea with the Yeti Fox Factory Race Team for his second UCI World...
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City rallies for World Parkinson’s Day
Palmerston North’s Red Tulip Walk drew a sizeable crowd on Saturday, with organisers declaring it a success. Between 150 and 200 people turned out for the World Parkinson’s Day event held in Te Marae o Hine/The Square. There was no fee and no...
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Copper thieves target floodlights
Two Palmerston North sports clubs are warning the community to be extra vigilant if they see any unusual activity at training grounds, after someone tampered with their light poles in a bid to steal the copper wiring. Red Sox Sports club and College...
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Businesses seeking support
A “degree of uncertainty” is starting to emerge among Manawatū business owners as they grapple with the rising costs of fuel and how to cover the additional expenses. The Manawatū Business Chamber has initiated talks with the Horizons Regional Council...
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‘Mrs Doolittle’ had a dream
A Horowhenua woman’s dream of teaching neurodivergent people how to speak to animals and experience the “pure joy” they can bring is making a profound difference to the lives of those who volunteer on her farm. Amanda Blair was sitting around a...
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Beyond planes, passengers
Palmerston North Airport is making progress to develop into a business that is about more than just providing a facility for planes and passengers. Its statement of intent for the next three years revealed plans to diversify and sell off land it does...
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ONE STEP, FIVE BENEFITS: Why this new SPF issa busy peron’s best friend
If you’ve ever looked at a 10-step skincare routine and thought, love the idea, simply don’t have the time, you’re not alone. Between work, school drop-offs, getting to the gym or just getting out the door, the ‘perfect’ morning routine can feel like...
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Bump in rates not enough to cover fuel
An immediate increase to reimbursement rates for home support workers has been implemented in a bid to provide relief to some of the country’s lowest paid workers who are suffering from rising fuel prices. Minister of Health Simeon Brown said a 30%...
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Iconic Pork Chop Hill on the move
A clothing store celebrating Palmerston North and some of its well-known locations has become woven into the fabric of the city’s identity. Catherine Russ and Simon Francis opened Pork Chop Hill on Cuba St 12 years ago and its T-shirts emblazoned with...
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Council forking out an extra $2500 daily for fuel
Palmerston North’s council is facing “the same upward pressure on prices that households and business are”, as it spends an extra $2500 a day on fuel costs, the city’s mayor says. With little relief in the Middle East in sight, and a growing cost of...
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Camp not out of the woods
The “jewel in the crown for Pohangina” will not shut down, but who will carry the torch forward as a trustee for Camp Rangi Woods remains uncertain. “We’re quite disappointed. I’ve always seen Camp Rangi as a community facility,” said Camp Rangi Woods...
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Dancers step up on international stage
A group of young Palmerston North dancers will get to show their talents internationally in the hope it can further their careers. Maximum Dance Zone is sending two groups overseas this month, one to the She Shines On tour in the United States and...
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Trainer wants compensation
A Manawatū greyhound trainer who runs a multimillion-dollar operation wants to be compensated when the industry is shut down. Brendon Cole and his family run Bigtime Racing Kennels just outside Palmerston North. Before the Government announced in...
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Builder uses ‘nuclear’ option with Powerco
A Palmerston North building company has taken up an offer to talk to Powerco staff about customer experience, after it had to wait six months for a new power connection quote. On September 30, 2025, Homebuild Homes director Victoria Jakobs put in a...
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Land waste disposal out
Discharging some of Palmerston North’s treated wastewater to land has been wiped from the city council’s list of options for its Nature Calls project. The council on Wednesday discarded the last remaining option that included any land discharge,...
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Iwi housing input rejected
The Government has approved a district plan change to allow a large new housing development in Levin, but aspects relating to iwi involvement have been rejected. The Horowhenua District Council proposed to rezone 22 hectares of land on the northwest...
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Wedge the big cheese in burgeoning suburb
Forsaking the foot traffic and traditions of farmers’ markets in favour of a fledging suburb, a Feilding fromagerie is betting on its own neighbourhood. Alana Hiddink and Chris Perry opened Wedge.eatery in a modified shipping container yesterday, a...
