Palmerston North is the main city of the
Manawatu-WanganuiManawatu-Wanganui is a region in the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand, around the city of Palmerston North and the town of Wanganui.-Administration:...
region of the
North IslandThe North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
. It is an inland city with a population of In 2008 it was the 11th-largest city in New Zealand, and the centre of the seventh-largest urban area. A large proportion of its population consists of students attending
Massey UniversityMassey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students. The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . In addition, Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
,
Universal College of LearningUniversal College of Learning is a New Zealand Government TEI located primarily in Palmerston North but has campuses also in the other parts of the lower North Island.-History:...
(UCOL) or
International Pacific CollegeInternational Pacific College is a tertiary education provider offering NZQA-accredited diplomas and graduate diplomas as well as bachelor's and master's degree...
during the student year. Over half of the city's population is under the age of 25 and the city has been marketed as 'Student City'.
Name
The city was first named
"Palmerston", in honour of Viscount Palmerston, a former Prime Minister of Great Britain. The suffix "North” was added in 1871 by the Post Office to distinguish the settlement from
PalmerstonThe town of Palmerston, in New Zealand's South Island lies 50 kilometres to the north of the city of Dunedin. It is the largest town in the Waihemo Ward of the Waitaki District with a population of 890 residents...
in the
South IslandThe South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, though locals still widely refer to the city simply as Palmerston or
"Palmy".
Locals are known as
Palmerstonians.
Māori name
The Māori transliteration of Palmerston is "Pamutana", but this is largely unused, with
Papa-i-oea (commonly contracted to Papaioea) being the preferred option, e.g. Te Kura Kōhine o Papaioea (Palmerston North Girls' High School) and Te Hohipera o Papaioea (Palmerston North Hospital). Papa-i-oea is believed to mean "How beautiful it is".
History
Ngāti Rangitāne were the local Māori iwi (
tangata whenuaTāngata whenua is a Māori term of the indigenous peoples of New Zealand and literally means "people of the land", from tāngata, 'people' and whenua land.-Meanings:...
) living in the area known as
Te Ahu-a-Turanga, when a trader, Jack Duff, became the first known European to explore the area in 1830. He came on a whaling ship, and explored as far inland as the site of Woodville. He reported his discovery on arrival back to Porirua. Colonel Wakefield heard of the potential that the Manawatu had for development and visited in 1840. In 1846 Charles Hartley, another trader, heard from
tangata whenua of a clearing in the forest and he proceeded through the dense bush and forest and discovered it for Europeans.
The Government surveyed the area in 1866-67. The original subdivision of Palmerston North was made in 1866, in the natural clearing in the Papaioea Forest, as found by Hartley. A township was laid out by J.T. Stewart, an employee of the Wellington Provincial Government.
Stewart's plan consisted of a series of wide and straight streets, laid out in a rectangular pattern, with the focal point being an open space of subsequently known as The Square. Landmarks named after Stewart included Stewart Crescent in Palmerston North) and Mt Stewart, near Sanson.
The four original streets meeting at the Square are now called Fitzherbert Avenue (from the south), Main Street East, Main Street West and Rangitikei Street. As the settlement grew, the forest diminished to make way for farms, and today virtually no remnant of it survives.
By 1877, when the Borough Council came into existence, Palmerston North was an isolated village in the midst of the native forest that covered inland Manawatu. The population was approximately 800 people and sawmilling was the main industry of the district. The arrival of the railway in 1886 saw an increase in the speed of growth, and by 1900 the population was 6,000. By this time the town was at the centre of a lucrative agricultural district.
In 1930, the population reached the 20,000 threshold and Palmerston North was officially proclaimed a city. Development was slow due to the
great depressionThe Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. An airport was established at Milson in 1936, which is now
Palmerston North International AirportPalmerston North International Airport is located on the outskirts of the suburb of Milson in Palmerston North, New Zealand, north-east of the City central area. Although the airport has not had a regular international flight since the end of March 2008, the official name, Palmerston North...
. After the war growth was rapid, with the population rising to over 50,000 by the mid 1970s.
