Heritage Festival

A low-angle photograph looking up at the facade of a concrete building. Three Māori pou, painted red, stand on a ledge to the right of a small crest, while the upper half of another pou occupies the foreground.

Sun 8 Mar - Sun 12 Apr

Self-led tour: Figures of Pāmutana

More than 20 people associated with our rohe are remembered or recognised in public artworks around the city.

Photograph of a rusted old tractor in a carpeted room, next to a wall of unpainted wooden boards. The tractor appears dusted with old mud and has large, spikily ridged back wheels. Behind the tractor is an alcove with shelves holding antique objects.

Sun 8 Mar - Sun 12 Apr

Manawatū Journeys

Manawatū Journeys focuses on European settlement from the 1870s to 1970s.

Photograph of a wheeled display cabinet holding various medical instruments under a glass case. Behind the cabinet is a large poster depicting a front-and-back anatomical illustration of a human figure without skin, and the words "The Medical Museum 1980".

Sun 8 Mar - Sun 12 Apr

Warnock Medical Museum

Browse a selection of medical instruments and equipment dating from the New Zealand wars to the present day.

Black-and-white photograph of a man leaning against the hood of a car in a desert landscape, smiling into camera. Behind the car, a road bisects the frame, and behind that is a bank of scrubby plants and a range of mountains.

Sun 8 Mar - Sun 12 Apr

Out in the Field

Peter Bush (1930–2023) was a legendary New Zealand photojournalist with an insatiable desire to discover and record the world.

A woven flax mat depicting a white and blue striped jug against a background of horizontal blue, brown and green bars. Immediately below the jug is a red stripe with yellow text reading "INSTANT SUNSHINE".

Sun 8 Mar - Sun 12 Apr

Robin White: Tuituia | Something Is Happening Here

For over 50 years, Dame Robin White’s art has portrayed people and their environments in Aotearoa New Zealand, Kiribati, Fiji, Tonga, and beyond.

Bound book of newspapers. Book is open to a page with a red advert and the front page of the Guardian.

Sun 8 Mar - Sat 11 Apr

The Manawatū Guardian Collection

A selection of items from the Manawatū Guardian collection, highlighting unique stories from the Manawatū.

A crowd of sports fans wearing black and white, some with black stripes painted on their cheeks, react to something behind the camera. They are in a large room with a bar and TV screen visible in the top left corner. Some members of the crowd are pumping their fists in the air or have their hands to their mouths.

Sun 8 Mar - Sat 11 Apr

The Art and Science of Photojournalism

A curated selection of images and videos from Manawatū Standard photojournalist Warwick Smith.

Black-and-white photograph of men in early- or mid-20th-century clothes, looking out from the side of a ship. Some of them wear white armbands over their coats and most are looking toward the camera. A piece of netting hangs down the side of the ship.

Sun 8 Mar - Sat 11 Apr

Exploring our Southern European and Balkan Heritage in Palmerston North

75 years ago, this year, the SS Goya sailed to New Zealand bringing displaced persons from Central, Southern and Eastern Europe as skilled labourers to fill the post WW2 labour shortage.

Silver airplane in a hanger being worked on. The airplane has a black propellor with yellow tips, and blue, white and red bullseyes on the wings and side. There is also black and yellow checks.

Mon 9 Mar 9:50am - 12:45pm

Guided Visit: Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre

Housing airworthy examples of iconic WWII combat aircraft and other military aircraft on display, the trip to Biggin Hill is not to be missed! Brendon Deere will share insights on how the aircraft serve as a living memorial to all who have served their country in the air.

A black-and-white photograph of 3 teenaged boys standing with bicycles on a street. The bicycles are mounted with wooden crates filled with newspapers. There are buildings, parked cars and more cyclists in the background, and hills on the horizon.

Mon 9 Mar 1:00pm - 2:00pm

From Evening Standard to the Dawn of Digital

Join Manawatū Standard editorial leaders Matthew Dallas, Janine Rankin and Warwick Smith as they discuss the evolution of a regional newsroom; from decision-making to news gathering and photography.

Close-up photograph of a hand holding a pen, resting on a table that holds a notebook, a tablet, a camera and cups and saucers.

Mon 9 Mar 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Manawatū Writers' Hub

Join local writers for an evening of sharing and connection.

A person wearing white gloves, holding some negatives up to compare them with some images on a computer screen. Along with the computer, there is a variety of equipment on the blue table the person is sitting at.

Tue 10 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Tue 10 Mar 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Craft Group

Want to contribute to a Heritage Festival craft project? The group is crafting heritage granny squares to form a blanket during the Heritage Festival.

Photograph taken in the late evening, with grassy lawn in the foreground and a cluster of illuminated information boards around a tree in the mid-ground. Behind the information boards is a fence running across the length of the frame, and behind the fence are parked cars and streetlights.

Tue 10 Mar 1:30pm - 2:30pm

He Pou Kōrero

Join us on an adventure to Ashhurst School and discover the recently installed He Pou Kōrero.

Photograph of a person using a VR headset and hand-held controllers, against a background of long windows with slatted blinds. They are smiling and moving their arms. A chair and table occupy the left mid-ground.

