This small urban reserve in eastern Palmerston North is an open community space with landscaping, located in Nevada Way, Kelvin Grove. It was classified as a reserve in 2025 and named after former City Archivist Ian Matheson.
Ian Roderick Matheson (1946–2022) was born in Palmerston North, the only child of Roderick James (Rod) and Marjorie Grace (Marj) Matheson. He worked in the Palmerston North city archives from 1971 until his death, and was the first local body archivist in New Zealand. He was a prolific researcher of Palmerston North history, with a particular interest in the flax industry.
Ian was involved in regional and national heritage organisations, and was awarded a Queens Service Medal in 1999 and a Massey medal in 2002.
Ian married Lila Stansfield in 1970 and they had two children, John and Tarsha. Ian’s family had lived in the Manawatu since the 1880s when they moved from Otago. His paternal great-grandparents, Roderick Matheson and Mary McDonald, were Scottish immigrants, Roderick hailing from Snizort in Inverness-shire.
Matheson Reserve
Ian Matheson as City Archivist
A young Ian Matheson with his parents Rod and Marj Matheson and grandparents Peter and Helen Matheson