The history of the Manawatu River

A talk by Dr Catherine Knight

Onlyacenturyandahalfago,theManawatuRiveranditsmyriadlagoonsformedRangitane’sfoodbasketandstrategichighway.Buttoday,itisknownasoneofthemostpollutedriversinNewZealand.DrCatherineKnightwillexplainhowthisdramatictransformationcameabout.Shewillalsodiscussthehopefulsignsthatourattitudesarechanging;howweareembracingtheriveraspartofouridentityandsenseofplace.

DrCatherineKnightisanenvironmentalpolicyanalystandhistorian.Herfirstbook,RavagedBeauty:AnenvironmentalhistoryoftheManawatu,wonthePalmerstonNorthHeritageTrust’sawardforbestbookabouttheManawatuin2013-14.Hersecondbook,NewZealand’sRivers:AnenvironmentalhistorywillbereleasedinNovember.

Where:TheAshhurstLibraryWhen:Thursday20thOctober,7pm

RavagedBeautywillbeavailableatadiscountedpriceof$40(retailprice$49.99).

Crossing the Manawatu River by punt at Ashhurst, ca 1880