For decades radio 2ZA was a central part of Palmerston North. Founded in 1938 as part of a new and growing network of Government owned commercial stations, 2ZA did radical things like actually naming their announcers (who were anonymous in the non-commercial stations) and even building a personal brand around them in the 1950s. 

This slide continues this personality branding with a photo of 2ZA staff (presumably announcers) beside the station's logo. The 940KHZ frequency dates this slide to before 1978, and the 'Radio New Zealand' logo to after 1975. By the 1980s the 'call sign' frequencies of radio stations ('Z' for commercial, 'YC' for concert, 'YA' for Government non-commercial etc) were phased out in favour of today's numbered frequencies. Before then the lettered callsigns were often printed on radio tuning dials- which worked as long as the frequencies never changed! 

Radio New Zealand's commercial stations were privatized in 1996 and 2ZA (then known as 'Classic Hits') was no exception.  While not a Horowhenua based station, many locals will remember hearing the songs and voices of 2ZA, and the MAVtech Museum in Foxton has some 2ZA equipment on display. 

While this slide is for a Palmerston North business, Leader & Watt have since opened branches in both Levin and Foxton. But what makes this slide more interesting is what it says about how the Kiwi idea of 'home' was seen.

In postwar New Zealand home ownership was booming. In fact, owning a home was seen as a rite of passage and if you didn't own one by the time you were forty you were seen as rather suspect. Owning a home also meant maintaining it- the Black & Decker portable drill was invented in 1916 and has since gone through many different versions. This slide suggests that it would make a perfect gift for someone who has their own home (a young family starting out in their first home would need power tools- and fast!).

But this drill was sold to men- with the vision of the 'man of the house' being responsible for fixing and extending the home then accepted as normal. Until a couple of years ago a powertool retailer had a radio jingle saying that their stores were '...a man's world' showing that these outdated ideas have lingered.....

Embossed with gold leaf on mounting board below photo - Billens & Bunting Palmerston North.

Unidentified man

Has a beard and moustache.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscriptions on reverse read: “George Morgan” and “Property of Mrs E M Grimwood, Linton”

A head and shoulders portrait of George Morgan. Mr Morgan is wearing a checked jacket over a shirt with a stand-up collar and a patterned tie. He has a thick moustache amd a slightly receeding hairline.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Bill died in his 88th year on 7 November 2013. His death notice (in the Horowhenua Mail of 14 November 2013) read:

WRIGHT, William Raymond (Bill). Of Levin. On 7th November 2013 peacefully at Palmerston North Hospital. In his 88th year. Dearly loved husband of Heather. Loved father and father-in-law of Greg: Fraser & Donna (Foxton). Loved grandad to all his grandchildren and great grandchildren. In accordance with Bill's wishes, a private funeral has been held. Messages to 547 Queen St East. Levin. I.C.Mark Ltd Levin and Otaki.

1) Bitter blow when Levin site rejected.
invitation to Massey College ceremony received by council "with regret".

The bitterest disappointment Levin has had in its 50 years as a borough was when the Government selected Palmerston North and turned its back on Levin as the site for Massey Agricultural College. Now a show place and tourist attraction, Massey College was once the centre of controversy which raged throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand and stimulated a North Island vs South Island war of words.

2) Why are there so few really old houses?.

Some samples of heart matai taken from a house ercted over 60 years ago were produced in the Levin Courthouse in 1947 to illustrate a point made by a local builder that a house built of such timber would last a "life time". The court was impressed by the condition of the timber.

3) Laid aside the plough which turned the sod of his pioneer farmland and donned the wig and gown.

"... the turf gave way to the furrows at his feet. His hand guided the plough but he was not earthbound..." He was not exactly what one would call an Adonis. Aged about 18, tall, lanky, neither boy nor man, unmanageable straight, red hair, a red, sunburnt face with many freckles, and so self-conscious that his own boots appeared to be studied more than all else about him.

Printed above photo as caption - Conference of New Zealand Association of Town Clerks Palmerston North, February 8, 1927

Printed below photo – Bunting Studios, P.N. identification of those pictured in photo.

Conference of New Zealand Association of Town Clerks held in Palmerston North on 8 February 1927 1 B&W photo print, mounted

Present are – J.T. Bovis (Shannon), W. Trueman (Foxton) and H. Jenkins (Levin).

Left to Right - Back Row: R. Jordan (New Brighton), P.R.B. Robinson (Gisborne), R.S. Know (Lower Hutt), W.F. Melbourne (Cambridge), L.W. Austin (Riccarton), T.F. Bull (Blenheim), W. Sturman (Petone), N. Harding (Feilding), J. Fraser (Rangiora), F. Hobbs (Lyttelton).

Second Row: H. Jenkins (Levin), F. Denton (Greymouth, Vice-President), G. Murch (Wanganui, Vice-President), W.L. Waddel (Hamilton), W. Trueman (Foxton), H.E. Eliott (Hawera), J.T. Bovis (Shannon), W.A. McLean (Rotorua), J.R. Menzies (Eastbourne), L.F. Grimstone (Upper Hutt), S. Gray (Mount Eden).