Tue 10 Mar 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Virtual Reality (VR) Sessions

Step into the immersive world of virtual reality to discover more of Aotearoa New Zealand's history and heritage.

Half-body photograph of a man in a blue polar fleece and grey bucket hat, standing beside a bank of sphagnum moss and ferns. He is holding some moss in his right hand and pieces of fern in his left.

Tue 10 Mar 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Small plants that are everywhere: mosses, liverworts, and lichens

New Zealand is the world’s hotspot for liverworts, with over 600 species.

Photograph of the front of a tan-coloured colonial-era villa with verandah and corrugated iron roof. There is a gravel path that runs up to the front steps of the verandah and around two garden beds on either side. Behind the house is a wall of pine trees.

Wed 11 Mar 8:45am - 12:30pm

The Woolshed Café and House Eras Tour

Treat yourself to morning tea at The Woolshed Café, followed by a unique, audio-guided heritage walk of seven carefully restored New Zealand houses dating from 1860s to 1960s.

Photo of three people with orange gloves inspecting a table of boxes and museum artefacts.

Wed 11 Mar 11:00am - 1:00pm

Back of House Tour: Te Manawa Museum of Arts, Science and Heritage

Step behind the scenes at Te Manawa Museum of Arts, Science and Heritage, and glimpse into the collection stores where 45,000 artefacts of Manawatū history rest.

Two people examining a book open on a long wooden table. On the walls around them are a tapa cloth, a painted piece of abstract art and a large aerial photograph of a city.

Wed 11 Mar 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Several items arranged on a cloth embroidered with flowers: a yellow and purple knitted scarf, a silver-coloured trophy cup, a small bag woven from flax, and a black-and-white photograph of a seated couple in a frame decorated with blue flowers.

Wed 11 Mar 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Treasures with Tania: Generations!

Share a little of your family history in friendly conversation.

An old photographic portrait of an unsmiling man wearing round, black-rimmed spectacles, a campaign hat, and a suit and tie. He is posed at a 3 quarter angle.

Wed 11 Mar 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Bohumil Pospíšil: Interwar Globetrotter and Adventurer

Learn about interwar globetrotter and adventurer Bohumil Pospíšil (1902-1974).

Thu 12 Mar 12:00pm - 1:00pm

21st Anniversary of the NZDF Response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Banda Aceh (January - March 2005)

This presentation explores the deployment of NZDF personnel to Banda Aceh, Indonesia in January 2005; including mobilisation, an overview of the impacts of the tsunami, ANZAC Medical Team tasks and the lessons identified for future Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) deployments.

An ink and watercolour painting of a body of water, with mountains on the horizon. There is a farm and church on one bank, and the other is covered in bush.

Thu 12 Mar 2:00pm - 3:30pm

The Lagoons at Awapuni

Hokowhitu (Centennial) Lagoon is the last remaining “oxbow” lagoon within the Palmerston North city boundary.

Thu 12 Mar 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Virtual Reality (VR) Sessions

Step into the immersive world of virtual reality to discover more of Aotearoa New Zealand's history and heritage.

Two pages of an old lined notebook containing cramped but elegant handwriting in a mixture of ink and pencil.

Thu 12 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Histories and Mysteries in the Collections: The Ian Matheson City Archives

The Ian Matheson City Archives provides unique insights into the municipal and community-focused histories of Palmerston North, with a collection encompassing both the PNCC Archives and records of local people, families, businesses and organisations.

Fri 13 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Fri 13 Mar 10:30am - 11:30am

Treasures with Tania: Generations!

Share a little of your family history in friendly conversation facilitated by local NZ Society Genealogists member Dr Tania Kopytko.

Fri 13 Mar 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Guided Tour: New Zealand Rugby Museum

Be guided on your visit to the iconic New Zealand Rugby Museum by Director Stephen Berg.

Photograph of a smiling woman standing between rocky outcrops that are covered in lichen.

Fri 13 Mar 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Off the Page: Everything But the Medicine

Join Lucy O'Hagan to celebrate her memoir Everything But the Medicine, a candid insight into the life and work of a general practitioner.

Photograph of a smiling woman wearing a blue shawl and holding a wicker basket full of herbs and flowers. She is surrounded by tall, green undergrowth.

Sat 14 Mar 10:30am - 12:30pm

Journal Your Life with Helen Lehndorf

Have you ever wanted to start a journal practice but aren't sure how to get started? In this informative and fun-filled workshop you will do some creative journaling and collage activities.

A member of the public receiving assistance from a genealogist.

Sat 14 Mar 10:30am - 12:30pm

Connecting the Genealogy Dots

Do you have a family history question you need help to answer? Drop in any time from 10:30am to 12:30am and members of the Palmerston North Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) will be available to help you find your way.

Sat 14 Mar 11:00am - 12:00pm

Artist Talk: Dame Robin White with Dr Sarah Farrar

A special opportunity to hear Dame Robin White in conversation with Dr Sarah Farrar about Robin White: Tuituia | Something Is Happening Here, a Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa touring exhibition that explores the trajectories of Robin’s artistic career.

Photograph of a cemetery with a paved pathway running between two rows of graves. In the foreground is a weathered stone mausoleum.

