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 Palmerston
North (Māori: Te Papa-i-oea)
(Pop: 80700) is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region . It
is an inland city being the 11th-largest city in New Zealand, and
the centre of the seventh-largest urban area.
Due to its central location in the sprawling Manawatu region, Palmerston North the focal point for a
number of major routes; south to Wellington, north to Taupo and
Auckland, southeast to Napier and northwest to New Plymouth.
A large proportion of its population consists of students attending
Massey University, Universal College of Learning (UCOL) or
International Pacific College 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'.
A
pleasant tree-lined city, the crossroads of the Manawatu, with many
education and research institutions in the area, in particular Massey
University.
 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.
The International Pacific College, a private tertiary
institution set up by a Japanese foundation, lies on the outskirts. Bledisloe Park and Pohangina Domain (32km) have native bush walks,
swimming and picnicking. In The Square can be found the Info Centre,
the Hopwood Clock Tower, gardens and fountains. The Manawatu Art
Gallery, the Science Centre and Manawatu Museum are located on Main
Street West.
History is found on Heritage Trails and in several
specialist museums. Activities include trout fishing and jet boating
on the river, horse trekking, or camping and tramping in the Ruahine
and Tararua Ranges. The International Rose Trial Grounds are at The
Esplanade Gardens, which also has picnic sites.
Palmerston North is a hub for major
coach/bus Operators
providing regular daily services to and from Palmerston and Air New Zealand Link air services
to Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson, Rotorua and Auckland.
There are passenger train services to and from Palmerston North being
The Overlander train to
Ohakune,
National Park,
Hamilton and
Auckland and
Capital Connection train
between Palmerston North, Levin and Wellington.
There are no passenger train services from Palmerston North to
Napier, Hastings, Wanganui, Taupo, Rotorua, Tauranga or New Plymouth. |
