Dictionary of Palmerston North Biography
About the DPNB
Our dictionary will be the foremost reference work on the lives of people who shaped Palmerston North's history and culture from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. Our dictionary is inspired by the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Initiated by THEN—Histories of Pāmutana, the dictionary project was launched on Saturday 1 March 2025 in collaboration with the Palmerston North City Library during Heritage Month, at Te Rangimarie Marae, Rangiotu.
Who has been nominated so far?
How can I nominate someone online?
Visit https://bit.ly/DictionaryPNBiography to fill in a form and nominate someone who died prior to 2020. You do not need to provide your own details.
Why do we need a dictionary?
- So we can better understand the impact of people associated with our city
- In order to understand the distinctive characteristics of Palmerstonians
- To help correct the national record (Did you know acclaimed modernist painter Rita Angus grew up in Palmerston North?)
- For inspiration for new books, murals, street names ...
- To encourage new biographical research
- A reliable and trusted source for teachers, schools and researchers
How will the dictionary be created?
A nomination stand will be present at events across Heritage Month 2025. Often there will be a bio-lexicographer on hand to talk about the dictionary and to help you make a nomination.
An advisory panel will assess each nomination during 2025 and determine the first set of names to form the dictionary. Between March 2025 and March 2027, the dictionary will continue to receive nominations - on paper and online. We are receiving nominations for people who died prior to 2020.
Contact
then.historiesofpamutana@gmail.com