Sat 14 Mar 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Terrace End Cemetery Tour

Join Leanne Croon Hickman and local New Zealand Society of Genealogists member Geraldine Reynolds, on their popular tour to ‘meet’ some of the interesting residents of Palmerston North’s oldest existing cemetery.

Portion of a bridge over a wide, tree-covered gorge. In the foreground is a white beam with curling, abstract protuberance, while beyond that is the bridge's paved grey footpath and rust-coloured guardrail.

Sat 14 Mar 6:00pm - 7:45pm

Te Hīkoi Toi at Te Ahu a Turanga Highway

Discover how the mahi toi embedded in the highway expresses relationships between the four Iwi involved in the project.

Red miniature railway driven by a man with a white shirt and black tie carrying children and adults. The train is coming on a curve with trees in the background. .

Sun 15 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Ride the Esplanade Scenic Railway

The Esplanade Scenic Railway was opened in 1969 by the Manawatu Miniature Railway and Model Engineering Society.

Sun 15 Mar 10:00am - 2:00pm

Virtual Reality (VR) Sessions

Step into the immersive world of virtual reality to discover more of Aotearoa New Zealand's history and heritage.

Photo of a stately yellow house with green and white trim, red roof and glass conservatory surrounded by lush green hedge trees and plantings.

Sun 15 Mar 11:00am - 4:00pm

Caccia Birch - bring a picnic!

Palmerston North's only Category 1 historic property was built in 1893 by local sawmiller Jacob Nannestad.

Photograph of a person pushing a wheelbarrow full of plant matter down a grassy incline. There is a small stand of trees and flax in front of the figure and a cliff wall in the background. A green information board is partially visible behind the stand of trees.

Sun 15 Mar 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Walkshop: Edwards Pit Park

The strata in the exposed cliff at Edwards Pit Park contains a record of how the landscape around Palmerston North evolved in response to climate change (glacial and interglacial) and mountain erosion.

A black-and-white mosaic of two repeating head-and-shoulders drawings: one of a smiling woman in a round hat, and the other of a young man in soldier's uniform.

Sun 15 Mar 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Sorrowing Mothers Workshop

The Palmerston North War Memorial in Te Marae o Hine – The Square was unveiled 100 years ago, in February 1926.

Sun 15 Mar 5:00pm - 6:30pm

An Uncommon Land

Dr Catherine Knight is an award‑winning environmental historian and author.

Large yellow stone building with maroon awning that says "Regent on Broadway".

Mon 16 Mar 11:00am - 12:00pm

Guided Tour: Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre is 96 this year! Built by J C Williamson Ltd, the theatre opened on the 4th of July 1930.

Mon 16 Mar 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Sorrowing Mothers Workshop

The Palmerston North War Memorial in Te Marae o Hine – The Square was unveiled 100 years ago, in February 1926.

Photograph of World War 2-era tank with flowers wrapped around its main gun, situated on a platform in front of a brutalist-style building complex. The words "The Kippenberger Pavillion" appear in brass lettering on the front of the nearest building.

Tue 17 Mar 8:30am - 4:00pm

Guided Visit: New Zealand National Army Museum

Join us on a visit to the New Zealand National Army Museum at Waiouru.

Tue 17 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Tue 17 Mar 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Craft Group

Want to contribute to a Heritage Festival craft project? The group is crafting heritage granny squares to form a blanket during the Heritage Festival.

A half-body photograph of a man smiling into camera, wearing a black shirt with bolo tie and grey blazer. In the background are three people sitting at a table, in front of a slatted wooden screen or wall.

Tue 17 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Te Rongo mai whiti – Language heritage

A look at the linguistic connection of te reo Mā'ohi (Tahitian) to te reo Māori.

Tue 17 Mar 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Do New Zealand’s active faults and volcanoes talk to each other? Insights from 25 years of trenching ancient faults

Pilar Villamor is an internationally respected earthquake geologist and principal scientist whose research on active faults and volcano–tectonic interactions in Aotearoa New Zealand has had a transformative impact on our understanding of natural hazards.

Section of a map showing the Manawatu River and Palmerston North Esplanade between He Ara Kōtahi bridge and Fitzherbert Avenue, labelling different sections of the Esplanade.

Wed 18 Mar 10:30am - 11:30am

Walkshop: Explore the Evolution of the Victoria Esplanade

Discover how one of Palmy's most loved places has been transforming over the past decade.

Wed 18 Mar 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Treasures with Tania: Generations!

Share a little of your family history in friendly conversation facilitated by local NZ Society Genealogists member Dr Tania Kopytko.

Wed 18 Mar 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

A person dressed in black and white stands calf-deep in the sea, looking away from the camera. There are clouds on the horizon, and a seagull in flight in the top-right corner of the frame.

Wed 18 Mar 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Film screening: Grace: A Prayer for Peace

Artist Dame Robin White (Ngāti Awa) has spent more than five decades creating work which ranges from iconic New Zealand landscapes to collaborative tapa cloth.

2026 03 19 Doctor Nurses Volunteers and a Bank Holdup

Thu 19 Mar 1:00pm - 2:00pm

The Doctor, The Nurses, The Volunteers who died, and a Bank Hold Up in Palmerston North – NZ and the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

This year, on 17 July, marks the 90th anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War.

