Adidas Institute of Rugby opened at Massey University

1990s

Te Marae-O-Hine; recycling; international flights from Palmerston North Airport, new central library in the the DIC building and the first woman mayor

1990		Steven Maharey elected as MP for Palmerston North
		Mohair Fashion Awards hosted in Palmerston North
		Te Marae-O-Hine - paved courtyard 'Marae' in The Square opened as part of City celebrations for New Zealand sesqui-centenary
		Palmerston North Passenger Services Ltd, the Council's bus company, is established
	17-Jan	PDC - Premier Department Store on The Square closes
	22-Feb	Farmers Mutual building on The Square opens, it is the tallest building in Palmerston North (2008)
	1-May	Downtown complex's first 10 shops open
	July	PDC building on The Square demolished
	August	Downtown complex final stage is completed with the opening of Downtown Cinema 6 (now Downtown Cinemas)
1991		Population 70,318
		Recycling services initiated by the City Council
		A failure of the water main supplying the water treatment plant causes the entire lower dam reservoir to empty; the City is forced to rely on artesian wells while repairs are made
		End of Palmerston North Passenger Services Ltd after it fails to obtain Manawatu Regional Council's contract for City bus service, the contract goes to the Manawatu Regional Council
	6-May	Arohanui Hospice in Heretaunga Street officially opened by Mayor Paul Rieger
		The Plaza shopping centre opens with K-Mart, Foodtown and specialty shops all in one complex
	July	Arthur Barnett Department Store on The Square closes
1992		New Terminal Building opened at City Airport, $3 departure tax levied on all departing passengers
		Pro Gas Systems Ltd established (Council's gas company)
		Flooding
		Electro Power Ltd established (Council's electricity distribution company) (this may have been 1993)
		Manawatu Mills changes name to Champion Flourmills
1993		Major staffing restructure of the City Council
		Summerhill Drive / Tennant Drive flyover is completed, easing traffic congestion to Massey University at peak times
		Massey University opens the Albany Campus in Auckland
	June	Totaranui settlers cottage is relocated to Manawatu Museum and Science Centre (now Te Manawa)
1994		First International Festival in The Square is held
		'Polytechnic-in-the-Park' proposal fails; the Manawatu Polytechnic offers its first degree course
		Broadway Avenue streetscape upgrade completed
		Pro Gas Systems Ltd (Council's gas company) sold to Enerco New Zealand for $34 million
	February	Te Awe Awe Complex opens - new Science Centre and Manawatu Museum building
1995		George Street streetscape upgrade complete
		K&M Print moves to upper Cuba Street
	9-Jun	Ansett Dash 8 Flight 703 crashes in the Tararua Ranges, four fatalities
1996		Population 73,080
		Coleman Place streetscape upgrade complete
		Electro Power Ltd and CentralPower Ltd merge ($70 million)
		Tui Milk Products and Kiwi Co-Operative Dairies merge
		International flights commence from City Airport (scheduled passenger services to Australia)
		Downtown Cinema 7 becomes Downtown Cinema 8, now Downtown Cinemas (2008)
		Improvements to the smaller lower dam at Turitea waterworks start
	June	A Massey University graduation ceremony is the last function held at the Opera House
	October	Demolition of the Palmerston North Opera House on Church Street
	25-May	City Library opens new $16.9 million Central Library Building in reworked Rossco / DIC building on The Square
1997		Plane trees in Fitzherbert Avenue felled by City Council after considerable public protest locally and nationally, Fitzherbert Avenue converted to four lanes
		Centennial celebrations of Victoria Esplanade
		Fire Service reopens a station in Terrace End
		Massey University merges with the Palmerston North College of Education (Teachers College)
	1-Feb	Two years of modifications to the old lower dam are opened by Mayor Paul Reiger, the dam is now a "concrete faced rock-fill structure" and increases the height by 3 metres
1998		The Council commissions a 6000 m 3 water reservoir at Ngahere Park, alongside the existing one, a 66% increase in water storage capacity
		Jacqueline Jill White (Jill) is the first woman Mayor for Palmerston North
		Freyberg swimming pool opens as a community pool at the Freyberg High School
	2-May	Regent Theatre opens as premiere City Theatre after extensive ($13 million) renovation work, it replaces the former City Opera House
1999		Vision Manawatu established
		Peacekeeping troops sent to East Timor
		Youth Justice Centre opens in Mohaka Place
		Manawatu Polytechnic opens new Central Campus in King Street
		King Street streetscape upgrade complete
		Wellington Polytechnic merges with Massey University
		Automation of the Turitea water treatment plant complete
	January	The Manawatu Polytechnic becomes UCOL (the Universal College of Learning)
	22-Jun	Central Power's Tararua Windfarm opened by Wyatt Creech, regulations force Central Power to sell the wind farm
	3-Sep	Adidas Institute of Rugby opened at Massey University by PM Jenny Shipley
	October	Commissioning of the Keith Street artesian bore provides a 24% increase in source capacity for the City's water supply
	23-24 October	PDC (Premier Drapery Company) staff reunion held

Disclaimer

Most dates are taken from tertiary sources and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Researchers are strongly advised to check specific dates in other sources to confirm accuracy to their own satisfaction. All corrections or additional information and dates gratefully considered - please contact the Ian Matheson City Archives.