About Palmerston North

Situated on the banks of the Manawatu River nestled at the foot of the impressive Tararua Mountain Range, Palmerston North is a vibrant, youthful city with an active student population, nearby military bases, and an impressive array of educational, scientific and research institutions. The largest centre of Manawatu, Palmerston North city lies 140 km north-east of Wellington and 546 km south of Auckland. The city’s central location also places it within easy two hour drives of the North Island’s Central Plateau with its thermal areas and ski fields, the beaches and wineries of the Hawkes Bay, Mount Taranaki and historic Maori sites of the Taranaki region, the Wairarapa with its vineyards, and the attractions of New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. On our doorstep, we have the spectacular Manawatu Gorge, nearby West Coast beaches, river activities, museums, galleries, golf courses, parks and walkways, and enough cafe’s, bars, restaurants and shops to cater for every taste.

Tonight, I represented the council at the launch of the Manawatu Journal of History at the city library. This journal is an initiative of the PN Heritage Trust and is to be published annually in conjunction with the Manawatu Branch of the NZ Historic Places Trust. You can check it out at the Library and I understand that there are copies which can be purchased from the Heritage Trust.
It is a great publication, beautifully presented, and will appeal to anyone who is interested in the rich history of the Manawatu area.