Black-and-white photograph of 2 men holding up a decorated shield, with a large crowd behind them. The crowd are gathered outside a single-storey building with the words "Palmerston North" on its façade.

Thu 19 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Shield Fever: Reflections on Manawatū’s Ranfurly Shield Tenure 1976-78

Why did holding the Ranfurly Shield mean so much to Palmerstonians? Sports historian Associate Professor Geoff Watson, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, reflects on Manawatū’s shield tenure within the context of sport and society in New Zealand at that time.

Thu 19 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

30 years on, has MMP delivered?

In 1996 New Zealanders voted under the new mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system for the first time.

Fri 20 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Fri 20 Mar 2:30pm - 4:15pm

Te Hīkoi Toi at Te Ahu a Turanga Highway

Discover how the mahi toi embedded in the highway expresses relationships between the four Iwi involved in the project.

Fri 20 Mar 6:00pm - 7:30pm

World Poetry Day: Poems Without Borders: An Evening with Margaret Austin

To celebrate World Poetry Day join us for an evening of poetry with Margaret Austin inspired by her experiences during the 1970’s/80’s in Amsterdam, Athens and above all Paris.

Photograph of rugby players in a scrum, with the arms of two other players in the foreground on either side, and in the background spectators sitting in the bleachers.

Sat 21 Mar 9:00am - 5:00pm

Rugby Jamboree

If you have a rugby collection worth bragging about, a pet project to show off, an idea for a book, a growing website or a much needed database - come along and share.

Photograph of a man standing beside a motorcycle and smiling into camera, against a background of rolling hills.

Sat 21 Mar 9:30am - 5:00pm

Motorcycle Ride with the Manawatū Classic Motorcycle Club

Join members of the Manawatū Classic Motorcycle Club on a ride to Thomson’s Motorcycle Museum with the choice to ride on to The Great Manawatū Steam Fair.

Thomson Motorcycle Museum 67 A5335 February 24 2022

Sat 21 Mar 10:00am - 4:00pm

Thomson’s Motorcycle Museum

Visit the home of New Zealand's motorcycling heritage with over 100 motorcycles on display, dating from 1904 to the present day.

Sat 21 Mar 10:00am - 4:00pm

The Great Manawatū Steam Fair

Join the Steam Traction Society for their annual fair! See history come alive with live displays, free trailer rides, steam sports and the chance to steer an engine with one of their qualified drivers.

Two pages of a document. The left-hand page contains a passport-style photograph of a child wearing a winter coat. The facing page is headed "Certificate: Under section 33 of the Immigration Restriction Act, 1908" and includes information about the certificate-holder.

Sat 21 Mar 10:30am - 11:30am

Impact of the Poll Tax on Chinese in New Zealand

Business leader and current chair of the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust Rodney Wong, in discussion with retired lawyer, and past chair of the trust, Tony Thackery, examine the impact of the 1881 Poll Tax imposed on Chinese immigrants in New Zealand.

Sat 21 Mar 11:00am - 12:00pm

Guided Tour: Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre is 96 this year! Built by J C Williamson Ltd, the theatre opened on the 4th of July 1930.

Photograph of a man from the waist up, in front of a wall covered with layers of torn posters and graffiti. The man has arms folded and is looking right, away from camera. He is wearing a dark sleeveless vest and blue checked shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms.

Sat 21 Mar 2:30pm - 4:30pm

World Poetry and Race Relations Day: Open Mic and Potluck Afternoon Tea

To celebrate World Poetry and Race Relations Day join us for a Community Open Mic.

Sat 21 Mar 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Pūrerehua: True stories told live in Palmy

True stories told honestly from the heart, bringing community together.

Sun 22 Mar 9:00am - 5:00pm

Rugby Jamboree

If you have a rugby collection worth bragging about, a pet project to show off, an idea for a book, a growing website or a much needed database - come along and share.

Sun 22 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Make your ‘own tiny statement’ – badge making sessions

We have been inspired! The book Tiny statements: a social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges by award-winning authors Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault, delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, to belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Sun 22 Mar 10:00am - 4:00pm

The Great Manawatū Steam Fair

Join the Steam Traction Society for their annual fair! See history come alive with live displays, free trailer rides, steam sports and the chance to steer an engine with one of their qualified drivers.

Sun 22 Mar 10:30am - 12:30pm

Creative Writing Workshop: BYO....stories

In this creative writing workshop, award winning poet Leonel Alvarado asks: What stories come with us when we move to another place? How do they shape who we now are, and how is that place shaped by them? Is writing poetry a way to make sense of our new life? In BYO… stories, and let’s try to find out together.

Coloured photo of long building in a green grass field. Brick base with arched entrances and red tin roof with tower.

Sun 22 Mar 11:00am - 4:00pm

Open Day: Hoffman Kiln

The Hoffman Kiln was built in 1904 and opened in early 1905 (although no official opening date has been confirmed).

Photo of a graveyard with white and red stone headstones of various sizes and ages and most graves encased in concrete.

Sun 22 Mar 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Guided Tour: Ashhurst Cemetery

Well-known for her tours of Terrace End Cemetery, local historian Leanne Croon Hickman, turns her focus to Ashhurst.

Black-and-white photograph of a wedding party posed outside a house, dressed in Edwardian formal attire.

