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===Suburbs===
===Suburbs===
The city's suburbs extend away from the Square.
The city's suburbs extend away from the Square.


SStirling 7bu


==Sister cities==
==Sister cities==

Revision as of 11:38, 16 October 2006

Palmerston North
File:Palmerston North.PNG
Population: 78,400
(urban)
78,400
(territorial)
Mayor: Heather Tanguay
Urban Area
Extent: North to
Kairanga Bunnythorpe Rd
& Ashhurst; south to
Linton military camp, SH 57
Territorial Authority
Name: Palmerston North City
Extent: North to Cloverlea,
airport & Ashhurst; south
to Linton, Tararua Ranges
See also: Manawatu District
Regional Council: Manawatu-Wanganui

Palmerston North is a city in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is currently the twelfth largest city (that is as in population within the City Council boundary) in the country, and the centre of the eighth largest urban area.

Area & location

Palmerston North covers an area of 32,594 hectares, and is in the geographical centre of New Zealand. One million people live within a two hour (200km) radius. The City is a major rail centre with the main trunk line. State Highway 1 passes through the region. State Highways 3, 56 and 57 pass through Palmerston North.

Geography

The city is situated about 140 km north of the capital, Wellington, in the eastern part of the Manawatu Plains, and close to the northern bank of the Manawatu River. It is 35 km from the river's mouth and 12 km from the end of the Manawatu Gorge. 40°21′18″S 175°36′34″E / 40.35491°S 175.60951°E / -40.35491; 175.60951

Physical environment

Land Area : 32,594 Hectares (includes the communities of Ashhurst, Aokautere, Whakarongo, Linton and the Palmerston North urban area.)

Area In Public Reserves : 554 Hectares

Highest Point (Elevation): 760 Metres Above Sea Level (In The Ranges South East of Scott Road)

Lowest Point (Elevation) : 10 Metres Above Sea Level(Riverbank Near Te Puna Road)

Typical Urban Area Elevation : 20 – 40 Metres

Length Of River (Within City Boundary): 29.9 km (Manawatu River)& 2.6 km (Pohangina River)

Climate

Palmerston North’s Climate is temperate with daytime temperatures averaging 22’C in summer and 12’C in winter. On average temperatures rise above 25’C on 20 days of the year. Annual rainfall is approximately 960mm with rain occurring approximately 5% of the time. There are on average 200 rain free days each year.

In the mountains that flank the city, there is a lot of sustained wind, especially in spring. Much of this land is within the city boundaries and these mountains have the reputation of providing the most consistent wind in the country. As a result, Palmerton North is under increasing tensions 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 farm in the southern hemisphere, with 158 turbines on the nearby Tararua and Ruahine Ranges providing power for approximately 30,000 homes.

Economy

The tertiary education sector provides $1 billion dollars a year to the local economy and accounts for 13% of the total Palmerston North workforce. Palmerston North also 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, the Adidas Institute of Rugby and Linton Military Camp.

In total, research, educational and government departments employ 43% of the City’s workforce. Another quarter of the workforce is employed in the wholesale and retail section that reflects Palmerston North’s status as a regional servicing focal point.

History

The city was originally named "Palmerston" in honour of Viscount Palmerston, a former Prime Minister of Great Britain. The suffix "North” was added in 1871 to distinguish the settlement from Palmerston in the South Island. Locals frequently refer to the city simply as "Palmy".

The original subdivision of Palmerston North was made in 1866, in a natural clearing in the Papaioea Forest. A township was laid out by J.T. Stewart, an employee of the Wellington Provincial Government. Mr Stewart's plan consisted of a series of wide and straight streets, laid out in a rectangular pattern, with the focal point for the new settlement taking the form of an open space of 17 acres, subsequently known as The Square. As the settlement grew, the forest diminished to make way for farms, and today virtually no remnant of it survives.

The first settlers were largely Scandinavian, the most prominent being former Danish Premier and Bishop of the Danish Lutheran Church Ditlev Gothard Monrad. By 1877, when the Borough Council came into existence, Palmerston North was an isolated village, set in the midst of a native forest which covered inland Manawatu. The population of the town 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 at this period in the city’s history, however, due to the great depression and World War II. An airport was established at Milson in 1936. After the war growth was rapid, with the population rising to over 50,000 by the mid 1970s.

The Maori transliteration of Palmerston North is "Pamutana", however, this is largely unused, with Papaioea being the prefered option (e.g. Te Kura Kohine o Papaioea (Palmerston North Girls High School))

The city

The Square, Palmerston North, before the major redevelopment

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. Sections of The Square have been closed to the public for more than two years due to a major redevelopment that is supposed to be finished by 2007. This park contains the city's war memorial, 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 has 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.

Currently the Clock Tower in the Square is being renovated.