Geography
Palmerston North covers an area of and one million people live within a two-hour drive (200 km/120 mile radius). It is about north of the capital,
WellingtonWellington is the capital of New Zealand, at the southwestern tip of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. The Wellington urban area is the major population centre of the southern North Island and is New Zealand's third most populous urban area with residents. There are ...
, in the eastern part of the
Manawatu PlainsSome of the most fertile land in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand is located on the floodplains of the Manawatu and Rangitikei Rivers, in an area known as the Manawatu Plains....
, and close to the northern bank of the
Manawatu RiverThe Manawatu River is a major river of the southern North Island of New Zealand.The river has its headwaters to the northwest of Norsewood in the Ruahine Ranges of southern Hawke's Bay. It flows initially eastward before turning south-west near Ormondville, flowing 40 km before turning...
. It is from the river's mouth and from the end of the
Manawatu GorgeThe Manawatu Gorge runs between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges of the North Island of New Zealand, linking the Manawatu and Hawke's Bay regions...
.
The official limits of the city take in rural areas to the south and north-east of the main urban area, extending to the
Tararua RangeThe Tararua Range is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington....
s and including the town of
AshhurstAshhurst is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.-Location, features and population:Ashhurst is sited 14 kilometres northeast of the city of Palmerston North and is a small rural town with a population of 2,526...
at the mouth of the Manawatu Gorge. This is a rich and fertile agricultural area.
Physical environment
Land Area :
Area In Public Reserves :
Highest Point (Elevation): above sea level (in the ranges south-east of Scotts Road)
Lowest Point (Elevation) : above sea level (river bank near Te Puna Road)
Typical Urban Area Elevation : 20–40 metres (65–130 ft)
Length Of River (Within City Boundary) : (Manawatu River) & (Pohangina River)
Climate
Palmerston North's climate is temperate with maximum daytime temperatures averaging in summer and in winter. On average temperatures rise above on 20 days of the year. Annual rainfall is approximately with rain occurring approximately 5% of the time. There are on average 200 rain-free days each year.
In the ranges that flank the city there is often sustained wind, especially in spring. Much of this land is within the city boundaries and these ranges has the reputation of providing the most consistent wind in the country. As a result, Palmerston North is under increasing tension between wind farm operators who want to build more renewable energy wind turbines and local residents who wish to continue to enjoy untouched scenery. Close to the city is the largest electricity-generating
wind farmA wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of electric power. Individual turbines are interconnected with a medium voltage power collection system and communications network...
in the southern hemisphere, with 158 turbines in the
TararuaThe Tararua Range is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington....
and
Ruahine RangeThe Ruahine Range is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington....
s providing power for approximately 30,000 homes.
Demographics
At the 2006 census, Palmerston North had a population of 75,543, an increase of 3507 people (4.9%) since the 2001 census. There were 27,849 occupied dwellings, 1,662 unoccupied dwellings, and 189 dwellings under construction.
Of the population, 36,345 (48.1%) were male and 39,192 (51.9%) female. The city had a median age of 32.4 years, 2.5 years below the national median age of 35.9 years. People aged 65 years and over made up 11.6% of the population, compared to 12.3% nationally, and people under 15 years made up 20.3% of the population, compared to 21.5% nationally. Due to Palmerston North being a university city, approximately 36% of the population is aged between 15.0 and 24.9 years.
Palmerston North's ethnicity was made up of (national figure in brackets): 71.4% European (67.6%), 15.4% Maori (14.7%), 7.4% Asian (9.2%), 3.7% Pacific Islanders (6.9%), 1.1% Middle Eastern/Latin American/African (0.9%), 12.5% 'New Zealanders' (11.1%), and 0.05% Other (0.04%).
Palmerston North City had an unemployment rate of 5.3% of people 15 years and over, compared to 5.1% nationally. The average annual income of all people 15 years and over was
$The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
23,100, compared with $24,400 nationally. Of those, 44.9% earned under $20,000, compared with 43.2% nationally, while 15.4% earned over $50,000, compared to 18.0% nationally.