Sun 22 Mar 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Genealogy Workshop: Start Your Heritage Journey

Join members of the Palmerston North Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists Dr.

Mon 23 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Black-and-white photograph of a moustachioed man with a woman who is holding a baby. The man and woman are dressed formally and are smiling at the camera, while the baby is looking off to one side.

Mon 23 Mar 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Exploring our Southern European and Balkan Heritage in Palmerston North

A presentation from the Untold Stories team Dr Tania Kopytko, Susie Tsaclis, Mary Zambazos, and Mychelle Mihaloff to celebrate the 75th anniversary of arrival of Displaced Persons on the Goya migrant ships, who settled in Palmerston North and the heritage they brought with them – their journey, retaining their cultures and their cuisine.

Mon 23 Mar 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Guided Tour: New Zealand Rugby Museum

Be guided on your visit to the iconic New Zealand Rugby Museum by Director Stephen Berg.

A lattice work panel of flax dyed white and yellow, woven across dark horizontal bars to form an abstract pattern.

Tue 24 Mar 10:00am - 11:30am

Te Whatu Rāranga O Highbury Weavers Collective

Join members of the Te Whatu Rāranga O Highbury Weavers Collective as they share information about the plants, the tools and the technology used for the process of rāranga.

Yellow church building with terracotta tile roof, blue sky background.

Tue 24 Mar 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Guided Talk and Tour: 150th Pathways Presbyterian Church

Join historian Geoff Watson and the Very Reverend Pamela Tankersley, for a talk-and-tour as they trace the history of the Pathways Presbyterian Church and its work in the community from the 1870s to the present day.

Tue 24 Mar 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Craft Group

Want to contribute to a Heritage Festival craft project? The group is crafting heritage granny squares to form a blanket during the Heritage Festival.

A photograph of a four-propellered airplane flying the New Zealand flag, parked on a runway.

Tue 24 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

35th Anniversary of the RNZAF Deployment to the First Gulf War in 1991

Wed 25 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Make your ‘own tiny statement’ – badge making sessions

We have been inspired! The book Tiny statements: a social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges by award-winning authors Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault, delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, to belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Black-and-white photograph of the interior of a large A-frame greenhouse, with garden beds containing flowers running along the edges of the room and decorative shrubbery taking up the centre. Two women in the left mid-ground look at the camera, while other people at the far-end of the room examine flowers.

Wed 25 Mar 10:30am - 11:30am

Walkshop: The Peter Black Conservatory - Past and Present

Join Professor Emeritus Mike Roche on a short walk to observe some features of the Victoria Esplanade before listening to a commentary on the work of Peter Black, who served as Curator of Reserves from 1908 to 1946, and whose name the conservatory bears.

Wed 25 Mar 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Half-body photograph of a bearded man in a white hoodie sitting against a white wall, smiling and looking off-camera. On the wall, partially visible, is a piece of art showing a kōwhaiwhai pattern in orange, blue, black and green.

Wed 25 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Kōwhaiwhai - A lifelong pursuit

Professor Ngataiharuru Taepa, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, is a Toi Māori practitioner who comes from the tribes of Te Atiawa, Te Arawa, Kahungungu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne.

Photograph of a clock tower at night, against a background of buildings and the night sky. The base, internal shaft and top of the clocktower are lit up in purple.

Thu 26 Mar

70 Years of Epilepsy New Zealand – Purple Day

In 2026, Epilepsy New Zealand celebrates 70 years of supporting people with epilepsy, their families, whānau and communities.

Thu 26 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Top-down photograph of four ukeleles lying flat beside each other and painted different colours: red, yellow, green and pink - against a blue background

Thu 26 Mar 11:00am - 12:00pm

Community Ukulele Sing-along

A fun community sing-along led by HUG (Horowhenua Ukulele Group) for all those who love music.

A group of smiling people in formal evening wear, superimposed upon a background of black curtains and grey and black balloons. The man at the front is reclining on the floor, propped up on one elbow, while two people sit behind him and the other eight stand behind them.

Thu 26 Mar 11:00am - 12:00pm

Operatunity – celebrating 25 years!

The musical celebration Operatunity’s 25th Birthday Bash! honours the past 25 years of Operatunity Daytime Concerts touring New Zealand.

Blurry black-and-white photograph of a man and woman standing in front of an early 20th century car, which is parked on a street with buildings in the background. The man stands on the ground, looking at camera, and the woman stands on the car's running board, looking to her right. There is a Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision watermark in the top-right corner.

Thu 26 Mar 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Early NZ Film Community Comedies - Frances of Feilding

Enjoy this presentation and special screening, the latter from the archives of Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.

Thu 26 Mar 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Histories and Mysteries in the Collections: Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC – Library, Museum and Chapel)

Join LTCOL (Rtd) Joe Hollander, ECMC Director, on a journey of 20 artefacts (out of 60,000) across seven themes from the Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC) Museum.

Fri 27 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

A display case lit from within, containing objects of a military nature, including rifle, map, photographs, bugle, gas mask, hats, and pieces of uniform on a mannequin torso.

Fri 27 Mar 10:30am - 12:30pm

Guided Visit: Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC)

Visit the Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC) Library, Museum and Chapel at Linton Camp.