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Borer scare at Te Manawa
The discovery of borer chewing holes in an old wooden high chair has triggered a comprehensive stocktake of 300,000 taonga held at Te Manawa. The museum’s lead collections manager Talei Langley said none of the art collection nor items on public...
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Critical failings found in mental health case probe
Health NZ is pushing ahead with improvements to its Whanganui mental health services after finding the care of an insane man who killed his mother while on a community treatment order lacked clinical oversight and whānau engagement. Leslie Raymond...
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Man’s chance to save kidney gone
Manawatū man Anthony Olsen is distraught that he will likely lose a kidney to cancer after five years of reporting errors and delays. Feeling sore and stressed, he and wife Donna are raging against MidCentral health providers for what they see as...
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Rural wellbeing gets boost
Making sure the mind and body is in good health can be just as important as getting a farm vehicle or tool checked. Amid the hundreds of exhibitors at the Central Districts Field Days, which started at Manfeild yesterday, a Government boost was...
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Injury triggers innovation
A docking invention born out of an injury could help reduce repetitive strain injuries on the farm. Feilding man Ben Nitschke’s invention is the electronic docking iron, or EDI – a new take on the traditional tool used to remove lambs’ tails to...
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Commitment, camaraderie in stride
Friends Freja Kirk, left, and Paige Ramson, reach the finish line in tandem at the Weet-Bix TRYathlon at Ongley Park yesterday. Hundreds of children took part in the annual event, most finishing with a sweaty smile.
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Dibble Studio forging out its own path
A well-known name in the art world is continuing but a new era is under way at Dibble Studio. Dibble Studio is about to launch the exhibition Rewilding at the James Blackie gallery in Wellington, starting on March 28. The studio is a team of people...
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Ostriches captivate couple
A feathery new addition to a roadside coffee spot in Himatangi is proving to be a captivating experience for those stopping in for their daily fix, but its owners say breeding the world’s largest bird has proven more difficult than...
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$2m repair bill for stormdamaged roads
Two councils are grappling with how to cover huge bills for damage caused by February’s storm. The wider region was hit by strong wind and rain in February, causing havoc and knocking trees over in many areas, including Rangitīkei and Horowhenua. A...
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An ‘unmitigated disaster’
Racing at Awapuni Racecourse won’t be back on the grass turf until the end of 2027, but the organisation that runs the venue is confident it can survive. The Palmerston North racecourse closed its grass track in October 2023 for a 19-month renovation...
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NZ Post compensation sought
A Palmerston North dairy owner wants compensation from NZ Post for the removal of her mail service, as she believes she will be out of pocket. Heena Patel runs Albert Street Dairy in Hokowhitu and has an NZ Post service counter, allowing people to...
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New principal returns home
A refreshed energy and drive is sweeping through Hato Pāora College with a new principal. Kahurangi Falaoa, who is an old boy of the Catholic Māori boys’ boarding school near Cheltenham, started as tumuaki this term. He takes over the role from Nathan...
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Final failure
New Zealand’s latest quest to land a men’s white-ball World Cup crown fell flat in Ahmedabad. The Black Caps were pummeled by 96 runs by India in the 2026 T20 final yesterday. The home side put on 92 without loss in the six-over power play after...
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53km run in name of resilience
Hundreds of children supported Sam Howard as he ran for six hours straight to raise funds for the Cancer Society. The father and former nurse was running around a track at Ashhurst School on Friday to launch the school’s 2026 Relay for Life...
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Liquidated Lion Academy sells property to pay down outstanding debts
A now insolvent corporate retreat company still owes thousands of dollars to creditors including ANZ, and liquidators are unable to say when the liquidation process will wind up. The Lion Academy was put into liquidation by the High Court at...
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Neighbour always ready to help
Living next door to one of Palmerston North’s crash black spots, Kate and Ben Millar keep a torch, a towel, an emergency kit and hi-vis vests handy at the back door. Every four to six weeks they hear a crash at the intersection of Longburn-Rongotea Rd...