Economy
The tertiary education sector provides NZ$1 billion a year to the local economy and the education sector accounted for 11.3% of the Palmerston North workforce in Februry 2006. Palmerston North has economic strengths in research, especially in the bio-industry, defence, distribution and smart business sectors. The city is home to more than 70 major educational and research institutions, including New Zealand's fastest expanding university,
Massey UniversityMassey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students. The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . In addition, Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
; the Massey University Sport and Recreation Institute at the Massey University campus, Turitea;
Universal College of LearningUniversal College of Learning is a New Zealand Government TEI located primarily in Palmerston North but has campuses also in the other parts of the lower North Island.-History:...
(UCOL) and
Linton Army CampLinton Army Camp is the Largest NZ Army base and is home to the 2nd Land Force GroupUnits based at Linton:* HQ 2 Land Force Group* 16 Field Regiment * 2 Engineer Regiment...
.
44,870 employees worked in Palmerston North in February 2006, 2.5% of employees in New Zealand. The largest industry in terms of employees was the health and community services industry, which employed 14.9% of employees in the city. The retail trade industry employed 13.3% of employees in the city.
The Square
The city's main streets are arranged in a grid around
The Square, a seven-hectare park of lawn, trees, lakes, fountains, and gardens in the centre of the city. This park contains the city's war memorial, a memorial to Te Peeti Te Awe Awe, the Rangitāne chief who was instrumental in the sale of Palmerston North district to the government in 1865, and a clock tower whose illuminated cross was damaged in a storm in the first half of 2006.
The damage to the cross and its subsequent removal rekindled a discussion about the appropriateness of a Christian symbol in the centre of a city whose citizens are of many cultures and religious backgrounds.
The Māori name for the Square is
Te Marae o Hine. Te Peeti Te Awe Awe was one member of a Māori contingent who gathered around 1878 to choose a Māori name for The Square. The meaning of the name is
The Courtyard of the Daughter of Peace chosen in the hope that all people and all races would live together in enduring peace.
Parks
There are a number of parks in the city. The foremost is the
Victoria Esplanade along the northern bank of the Manawatu River, to the west of Fitzherbert Avenue. The esplanade includes gardens, children's play areas, an
aviaryAn aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
, a miniature railway, walking tracks, and sports fields (Ongley-Manawaroa Park).
City promotion
The city has used many descriptions in advertising and promotion, including "Rose City" (referring to its international
roseA rose is a perennial flower shrub or vine of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species and comes in a variety of colours. The species form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles...
trial grounds) and "Knowledge City" or "Student City" (referring to the city's many academic institutions).
The current slogan, "Young Heart, Easy Living", indicates that Palmerston North is a city of young people and people with a youthful attitude.
Crime and policing
Palmerston North is the main centre of the
New Zealand PoliceThe New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
's Central District.
Palmerston North has improved from 36th to 7th in a list of the best places for low crime figures (2008). Overall, crime dropped by 10% in the past year (2008). This is a result of organisations working together on prevention and enforcement strategies. Violent crime has increased by 5% in the past year but this is compared with an 11% rise nationally. Satisfaction with safety in public places at night has remained at its 2007 level.
Sport
Sport in the Palmerston North area is predominantly provincial based. Palmerston North is a provincial city, and most sports teams draw their players from around the province of Manawatu. Most representative teams have players from
FeildingFeilding is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 54, 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North....
or other neighbouring towns.
The most famous team to have "Palmerston North" in its title was the Palmerston North Jets Basketball Team, but they changed their name to Manawatu earlier this decade.
FMG Stadium is the home of the Robertson Holden International Speedway. Palmerston North has a
Stock car racingStock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain and Brazil. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately ¼ mile to 2.66 miles in length, but are also raced on road courses...
team known as the Palmerston North Panthers, now the most famous sports team to carry the Palmerston North name
The city is the home of the
Manawatu TurbosFor Current Season see Click HereManawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of Rugby in the Manawatu rugby province. It is based in the city of Palmerston North but has club teams from nearby towns in the province, such as Feilding, Rongotea and Woodville.The Union's home ground is FMG Stadium,...
