We’re 50 years old! Of knights and explorers — how the Guardian began

• Author: Judith Lacy
• Published date: 23 June 2022
• Publication title: Guardian, The

A sculpture of him is now part of the Manawatū Guardian’s masthead

Fifty years and two days ago, a group of brave newspaper fans and business people breathed a sigh of relief their first edition had been published.

Only a few moments to pause, though, as the next edition was due out in a week, such is the cycle of community newspapers.

Among those determined to provide Manawatū with a choice of news and views was Grant Blanchard, the Guardian’s first manager. He was just 23.

Blanchard left Freyberg High School in 1965 and joined the Royal New Zealand Navy. Four years later a major car accident ended his naval career and he returned to Palmerston North to start a career in newspaper advertising.

While advertising manager at the Tribune, he decided there was a gap in the market for a midweek paper. Funds were raised from investors and the Guardian was started.

“We liked the name Guardian as we felt that it truly portrayed the principles of fair and unbiased journalism. Our first logo was a knight on a horse.”

Blanchard remembers the midnight trips to Whanganui to deliver the pages to the printer, then home for a couple of hours rest before starting the cycle again.

“One of the comments I received from family and friends was ‘you come out on Wednesday, what do you do on the other days’?”

Supermarkets became a mainstay of...