Palmerston North; The Return.
by
Lorraine McKenzie (nee Valentine)
In 2015 my husband and I were considering our future lives when a real estate agent door knocking in our area offered to get us ridiculous money for our Howick , three bedroom family home. We agreed the time was right for a move and signed up. We then had to decide what we were going to do and where. We realized we probably could not afford to retire in Auckland so the rest of the country beckoned.
We decided to list what we saw as priorities and when it came down to it, the things we felt we needed in our lives were family, a few good cafes, a place where orchestras and plays could be accessed and perhaps an education hub as both of us are teachers and were keen to find some part time work.
Two months later, we arrived back in Palmerston North where my elderly mother was needing support and where our money would go so much further.
Early on Saturday morning we attempted to begin our house hunt by fronting up at Real Estate offices. They were all closed. When we remarked on this the following Monday, we were told, “We have a weekend here! “Refreshing.
Very swiftly we found a house, a rental, and because we really have not grasped the retirement concept, part time jobs. I am teaching ESOL classes at Massey. Full circle as I spent a lot of time there in the late 60’s . Very weird to be back there looking at the old buildings which were new or being built back then.
Palmy looks much the same as it did when we were students, particularly around the Square. There is still a cafe where the Nicoberg was and it is still frequented by students as the old Teacher’s College building, that we knew so well, has been brilliantly modernized and extended and is now known as the somewhat pretentious ‘Universal College of Learning.’ Full circle there too as the original building began life as the Technical College for Palmy a long time ago. Hopefully it will not be one of the polytechs to be scrapped.
One big change is the abundance of good restaurants and cafes to choose from. I don’t recall that going out to eat was much of a thing in the late sixties and ‘coffee bars’ were slightly scandalous, especially ones that included ‘folk singing’.
Although folk singing is no longer to the forefront, there are still stalwarts who meet here in Palmy regularly.
Another big change is the prevalence of civic art. Every corner seems to house another delightful sculpture or piece of graffiti art. There is even a sculpture trail around the central area of the city.
I have also noticed the excellent sports facilities. There always seems to be a sports tournament of some sort and a common sight is to see groups of very sporty looking youngsters walking in track suited groups up and down Fitzherbert Ave. and throughout the Mall. Apparently the Nationals of many sporting codes are held here because of the great facilities, the central location and the ease of getting around the different venues. Who knew?
One of the great features of the town is the Regent Theatre. It has been restored very well and hosts a huge variety of shows from the NZSO to visiting plays and local talent. A very proactive group of volunteers known as ‘Friends of the Regent’ help out with many aspects of the theatre. Apparently we are also the only regional city to still have a thriving professional theatre. Centrepoint is a beloved institution in Palmy and performs or hosts a varied programme throughout the year.
The same streets where we saw some of the more raucous parties and horrendous flats still contain the same houses, hopefully renovated somewhat, and they are still full of students. However, Massey has turned landlord and provides huge numbers of flats around the town. Buses out to the campus are provided free of charge by the city council. The Teacher’s College, after many years of occupying a campus on Centennial Drive, is now fully integrated as part of the University. The campus remains as beautiful as ever but seems to be less vibrant as each department has its own common rooms and seating areas. The central student union area around the café and common rooms doesn’t seem to be very busy, or maybe the modern student is much more serious and debt driven than we were.
Strangely, in an age where we anguish about the environment, very few students seem to cycle compared to the biking hordes of yesteryear. Cars are so cheap that every student seems to have one and uses it to get out to the campus, despite the free bus service. When student debt is such a problem, it seems odd that a car is seen as a necessity for a student.
Massey continues to attract a wide range of students from all over the world and despite some truly appalling gaffes lately, they quietly contribute at a world level particularly in agriculture and vetinary sciences. They have just completed a new Wildbase hospital at Massey for the treatment of native animals and birds. It is a wonderful facility and I now volunteer at the recovery base in the Esplanade where the animals and birds rehabilitate before being released into the wild.
The main thing that we noticed on moving back here is how friendly everyone is. There is a real sense of community. People have time for a chat, they are helpful in shops and even dog walkers and kids say hello. We are very happy that we have made the move here and come back to what really are my family roots.
Do we regret moving back? A resounding ‘no’!
Lorraine McKenzie (nee Valentine)