, who play in the
Air New Zealand CupThe Air New Zealand Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic rugby union competition. It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the NPC was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC now compete in the amateur Heartland Championship. It is sponsored...
, the premiere competition in New Zealand provincial rugby. The home ground is at
FMG StadiumArena Manawatu is the current name of the 180,000 square metre publicly owned recreational complex just west of the Palmerston North city centre in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand.It has three linked indoor stadiums, with movable tiered seating...
. The Ezibuy Manawatu Women's rugby team also plays at FMG Stadium.
YoungHeart ManawatuYoungHeart Manawatu is a football club is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It participates in the New Zealand Football Championship and their home stadium is Memorial Park.- History :...
is one of 8 franchise teams competing in the
New Zealand Football ChampionshipThe New Zealand Football Championship is the national football league in New Zealand. It is a sports franchise league that is operated by New Zealand Football. The league is run separately from the winter regional club competitions, and many of the teams competing in the NZFC are franchises...
, the premier national competition. The team formerly played at FMG Stadium, now at
Memorial ParkMemorial Park may refer to:In the United States:* Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California* Memorial Park, San Mateo County, California* Memorial Park, Houston, Texas* Memorial Park , Nebraska...
.
The
Central Districts StagsThe Central Districts Stags are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in central New Zealand. It competes in the State Championship first class competition and the State Shield domestic one day competition...
is the region's premier cricket team and plays in the national
State ChampionshipNew Zealand has had a domestic first-class cricket championship since the 1906-07 season. It is currently known as the State Championship, being sponsored by State Insurance.-Plunket Shield:...
. The team includes of a number of players born and bred in Palmerston North. Games are played at Fitzherbert Park.
John Cleese controversy
Comedian
John CleeseJohn Marwood Cleese is an Academy Award-nominated English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer who is known for being a member of the group of comedians responsible for the sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus and the four Monty Python films: And Now for Something Completely Different,...
raised the ire of residents in 2006 when he described the City as the "suicide capital of New Zealand". Cleese said he had a "bloody miserable time" while there as part of his 2005 tour of New Zealand, and suggested that "[i]f you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick". Locals responded a year later by renaming the local landfill "Mt Cleese".
Road
The city is a significant road and rail junction.
State Highways 56 and 57The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
meet State Highway 3 close to the city, with these highways providing the main streets of the city.
State Highway 1State Highway 1 is the most significant road in the New Zealand roading network. It runs the length of both main islands, and officially has two designations: SH 1N in the North Island and SH 1S in the South Island, but both sections appear on road signs and road atlases as SH 1.It is 2047 km...
, New Zealand's main highway, passes about to the west.
State Highway 3 enters the city from the north-west as Rangitikei Street before turning left into Grey Street, north of the Square. On the opposite sides of The Square are Main Street West (in the south-west) and Fitzherbert Avenue (to the south-east), which connect with
State Highways 56 and
57 respectively.
Many of the city's main public buildings are close to The Square and to Main Street East.
Fitzherbert Avenue extends south, crossing the Fitzherbert Bridge, the only bridge over the Manawatu River close to the city. The other is Fitzherbert East Road in Ashhurst, away.
Massey UniversityMassey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students. The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . In addition, Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
and International Pacific College (IPC), as well as some of the newly developed residential areas (Summerhill, Aokautere), are located east of the river.
Air
Palmerston North International AirportPalmerston North International Airport is located on the outskirts of the suburb of Milson in Palmerston North, New Zealand, north-east of the City central area. Although the airport has not had a regular international flight since the end of March 2008, the official name, Palmerston North...
in the suburb of Milson is a secondary international airport. Domestic services are operated mostly by
Air New ZealandAir New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 27 domestic destinations and 26 international destinations in 14 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is the...
