Conferences

RM 31 Tokomaru Standard Railcar Travelling Across A Bridge With A Landscape Behind

2024 Annual Conference - Palmerston North

Conference information

When: Friday 31st May to Monday 3 June 2024

Host group: Fielding and District Steam Rail Society Inc

The FRONZ Conference for 2024 will be at Palmerston North in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region from Friday 31st May to Monday 3rd June.

Our host group will be the Fielding and District Steam Rail Society Inc and our major sponsors are Waka Kotahi / NZTA and the New Zealand Rail Heritage Trust.

We are very grateful to these organisations for their ongoing support as without their sponsorship the attendance costs for participants would be even higher.

FRONZ holds a conference every King's Birthday weekend, where key people from member groups get together to network and share their rail and tramway experiences.

Official Conference Program Includes:

Friday 31st May:

  • Registration and mix and mingle at the Distinction Hotel in Palmerston North from 17:00 to 19:00.

Saturday 1st June:

  • Full day in conference sessions at the Distinction Hotel.

Sunday 2nd June:

  • Morning conference sessions at the Distinction Hotel, including the FRONZ AGM.
    After lunch we will board buses with Railcar Passengers heading to Palmerston North Railway Station and the remaining passengers via bus to Pahiatua Railcar Society Depot. Passengers swap for the return journey. Arriving back to the hotel at 17:00.
  • From 18:00 the Annual FRONZ Awards Dinner will be held at the Distinction Hotel.

Monday 3rd June:

  • This morning we will visit our hosts, the Fielding and District Steam Rail Society. A coach will travel from the Distinction Hotel in Palmerston North to Fielding, then travelling to Whanganui to visit SteamRail Whanganui for lunch and Whanganui Tramways after. Finally returning participants to the Palmerston North airport at 14:30 to catch available flights and proceeding back to the Distinction Hotel at 14:45.

Getting to Conference:

How do I get to Palmerston North? 

Members can fly to Palmerston North Airport and arrange a taxi to the venue. 

On Friday, May 31 a bus leaves Wellington Airport about 10am, and visits groups up the Kapiti Coast. 

Contact secretary@fronz.org.nz if you fly in after 10am on Friday and want to take the Capital Connection to Palmerston North. 

 

How do I get home from conference? 

There is no return bus ride to Wellington. 

Instead, following the field trip to Whanganui, the bus will drop delegates off at Palmerston North airport at 2.30pm on Monday. 

For those wanting to catch the Capital Connection, this service leaves Palmerston North Railway Station at 6.15am on Tuesday.