Palmerston North to benefit from Massey historian’s deep local knowledge

The Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University Associate Professor in History, has been appointed to Palmerston North City Council (PNCC) Heritage Reference Group, which plays a key role in shaping the city’s Heritage Plan and will provide strategic advice on heritage matters as part of Palmerston North’s Long-Term Plan for 2027–2037. The heritage group’s purpose is to ensure that the city’s diverse histories are recognised, protected and meaningfully integrated into urban development and planning.

Dr Watson says he’s looking forward to the opportunity to advocate for heritage and local history alongside the group with a genuine interest in local heritage. 

“Hopefully, I can contribute to an informed approach to the strategic plan so that it accurately reflects our rich local history. I’m also learning a lot about how local government actually works, he says.

The PNCC Heritage Reference Group acts as a sounding board for Council providing feedback on specific matters such as interpretation signage at historical sites, the preservation of key buildings, and the recognition of significant local anniversaries. It also plays a forward-looking role, helping Council anticipate future heritage needs and connect with experts who can guide how local histories are represented and shared with the public.

The group is co-chaired by Massey University Professor Emeritus Margaret Tennant and Peter Te Rangi with group members are selected for their varied backgrounds and experience in local history, iwi heritage, museum and archive practice, and community engagement.

Members are appointed on a rotating basis between 2025 and 2027, with the group holding its first meeting earlier this year in March.

Dr Watson has authored and co-authored seven books and more than 20 articles and book chapters on sport and local history. He is the principal author of Seasons of Honour: A Centenary History of Hockey in New Zealand 1902–2002 and Sporting Foundations of New Zealand Indians: A Fifty Year History of the New Zealand Indian Sports Association. He was also one of the editors of Legends in Black: New Zealand Rugby Greats on Why We Win (2014), and co-authored Sport and the New Zealanders: A History with Greg Ryan in 2018.

Subsequent works include Sport Development in Action: Plan, Programme and Practice (with Alec Astle, Sarah Leberman and Geoff Watson) and Will to Win: New Zealand Netball Greats on Team Culture and Leadership (with Lana McCarthy and Andy Martin), both published by Massey University Press. He was also part of the editorial team for City at the Centre: A History of Palmerston North and regularly contributes to the Back Issues series on local history in the Manawatū Standard.