Fri 27 Mar 2:00pm - 3:00pm

The Manawatū Guardian Collection: A Taonga for the City

Gifted to the City Library in late 2024, the Manawatū Guardian collection consists of every edition of the printed newspaper since the first edition in July 21, 1972.

Head-and-shoulders photographic portrait of a man in a suit and tie, turned at a three-quarter angle and smiling into camera.

Fri 27 Mar 6:00pm - 7:30pm

A Farming Story Like No Other

A family turned Hawke's Bay scrubland into farming gold.

Sat 28 Mar 10:30am - 12:30pm

Guided Visit: Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC)

Visit the Engineer Corps Memorial Centre (ECMC) Library, Museum and Chapel at Linton Camp.

Black-and-white photograph of 21 children on and beside a large swing suspended from a metal frame. In the background is a mown field edged with trees, with a path that runs to a small single-storey building.

Sat 28 Mar 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Genealogy Workshop: Memories of School Days

Join local New Zealand Society of Genealogists member Linley Robinson for this one-hour workshop.

Head-and-shoulders photographic portrait of a woman smiling into camera, against a white background.

Sat 28 Mar 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Traces of a City: Mr Ward’s Map

Long before GPS and digital mapping, Wellington had its own master surveyor Thomas Ward.

Photograph taken inside a Kōhanga Reo classroom. In the foreground, an adult and a group of animated children sit on cushions on the polished wooden floor, all looking off-camera. Tables, chairs and sofas occupy the background, around which more adults and children sit and stand, one playing a guitar, others in conversation.

Sat 28 Mar 5:30pm - 6:30pm

The Enduring Impact of Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori in the Manawatū

In 2026, kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori, wharekura and whare wānanga are familiar parts of the educational landscape in Aotearoa.

Sun 29 Mar 8:45am - 12:30pm

The Woolshed Café and House Eras Tour

Treat yourself to morning tea at The Woolshed Café, followed by a unique, audio-guided heritage walk of seven carefully restored New Zealand houses dating from 1860s to 1960s.

Sun 29 Mar 9:50am - 12:45pm

Guided Visit: Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre

Housing airworthy examples of iconic WWII combat aircraft and other military aircraft on display, the trip to Biggin Hill is not to be missed! Brendon Deere will share insights on how the aircraft serve as a living memorial to all who have served their country in the air.

Black-and-white photographic portrait of a man at three-quarter angle, dressed in formal Victorian attire, with bowtie and boutonnière. The man has a mustache and a pointed beard.

Sun 29 Mar 11:00am - 12:00pm

Nils Magnus Person: Sexton of Terrace End Cemetery

This presentation by historian Leanne Croon Hickman explores the story of Nils Magnus Person, the outspoken Swedish caretaker who transformed Terrace End Cemetery and then challenged the officials who dismissed him.

Photograph of a steam-powered ice machine with large wheel in the foreground.

Sun 29 Mar 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Open Day: Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum

Hosted by owner/operators Roxanne and Damian Groves, this is a great opportunity to view a private collection of historic machinery, featuring a comprehensive collection of stationary steam engines, small locomotives and steam rollers.

Tall brick building with concrete pillars. Green barn door at bottom.

Sun 29 Mar 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Open Day: Palmerston North Electric Power Station

When the station was officially opened in 1924, Palmerston North was the last borough in New Zealand to get a public electricity supply.

Sun 29 Mar 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Terrace End Cemetery Tour

Join Leanne Croon Hickman and local New Zealand Society of Genealogists member Geraldine Reynolds, on their popular tour to ‘meet’ some of the interesting residents of Palmerston North’s oldest existing cemetery.

Sun 29 Mar 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Sorrowing Mothers Workshop

The Palmerston North War Memorial in Te Marae o Hine – The Square was unveiled 100 years ago, in February 1926.

A black, triangular mountain peak with stylised snowcap in the lower third of the frame, against a watery background depicting billowing clouds. Two red hands, entering from the left, occupy the left centre-ground, while a stylised head with black hair enters from the right and appears to be looking away from the viewer.

Mon 30 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Guided Art Tour: Baby Steps with Brent Harris – Home and Back Again

Bring your little ones to the art gallery for a short tour of painting and printmaking by Palmy ex-pat Brent Harris with Exhibition Curator, Sian van Dyk.

Mon 30 Mar 2:30pm - 3:30pm

Sorrowing Mothers Workshop

The Palmerston North War Memorial in Te Marae o Hine – The Square was unveiled 100 years ago, in February 1926.

Mon 30 Mar 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Treasures with Tania: Generations!

Share a little of your family history in friendly conversation facilitated by local NZ Society Genealogists member Dr Tania Kopytko.

Tue 31 Mar 7:00am - 6:30pm

Guided Visit: NZ Micrographic Services, National Library of New Zealand, Archives NZ and the Parliamentary Library

Have you ever wondered about the complexities around digitising old documents and images? Or wanted to view the declaration, treaty and petition that shaped our nation? Curious about what is in the national archive? Or how the library at Parliament works?

Tue 31 Mar 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Tue 31 Mar 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Craft Group

Want to contribute to a Heritage Festival craft project? The group is crafting heritage granny squares to form a blanket during the Heritage Festival.