. There have been no international services since
Freedom AirFreedom Air was Air New Zealand Group's low-cost airline which operated from December 1995 to March 2008. It ran scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Australia and Fiji and charter services within New Zealand...
ceased to operate in March 2008, and proposed replacement carrier
OzJetOzjet Airlines Pty Ltd was a scheduled and charter airline based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It operated charter services within Australasia from the a base at Perth Airport. In 2008 the airline was sold to HeavyLift Cargo Airlines, and by May 2009 it had suspended operations from Perth...
cancelled its plans only four days before they were due to commence.
Palmerston North International Airport is the operational base of the
Massey UniversityMassey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students. The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . In addition, Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
School af Aviation, and by night is as a busy domestic freight hub.
Rail
At Palmerston North the North Island Main Trunk railway is joined by the
Palmerston North - Gisborne Line|}The Palmerston North - Gisborne Line is a secondary main line railway in the North Island of New Zealand. It branches from the North Island Main Trunk Railway in Palmerston North and runs east through the Manawatu Gorge to Woodville, where it meets the Wairarapa Line, and then proceeds to...
, which runs through the
Manawatu GorgeThe Manawatu Gorge runs between the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges of the North Island of New Zealand, linking the Manawatu and Hawke's Bay regions...
to Woodville and Hawke's Bay, with a connection to the
Wairarapa Line|}The Wairarapa Line is a secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city of Wellington with the Wairarapa region. The line ends at Woodville, where it joins the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line...
at Woodville. The railway was originally routed through The Square, but was diverted to the north in 1964-1966. There are only two passenger trains: the Monday-Friday
Capital Connection|}The Capital Connection is a long-distance commuter train between Palmerston North and Wellington on the North Island Main Trunk Railway in New Zealand. It is operated by Tranz Scenic...
to and from Wellington, and the
Overlander|}The Overlander is a long-distance rail passenger train between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand, along the North Island Main Trunk . It is operated by Tranz Scenic....
to Auckland and Wellington.
Bus
There is an urban bus service: five town buses and one campus bus leave the terminal in Main Street East (in front of the Palmerston North Courthouse) at least every half hour. It is run in conjunction between Horizons Regional Council and Masterton-based bus company Tranzit.
| Bus Route name | Services |
|---|
| Rangiora/Brightwater |
southern portion of Roslyn, including Terrace End and Hokowhitu |
| Roslyn/Rhodes |
northern portion of Roslyn and Kelvin Grove |
| Milson/Cloverlea |
Milson, Cloverlea and parts of Takaro |
| Awapuni/Rugby |
Awapuni South and Awapuni North |
| Highbury/Takaro |
Highbury, Takaro and Westbrook |
| Fernlea/Heights |
Kelvin Grove |
| 12,12A,12B,12C,(14), 15 |
Massey services (14 also services IPC) |
Occasionally there are buses which service Linton, Ashhurst and Feilding. There are frequent bus services to Massey (both Turitea and Hokowhitu Campuses) and IPC Campus.
Intercity buses run primarily run south (to
WellingtonWellington is the capital of New Zealand, at the southwestern tip of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. The Wellington urban area is the major population centre of the southern North Island and is New Zealand's third most populous urban area with residents. There are ...
), north (towards
AucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with a population approaching 1.4 million residents, percent of the country's population. Demographic trends indicate that it will continue to grow faster than the rest...
, via
WanganuiWanganui is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region.Like several New Zealand centres, it was officially designated a city until administrative reorganisation in 1989, and is now run by a District Council...
,
TaupoTaupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
, or
NapierNapier is a port city in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. It has a population of Less than twenty kilometres separate the centres of Hastings City and Napier, and as such the two are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
) and east (to
MastertonMasterton is a town and local government district in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. It is the largest town in the Wairarapa, a region separated from Wellington by the Rimutaka ranges...
) from a terminus at the intersection of Main and Pitt Sts.
Education
The large number of students from Massey, UCOL and IPC bring a youth culture to the city, helping to support the many cafes and bars. Highbury is the home of the Papaioea Campus of
Te Wānanga o AotearoaTe Wānanga o Aotearoa is a tertiary education provider, specifically a wānanga, in New Zealand. Its name, which is in Māori, literally means "University of New Zealand" and it recently became the largest public tertiary education institution in the nation , delivering educational programmes across...