Transport

The city is a significant road and rail junction. State Highways 56 and 57 meet State Highway 3 close to the city, with these highways providing the main streets of the city. However, State Highway 1, the North Island's main highway, passes about 25km to the west of Palmerston North.

Palmerston North International Airport is placing itself as a major secondary international airport in New Zealand. International and domestic services (the former operated by Freedom Air) operate to a number of international destinations, primarily to Australia.

In addition to domestic destinations, Palmerston North International Airport has direct connections to Australia and Fiji. The airport is open the most days of any New Zealand airport and frequently takes in planes that have been diverted from Wellington.

At Palmerston North, the North Island Main Trunk railway is joined by the Palmerston North-Gisborne Line, which runs through the Manawatu Gorge to Woodville and Hawke's Bay, with a connection to the Wairarapa Line at Woodville. The railway was originally routed through the central Square of the town, but was diverted to the north in 1964 - 1966. Rail services to Palmerston North include the daily Capital Connection to Wellington, and the Overlander to Auckland or Wellington.

There is a bus service in which 5 town buses and 1 campus bus set off from the main depot on Main Street East at least every half hour. It is run in conjunction between Horizons Regional Council and Masterton-based bus company, Tranzit.

Bus Routes

  • Rangiora/Brightwater
  • Roslyn/Rhodes
  • Milson/Cloverlea
  • Awapuni/Rugby
  • Highbury/Takaro

There are also frequent bus services from town to Massey (both Turitea and Hokowhitu Campuses) and IPC Campus.

Sights and attractions

There are a number of parks in the city. The foremost is the Victoria Esplanade that includes gardens, children's play areas, an aviary, a mini-train ride, walking tracks, and sports fields (Ongley-Manawaroa Park).

The city has used many descriptions in advertising and promotion: Rose City (referring to its international rose trial grounds), Knowledge City (referring to the city's many academic institutions), and "Student City" (for the same reason). The current slogan, "Young Heart, Easy Living", indicates a laid-back provincial life style. This was created to attract families away from the busier main centers, to a more relaxed approach to living.

The city is the home of the Manawatu Turbos, who play at FMG Stadium. FMG Stadium is also the home of the Palmerston North Stock Cars, notable visitors to an event meeting being golfer Tiger Woods and his New Zealand caddie, Steve Williams, who is known for his love of the Stock Car sport.

Culture

State Highway 3 enters the city from the northwest as Rangitikei Street before turning left into Grey Street north of the Square. It then turns right into Princess Street and left at Main Street East. On the opposite sides of The Square to these two roads are Main Street West (in the south-west) and Fitzherbert Avenue (to the south-east). These two roads connect with State Highways 56 and 57 respectively. Many of the city's main public buildings are located close to The Square and to Main Street East, including UCOL - Universal College of Learning.

Palmerston North city centre from Palmerston North Hospital.

Fitzherbert Avenue extends south, crossing the Fitzherbert Bridge, the only bridge over the Manawatu River close to the city to reach Massey University and International Pacific College (IPC), as well as some of the newly developed residential areas (Summerhill, Aokautere). The university campus is almost a separate urban area in its own right, containing student accommodation, and many mature trees. IPC provides a park-like campus for its 600 residential students from New Zealand and other parts of Asia as they study for their degrees.

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. The Fitz (on Ferguson Street) has long been the city's infamous student watering hole. George Street, one street back from The Square, is where many of the cafes and boutique-type shops are located.

Highbury is the home of the Papaioea Campus of Te Wänanga o Aotearoa.

Hinterland

The official limits of the city also take in rural areas to the south and northeast of the main urban area, extending to the Tararua Ranges and including the town of Ashhurst at the mouth of the Manawatu Gorge. This is a rich and fertile agricultural area. The city as a whole covers some 350 km².

Secondary schools in Palmerston North

  • Secondary schools in Palmerston North include :
  • Palmerston North Boys' High School (PNBHS)
  • Palmerston North Girls High School (PNGHS)
  • Queen Elizabeth College, Palmerston North|Queen Elizabeth College (QEC)
  • Freyberg High School (FHS)
  • Awatapu College
  • St Peter's College, Palmerston North|St Peter's College

Local government:Palmerston North City Council

In 1989 New Zealand local government authorities were reorganised, and Palmerston North city boundaries were extended to include Ashhurst, Linton [[1]] and their surrounding areas.

Palmerston North City is divided into 6 wards, with the urban wards having either 2 or 3 councillors and the more rural wards having 1. The mayor is Heather Tanguay.

Wards of Palmerston North City

The wards are (clockwise from northwest)

Suburbs

The city's suburbs extend away from the Square.

Sister cities

Palmerston North has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities NZ (SCI):

Notable personalities from Palmerston North

Sport

Politics

Other

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