Wed 1 Apr 10:30am - 11:30am

Walkshop: Edwards Pit Park

The strata in the exposed cliff at Edwards Pit Park contains a record of how the landscape around Palmerston North evolved in response to climate change (glacial and interglacial) and mountain erosion.

Wed 1 Apr 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Treasures with Tania: Generations!

Share a little of your family history in friendly conversation facilitated by local NZ Society Genealogists member Dr Tania Kopytko.

Wed 1 Apr 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Help Sessions

Spend 30 minutes, one-on-one with a skilled heritage practitioner.

Head-and-shoulders photographic portrait of a woman smiling into camera, standing in front of a wooden fence.

Wed 1 Apr 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Book Launch: Legacy: A lost Fortune, a new land, lasting faith, a Nelson family history

Join us to celebrate the launch of Legacy: a lost fortune, a new land, lasting faith, a Nelson family history by local writer Wendy Shailer-Knight.

Thu 2 Apr 10:00am - 12:00pm

Make your ‘own tiny statement’ – badge making sessions

We have been inspired! The book Tiny statements: a social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges by award-winning authors Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault, delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, to belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Black-and-white photograph of a 1940s family standing on the lawn in front of a house with wooden weatherboards, corrugated iron roof and brick chimney. Two young boys stand on either side of a man and a woman holding a baby, all looking off-camera to their right. A tree occupies the left foreground, and trimmed shrubs line the side of the house.

Thu 2 Apr 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Savage Crescent: the Planning, Conservation and Management of a 1930s Concept

Savage Crescent is Palmerston North’s first major state housing area.

Thu 2 Apr 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Histories and Mysteries in the Collections: Massey University Archives

Step inside the hidden world of the Massey University Archives and discover the surprising stories that lie behind some of the institution’s most intriguing artefacts.

Three badges arranged on the page of an open book. One says "Freedom", another "Love Libraries", and the third "Kia ora, ko ... tōku ingoa" with a space to write a name.

Sat 4 Apr 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Make your ‘own tiny statement’ – badge making sessions

We have been inspired! The book Tiny statements: a social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges by award-winning authors Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault, delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, to belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Tue 7 Apr 10:00am - 12:00pm

Make your ‘own tiny statement’ – badge making sessions

We have been inspired! The book Tiny statements: a social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges by award-winning authors Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault, delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, to belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Tue 7 Apr 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Heritage Craft Group

Want to contribute to a Heritage Festival craft project? The group is crafting heritage granny squares to form a blanket during the Heritage Festival.

Aerial photograph of a city. A suburban development around a large, oval field occupies the centre-ground.

Wed 8 Apr 10:30am - 11:30am

Walkshop: Savage Crescent

Join former City Archivist Lesley Courtney in exploring Savage Crescent, Palmerston North's first major state housing area.

Wed 8 Apr 1:00pm - 4:00pm

The Lost Monument

Play an in-person game which illuminates Palmerston North art and history, underpinned by an unresolved matter from 1900.

Wed 8 Apr 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Make your ‘own tiny statement’ – badge making sessions

We have been inspired! The book Tiny statements: a social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges by award-winning authors Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault, delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, to belong, resist, defy and celebrate.

Photographic half-body portrait of a man wearing a charcoal coloured suit jacket, black shirt and blue tie. The man is smiling into camera. The lower half of the background is grassy lawn, ending in a wall of shrubs and trees which occupies the upper half of the background.

Wed 8 Apr 6:00pm - 7:00pm

1990: The Turning Point of New Zealand’s International Education

New Zealand's status as an open, free, culturally diverse, inclusive, and peaceful democratic nation has made it an ideal destination for international education, particularly amid today's geopolitical tensions.

Photograph of a smiling Japanese child carrying a baby on their back, interacting with two smiling European soldiers. The soldiers are kneeling and leaning on their rifles. There is bundled hay in the foreground and a village scene, out of focus, in the background. The number 15327 is written on the photo at bottom-centre.

Thu 9 Apr 12:00pm - 1:00pm

80th Anniversary of J Force in Japan

Between 1946 and 1948, more than 12,000 New Zealanders served in J Force.

Thu 9 Apr 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Histories and Mysteries in the Collections: Te Manawa Museum "Glaxo Makes Bonny Babies"

A chance find of an unusual Glaxo baby bottle in the Te Manawa collection store prompted Archivist Juliet Galuszka to explore the history of Glaxo and its abandoned factory in Bunnythorpe.

Black and white photograph taken from a low angle depicting five girls on roller skates. They are looking into camera as they appear to move forward, skating on a smooth concrete rink bordered by a fenced grassy slope, with steps leading up to a building at the top of the slope.

Fri 10 Apr 10:30am - 2:30pm

Heritage Tools for Teachers (and Principals)

While students are on holiday, it's a good time to meet with other kaiako in the city to discover more about running school anniversaries, the Papers Past website, Horizons – Environmental Education resource kits, activities and opportunities, free heritage resources and more.

Fri 10 Apr 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Past, Present and Possible Futures: Max Rashbrooke and Richard Shaw in conversation

Authors Max Rashbrooke and Richard Shaw have both written about their settler-colonial ancestors.