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Fears for Turitea School traffic
“We don’t want a fatality to be the thing that affects change.” That was the grim warning from Turitea School board member Fraser Ponsford, putting the case for lower speeds on Old West Rd around the school at drop-off and pick-up times. He appeared...
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Harvesting at full throttle
A possible improvement to eel life in Lake Horowhenua could be a sign weed harvesting work is making a difference in the polluted lake. Punahau Lake Horowhenua has great cultural significance to local iwi but is one of the most polluted lakes in the...
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Soldier in court martial trial
A junior soldier socialising at a military bar in Trentham has indecently assaulted a fellow comrade with a pool cue and headbutted another when they tried to intervene. Private David Arahanga had already put his hands on another female when the...
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Exposing a legacy of cruelty
Inhumane practices inflicted under the guise of medicine have left patients with lifelong injuries and memory loss, with some unable to recall having children or getting married. Their harrowing stories are being told in a travelling exhibition...
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Mountainbike park destroyed by storm
Mountainbikers in Foxton are in need of a new home due to storm damage having destroyed their park. Last week’s storm caused havoc across the region, including at Foxton, where strong winds blew down multiple trees at Target Reserve on the northern...
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Storm-blown albatross ready for ocean release
A northern royal albatross blown ashore in last week’s storm has made a guest star appearance at Wildbase Recovery in Palmerston North. Found at Pirinoa in Wairarapa, the adult female was brought to Wildbase Hospital at Massey University in a...
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Coach’s success after abuse brings extra hurt
A promising tennis player sexually abused by her former coach has told a court how her parents pushed his employers to act on the indecent assaults, but instead they promoted him to senior roles. John Philip Salisbury, 67, went on to complete an...
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Calls to tighten the leash
Pet owners are worried not enough is being done to tackle dangerous dogs in Palmerston North in the wake of three serious attacks elsewhere in the country. The fatal mauling of Northland woman Mihiata Te Rore on February 17, or the subsequent serious...
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UCOL looks to the future
A new chapter of independence is emerging at UCOL now that the polytechnic has transitioned away from the national body, Te Pūkenga, to become its own entity. The new semester at UCOL, which has campuses in Palmerston North, Whanganui, Levin and...
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Curtain call for theatre
What remains of the old Manawatū Teachers’ College auditorium, latterly the Wallace Development Company Theatre, is being crushed. The 1970s theatre is making way for the third stage of the company’s Centennial Park housing subdivision. Company...
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Retrieving liberty with lead in hand
At an age when most adolescents begin testing which tethers they can sever on their path to independence, a Manawatū teen is instead latching a leash and hoping to find freedom with the help of a fourlegged companion. “Sammy will be the one asking if...
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Another storm hinders work
The wild storm that lashed the region this week has added to the challenge of doing flood protection work and repairs on a limited budget. Horizons Regional Council is this week holding annual meetings for its river schemes, usually for people to...
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Golf clubs left in the rough
The future of two golf clubs is in doubt after sustaining major storm damage. Heavy rain and wind hit the region on Sunday night and Monday morning, and a state of emergency was declared on Sunday for the entire Horizons region, but that was...
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Big cleanup ahead
The raging Pohangina River has receded but flood waters have left behind a huge mess on large areas of farm land. The cleanup had begun for many people after the wider Manawatū was hammered by strong wind and heavy rain on Sunday and Monday, with a...
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Relief as storm fears fade
A night of gritted teeth gave way to sighs of relief yesterday as the wider Manawatū was spared major calamity. The storm that triggered a region-wide state of emergency and fears of devastating floods brought wild winds but not the heavy rain...
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Manu comp the bomb
The Papaioea Palmerston North Manu Comp, an official qualifier for the 2026 Manu World Champs, made quite a splash on Saturday for competitors and fans alike.
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Free swims retained for preschoolers
Preschoolers and their caregivers will continue to be able to swim for free at Palmerston North’s Lido and other pools, despite entry fees going up 10% for other users. City council staff had proposed introducing a $3 charge for people supervising up...
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