1960s

1960

• William Henry Brown elected as MP for Palmerston North

• The first television transmissions in New Zealand begin in Auckland

• Palmerston North University College officially opens in Centennial Drive, Hokowhitu (a branch of Victoria University of Wellington), with a particular focus on extramural studies

1961

• Population 41014

• City boundary extended to include 248 acres in Highbury

1962

• Awatapu Special School opens (formerly Palmerston North Occupational Centre, the Awapuni IHC School)

• Election of first woman and first Maori City Councillors, Julia Wallace (Girl's High School Principal) and Sam Mihaere

1963

• The Vogue closes (cinema)

• Massey University College of Manawatu formed by the amalgamation of the Massey Agricultural College with the Palmerston North University College, with a strong extramural component

• The Times newspaper closes, this was the morning daily newspaper in Palmerston North

• Railway Station off Tremaine Avenue officially opened and passenger services on the Milson railway deviation commence

• Government announces that the Railway Land in Main Street is to be transferred to the City Council in exchange for land at Kelvin Grove

1964

• The Meteor closes (cinema)

• The three old artesian bores in the City are closed off; a new bore is sunk at Papioea Park on Featherston Street

• Massey University becomes fully autonomous and able to award its own degrees

• Last passenger train (a ‘special') passes through The Square, the last goods train passed through on the 6th or 7th of June

• Maori Battalion Hall in Cuba Street officially opened

• City Council announces its proposed Transportation Plan to manage traffic in the City

1965

• An artesian bore is sunk at Takaro Park on Botanical Road to supplement the water supply

• The Odeon cinema opens – formerly the Mayfair

• Transportation Plan amended with the addition of a 4 lane road (“eastern distributor”) through Hokowhitu

• Public Library building on the corner of The Square and Main Street East opened by Governor General Sir Bernard Fergusson

1966

• Population 46,832

• One way traffic flow around The Square instituted, this proves to be very unpopular with residents

• Manawatu Mills builds new premises in Tremaine Avenue

• City Council abandons the proposed “eastern distributor” highway as a result of public opposition

• The Manawatu Standard newspaper introduces ‘front page news'

• Ratepayers approve a loan of £90,000 to build student accommodation at Massey University

• Lido Swimming Complex in Park Road officially opened

1967

• Joseph Albert Walding elected as MP for Palmerston North

• All but one of the Public Library branches are closed and a mobile service is launched

• Decimal currency introduced in New Zealand

• City boundaries extended to include 3440 acres in Aokautere, Kelvin Grove, Milson, Amberley and Awapuni, this extension was designed to accommodate urban growth for the next 25 years

1968

• Desmond Barry Black elected Mayor

• Sewerage Treatment Plant in Totara Road officially opened

1969

• Revised Transportation Plan adopted by the City Council and based on advice from Professor W R Blunden a traffic engineering expert from New South Wales

• Proposals for Central City development of the Railway Land announced (prepared by a planning consultant from Auckland, Mr Ian Reynolds)

• Clockwork Orange a discotheque opens as entertainment for young people, the opening night is marred by drunken teenage violence blamed on alcohol smuggled into the venue