Two people in green t-shirts standing with a small, green sandwich-board holding brochures and cards. In the background is a long glass and corrugated iron building with a sign reading "Museums | Café | Library | i-SITE".

Sat 11 Apr 9:00am - 5:00pm

Guided Walks: Foxton Historical Riverside

Victor and Eileen Taylor will be offering guided historical riverside walks from 30 minutes to one hour duration.

Photograph of a windmill against a blue sky. It is built in brick and wood, with a white balcony running around its midpoint. It is surrounded by trees and indistinct buildings, and there are three flagpoles directly in front of it.

Sat 11 Apr 9:00am - 4:00pm

Open Day: De Molen

The replica Molen is the same design as any similar flour Mill in the Netherlands.

Photo of a room with various industrial machines wheels and belts. The machine in the foreground has red bars a blue engine and rotating wheels.

Sat 11 Apr 9:30am - 12:00pm

Guided Visit: Foxton and Flax

Join John Girling for ‘Foxton and Flax’, an experience which includes seeing the flax stripping machinery in operation, and an overview of the flax industry.

Photograph of a smalltown event: a crowd of people mingling on a street dominated on the left by a tall windmill with bunting strung between its sails. To the right is a low, grey building and in the foreground a concrete walkway and parking spaces, while grassy space and trees are visible beyond the buildings.

Sat 11 Apr 10:00am - 3:00pm

Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom: Museums, Exhibitions and Community Stories

This multicultural destination celebrates the stories and heritage of Te Awahou Foxton.

Sat 11 Apr 10:30am - 12:30pm

Connecting the Genealogy Dots

Do you have a family history question you need help to answer? Drop in any time from 10:30am to 12:30am and members of the Palmerston North Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) will be available to help you find your way.

Image of a white building with red brick quoin work and yellow trim.

Sat 11 Apr 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Open Day: MAVTech: National Museum of Audio Visual Technology

Aotearoa New Zealand's specialist museum of audio-visual technology is based in the Coronation Town Hall in Foxton.

Photo of red brick and concrete building with two ionic columns saddling the black door. The windows have keystones and have vertical bars over the windows. The pediment is carved and has the word courthouse.

Sat 11 Apr 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Open Day: Foxton Courthouse

Opened in 1929, the Foxton Courthouse heard both civil and criminal cases until 1948.

Photo of a yellow building flanked by two brick buildings. The building has white trim around two windows either side of a green door. Prominent pediments over the door and windows. Manawatu Herald 1878 with flax painted on the cornice. Main St. No. 6 above the door.

Sat 11 Apr 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Open Day: Manawatū Herald Building

The main section of the Manawatū Herald office was constructed in 1879 and it is the oldest surviving commercial building on Main Street in Foxton.

Yellow wooden cottage with red roof, green window frames and green picket fence. Cabbage tree to the left and blue skies with fluffy clouds above.

Sat 11 Apr 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Open Day: Nye Cottage

The cottage, built by George Nye in 1868-69 is understood to be the oldest surviving cottage in the Manawatū.

Photograph of a gothic revival-style Anglican church in white painted wood and red painted corrugated iron roof. Surrounding the church on two visible sides is a lawn bordered with trees, with two benches and circular flowerbed in the foreground, and concrete path leading around to the unseen side of the building. A driveway and two-storey house are visible on the right.

Sat 11 Apr 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Open Day: All Saints Church

All Saints Church, built in 1876, celebrates 150 years in November.

Black-and-white photograph looking down at people seated in a hall on three long tables covered in papers and books. In the foreground, another long table is just visible, while at the far end of the hall is a stage on which two people are standing.

Sat 11 Apr 2:00pm - 3:30pm

The Battle for Women’s Rights: 130 years of the National Council of Women in Aotearoa

Celebrating 130 years of the National Council of Women in Aotearoa.

Sat 11 Apr 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Sorrowing Mothers

One hundred years ago our community unveiled the Palmerston North War Memorial in the centre of Palmerston North to honour our war dead.

Sat 11 Apr 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Film screening: Grace: A Prayer for Peace

Artist Dame Robin White (Ngāti Awa) has spent more than five decades creating work which ranges from iconic New Zealand landscapes to collaborative tapa cloth.

A child engages with a scrum simulation machine, bracing his shoulders against the machine's red vinyl pads. An information board and big red button occupy the foreground, and the background shows a net wall and a padded blue column.

Sun 12 Apr 10:00am - 4:00pm

New Zealand Rugby Museum – Gold Coin Entry Day!

Visit the iconic New Zealand Rugby Museum, home to the world’s first museum dedicated to the oval ball.

Photograph of three smiling girls hula-hooping with hands in the air. They are in a public square, and behind them is a lawn with trees and a clocktower. People are walking amongst some marquees on the lawn.

Sun 12 Apr 10:00am - 12:00pm

Heritage Games and Taonga Tākaro

Step back in time and experience the joy of heritage and traditional Māori games.

Sun 12 Apr 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Make your ‘own tiny statement’ – badge making sessions

We have been inspired! The book Tiny statements: a social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges by award-winning authors Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault, delves into Te Papa’s collections of over 1600 badges to examine how New Zealanders have used badges to join, to belong, resist, defy and celebrate.