WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
The Palmerston North City Council removes wood from the Manawatū River to reduce the risk of flooding – and each spring that wood is burnt in bonfires at Ahimate Park. Katie said the only sign the pile of sticks she decided to play around was a cooling bonfire, was the smell of burnt wood in the air. “But the park always smells like that [at this time of year].” The Palmerston North City Council removes wood from the Manawatū River to reduce the risk of flooding – and each year that wood is burnt in bonfires at Ahimate Park to mark Kōanga with Rangitāne.