Palmerston North : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

Palmerston North

Official name

Palmerston North City Council

Native name

Te Papaioea (Māori)

Settlement type

Metropolitan Area

Motto

Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat

Country

Region

Manawatu-Wanganui

Territorial authority

Palmerston North City

Government

Ward

Papaioea, Takaro, Awapuni, Hokowhitu, Ashhurst-Fitzherbert

Type

City Council

Mayor

Jono Naylor

Geography

Total Area

125.8 sq mi (326 km2)

Demography

Total Population

( )

Density (pop.)

auto/km² (0/sq mi)

Urban (pop.)

Demonym

Palmerstonian

Other information

Time zone

NZST (UTC+12)

- Summer (DST)

NZDT (UTC+13)

Area code

Home | Settlement P | Palmerston North

Palmerston North ( ) is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank of the Manawatu River. The city covers an area of 325.94 km2 (125.8 sqmi) and one million people live within a two-hour drive (200 km/120 mile radius). It is about 140 km (87 mi) north of the capital, Wellington. The city is 35 km (21.7 mi) from the river's mouth and 12 km (7.5 mi) from the end of the Manawatu Gorge.

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 Ranges and including the town of Ashhurst at the mouth of the Manawatu Gorge. This is a rich and fertile agricultural area.