.
Tertiary Education Institutions
| School Name | Location |
|---|
Massey UniversityMassey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students. The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . In addition, Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
|
Turitea |
| Massey University College of Education |
Hokowhitu |
| Universal College of Learning Universal College of Learning is a New Zealand Government TEI located primarily in Palmerston North but has campuses also in the other parts of the lower North Island.-History:...
|
Palmerston North Central |
| International Pacific College |
Aokautere |
| Te Wānanga o Aotearoa |
Highbury |
Secondary schools
| School Name | Location |
|---|
| St Peter's College St Peter's College is a Catholic Integrated co-educational College Year 7-13 of approximately 800 students. It is located in the northern Palmerston North suburb of Milson....
|
Milson Milson is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.-Location & Population:Milson is located to the north of the city. There are two ways to access Milson from Palmerston North Central. Milson Line is one way, the other is Rangitikei Street.Milson has a suburban feel to it. It...
|
Palmerston North Boys' High SchoolPalmerston North Boys' High School is a state secondary school for boys located in Palmerston North Hospital Area, Palmerston North, New Zealand.-History:...
(PNBHS) |
Palmerston North Hospital Area Palmerston North Hospital Area is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.-Location, population and features:Palmerston North Hospital Area is located in the north of the city and had a usually resident population of 2,739 []...
|
| Palmerston North Girls High School Palmerston North Girls' High School is a large secondary school for girls, located in the suburb of West End in the city of Palmerston North, New Zealand.-Location:...
(PNGHS) |
West End West End is a suburb in Palmerston North, New Zealand.-Location and Population:West End is located to the south west of Palmerston North Central and had a resident population of 4,383 []. The suburb is fairly large with its boundaries being Botanical Road and Katene Street in the W, to the S is the...
|
| Queen Elizabeth College -Location:It is located adjacent to Palmerston North Boys' High School, however QEC's entrance is located on Rangitikei Street.QEC markets itself as "the biggest small school" in Palmerston North.-Facilities:...
(QEC) |
Palmerston North Hospital Area Palmerston North Hospital Area is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.-Location, population and features:Palmerston North Hospital Area is located in the north of the city and had a usually resident population of 2,739 []...
|
Freyberg High SchoolFreyberg High School is a State Co-Educational Secondary School in the suburb of Roslyn, Palmerston North, New Zealand.The school is located at the end of Freyberg Street, Palmerston North and is bordered by Skoglund Park on the east and Ross Intermediate School on the west. To the north are the...
(FHS) |
Roslyn Roslyn is a suburb in the city of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand.-Location, features and population:Roslyn is located 3km NE of the CBD and bounded on the north by the North Island Main Trunk Railway , on the east by Palmerston North-Gisborne Railway , the south by Main Street...
|
| Awatapu College Awatapu College is a State co-educational Secondary School in Awapuni, Palmerston North, New Zealand.-Location and History:The school is located at the bend of Botanical Road, opposite West End School. It is built upon a drained ancient lagoon, known to the local Maori as "Awatapu" meaning...
|
Awapuni South Awapuni is an area and constituent ward of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand. It is located south west of Palmerston North Central.-Awapuni North:Awapuni North is relatively residential area and had a resident population of 3,405 []....
|
Longburn Adventist CollegeLongburn Adventist College is an integrated co-educational Christian school for years 7 to 13. It is located just west of Palmerston North in the Manawatu District in the small dairy town of Longburn...
(LAC) |
Longburn |
Governance
On 1 November, 1989, New Zealand local government authorities were reorganised. Palmerston North City boundaries were extended to include
AshhurstAshhurst is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.-Location, features and population:Ashhurst is sited 14 kilometres northeast of the city of Palmerston North and is a small rural town with a population of 2,526...
,
LintonLinton Army Camp is the Largest NZ Army base and is home to the 2nd Land Force GroupUnits based at Linton:* HQ 2 Land Force Group* 16 Field Regiment * 2 Engineer Regiment...
and Turitea through amalgamation of parts of the former Kairanga County, Oroua County and Ashhurst Town Council.