Sitting: G.A. Hatherway (Opotiki), J.R. Hardie (Palmerston North, Vice-President), J. Meeling (Auckland), E.P. Norman (Wellington), P. Skoglund (Stratford, President), G.A. Lewin (Dunedin), W.V. Siddall (Sumner), C. Illingworth (Taihape), F. Burwell (Invercargill, Vice-President).

In Front: H. Wilson (Newmarket, Vice-President), W. Waters (Eltham), H. Utting (Mt. Albert), O. Machattie (Timaru), A.C. Wilson (Devonport), H.L. Bowden (Takapuna), R. Taylor (Westport).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Gold embossing below photo on mounting board - Bunting Palmerston North late Billens & Bunting. N.Z.

Written on back with green ballpoint pen - Bach Great Auntie Lottie Auntie Una’s math… Great Grand dad ....... math…

Four unidentified children (2 girls & 2 boys) 1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back – Jean Ransom

Jean Ransom, bridesmaid at Lorna’s wedding, 1941

Bridesmaid at wedding of Lorna Poupard (nee Ransom). See also – # 2002.004.0018 Wedding party – Lorna (nee Ransom) and Steve Poupard, 1941.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed on mounting board below photo - The Lewis Stios Palmerston North, N.Z.

Written on inside cover of ‘photo wallet’ - Wedding of Les Ransom son of Kate and Uncle Jim June sister 2nd right

Wedding Party – Marjery (nee Amon) and Les Ransom, 1939

Left to Right: unidentified woman, inidentified man, Les Ransom, Marjery Ransom (nee Amon), unidentified woman, “June” Ransom (sister of Les), unidentified man.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written inside cover - To Jean With love From Lorna and Steve Wedding All Saints Church 1941 Bill Russell Jean Ransom Steve & Lorna Poupard Margaret Poupard Rona Ramsom (Ransom) (Pencilled on mounting board below photo - Andersons Studio. P.N.

Wedding party – Lorna (nee Ransom) and Steve Poupard, 11 February 1941

Left to Right: Bill Russell, Christy Hehir, Jean Ransom, Steve Poupard, Lorna Poupard (nee Ransom), Margaret Poupard, Bill Scott, Rona Ransom (daughter of Oswald Ransom).

Wedding ceremony took place in All Saints Church, Palmerston North.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Embossed on mounting board below photo - H. Billens Palmerston North

Pencilled on back (twice) - Mrs T.B. Sutton Rongotea Manawatu

Written on album page below photo with pen - Lillian Myrtle Sutton (nee Ransom)

Lillian “Myrtle” Sutton (nee Ransom), c.1906

Wife of “Tom” Sutton, married 26 November 1902. Moved to New South Wales, Australia about 1910.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on mounting board below photo – Tom Sutton

Printed on mounting board below photo - The Crown Studios. Palmerston North, N.Z.

Written on album page with black ballpoint pen - Tom Sutton married Myrtle Ransom. Went to N.S.W.

Thomas (“Tom”) Sutton, c.1906

Husband of Lillian “Myrtle” (nee Ransom), married 26 November 1902. Moved to New South Wales, Australia about 1910.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Embossed on mounting board below photo - Bunting Palmerston North & Napier

Written on back - Hinemoa Ransom. Daughter of Vincent and Mary Ransom. Married Fred Haste.

Hinemoa Ransom

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed on back - Charles Mariboe Photographer Palmerston North

Written on back – Myrtle Ransom

Written on album page below photo with pen – Myrtle Ransom

Lillian “Myrtle” Ransom, 1882-84

Eldest daughter and 3rd child of Vincent Ransom and Mary Ann (nee Knight). Sister of Wilfred (“Wilf”) Ransom.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Black and white photograph.

Written on back – Eric Beveridge planting tree at RSA

Printed on yellow paper attached to back – Manawatu Herald Holly

Eric Beveridge shakes hands with an unidentified young girl, having just planted a tree at the Foxton RSA, c.1990. At the time this photgograph was taken Mr Beveridge was the oldest Foxtonian.

Black and white photograph.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

1) Useless pit rapidly becoming eyesore.

Legacy from the construction of the railway is the long pit skirting the main street of Levin from Bath Street to the Liverpool Street level crossing. The presence of this pit has for years spoiled the appearance of this part of the borough.

2) Early settlers brought that love of rugby which has never diminished.

The early settlers brought with them their love of sport, notably rugby, which was played right from the earliest days of settlement. Rugby on a more organised basis came with the formation of the Horowhenua Rugby Union. The union was founded on April 29, 1893, at Manakau with Levin, Shannon, Manakau and Otaki clubs making up the union.

3) Bikes were his business.

One of Levin's earliest, Mr. Ted Henderson, set up his own little industry- supplying firewood to the Longburn Freezing Works. He had three teams and 14 men in those days and did good business. He got the timber cut to for 4/- a cord. After that he did logging work for Prouses.

Written on bottom of photo – Grace Fuller G. Lawrence M. Corly

Written on back – PN Girls High School c 1925 9th from L Lucy Thompson

Palmerston North Girls High School class of 18 girls

Pictured: Lucy Thompson (later Crotty), Grace Fuller, G. Lawrence, M. Corly?

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”