Manawatu United Council Correspondence Files

This series contains the correspondence files of the Manawatu United Council. In 1978, legislation was passed enabling the formation of regions with United Councils. The only responsibilities mandated by the legislation were coordination of civil defence and development of a regional plan, though other responsibilities could be delegated. United Councils did not have their own staff, they were instead provided by one of the local authorities within the region, in this case they were from the Palmerston North City Council. The files contain both inwards and outwards correspondence and may also contain maps, plans, photographs and ephemera. They provide evidence of the operational, legislative and administrative actions of the Manawatu United Council and mainly cover the subjects of Regional Planning and Civil Defence. A separate file system was set up for the United Council with the following subseries: 1/- Regional Government 2/- Consitution 3/- Administration 4/- Finance 5/- Functions (Civil Defence and Planning) 6/- Newspaper Clippings 7/- Other United Councils 8/- Order Papers