The Council consists of a
Mayor"Mayor" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government....
and 15 Councillors. The Council's functions are broken down into seven units: City Future, City Contact, City Corporate, City Enterprises, Community and Commercial Services,
City LibraryThe Palmerston North City Library is the main public library provided by the Palmerston North City Council for the residents of Palmerston North, New Zealand.-Purpose:...
and City Networks. The Chief Executive is Paddy Clifford.
The mayor is
Jono NaylorJono Naylor is a New Zealand local politician for the city of Palmerston North. Naylor became a member of the city council in 2001 and was elected Mayor in 2007, defeating incumbent Heather Tanguay....
, who was a councillor representing Hokowhitu. Elections for Mayor and local government occur nationwide every three years, with the next election to take place in 2010.
The City Council is in the Civic Administration Building and the Customer Service Centre building, both on the Square.
Palmerston North City is divided into five wards since Ashhurst and Fitzherbert wards have amalgamated. Four of these are urban and one rural.
| Wards of Palmerston North |
| Ward Name | Suburbs including | Number of Councillor(s) | Councillors |
|---|
| Ashhurst-Fitzherbert Ward |
Ashhurst, Whakarongo, Turitea, Linton, Massey University, Aokautere |
Two |
Cr B Wilson
Cr Anne Podd |
| Awapuni Ward |
Awapuni West, Awapuni North, Awapuni South |
Three |
Cr Annette Nixon
Cr P J Wheeler
Cr Pat Kelly |
| Hokowhitu Ward |
Hokowhitu East, Hokowhitu West, Hokowhitu Lagoon, Terrace End, part of Papaioea |
Three |
Cr Gordon Cruden
Cr Jim Jeffries
Cr Chris Teo-Sherrell |
| Papaioea Ward |
Milson, Roslyn, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North Hospital Area, Papaioea |
Four |
Cr John Hornblow Cr Lew Findlay
Cr Jan Barnett
Cr Ross Linklater |
| Takaro Ward |
Takaro, Highbury, Westbrook, Cloverlea |
Three |
Cr Michael Feyen
Cr Vaughn Dennison
Cr David Ireland |
Services
Palmerston North City Council provides rubbish collections, water management, environmental management (e.g. Parks and Reserves) and the general maintenance of the city. Recently the City Council has funded the upgrading of the Square and the Clocktower and has proposed new infrastructure for the city, such as a recreational lake in Aokautere and a second bridge to ease traffic congestion at Fitzherbert Bridge.
Sister cities
Palmerston North has two
sister citiesSister cities, also known as town twinning, is an agreement between towns, cities and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties...
, as designated by
Sister Cities NZ (SCI):
MissoulaMissoula is a city in and the county seat of Missoula County, Montana, United States. The population was 57,053 at the 2000 census and the population of the Missoula Metropolitan Statistical Area was 95,802, making it the second-largest city and metropolitan area in Montana. It is the largest...
,
MontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of the state contains numerous mountain ranges; other 'island' ranges are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
GuiyangGuiyang is the capital of Guizhou Province, the People's Republic of China.Guiyang is located in central Guizhou province, situated on the east of the Yungui Plateau, and on the north bank of the Nanming River, a branch of the Wu River. The city has an elevation of about 1,100 meters...
,
People's Republic of ChinaThe People's Republic of China , commonly known as China, is the largest country in East Asia and the most populous in the world with over 1.3 billion people, approximately one-fifth of the world's population...
Musical scene
Palmerston North has a thriving musical scene with many national and international acts touring through the town, and many local acts performing regularly.
- The Stomach
The Stomach is a music venue, recording studio and rehearsal space, located on Lombard Street in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is Palmerston North's longest running and only current all-ages music venue...
, music venue
- Bar Mode, music venue
- Swampfest
The Swampfest is an annual musical festival that showcases Palmerston North bands. It occurs during New Zealand Music Month and is the only one of its kind in the city, showcasing multiple bands over various nights. Swampfest is known for showcasing up-and-coming as well as established artists, all...
, annual musical festival
External links