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Palmerston North is situated on the banks of the Manawatu
River at the foot of the Tararua Mountain Range. The subdivision
of Palmerston North began in 1866, with the most important
stimulus to the growth of the town being the development
of pastoral farming. As early European settlers cleared
the native forest with axe and fire, a new vegetation
of grasses and clovers provided the basis for cattle and
sheep farming. The city has been able to maintain a complementary
relationship between the modern conveniences and technology
of big city life, and the quality and ease of small town
lifestyle, offering visitors and residents alike 'the
best of both worlds'.
Palmerston North is a vibrant youthful city with the active
student population, nearby Linton Military Camp, and several
knowledge organisations. Since 1930 the City's economic
base has been broadened by the establishment of Massey
University and the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute,
hence it bears the distinction of being New Zealand's
`Knowledge City'., all adding to a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Shopping
to rival that found anywhere in New Zealand awaits the
serious 'retail therapist', whilst connoisseurs of fine
food, a good espresso or a great nightlife will find themselves
spoilt for choice from the tasty smorgasbord of restaurants,
cafes and bars. One professional and two amateur live
theatre companies, New Zealand's most successful multiplex
cinema, and the recent 12 million dollar complete refurbishment
of the city's magnificent 'Regent on Broadway' make Palmerston
North a popular destination for enthusiasts of the screen
and stage.
The
calibre and central locations of the city's many venues
ensure that Palmerston North hosts a number of national,
international and special shows and events annually. Although
on the doorstep of Manawatu's rural playgrounds, Palmerston
North is home to an array of activities and attractions.
An interactive Science Centre & Manawatu Museum, galleries,
golf courses, parks and walkways, indoor climbing and
karting...just a sample of those on offer! Each October
to March the city roars to life with the popular Stockcar
season, including World Championship races, while February
hosts the family Esplanade Open Day, an extravaganza of
stalls, entertainment, displays and music all set in the
beautiful Victoria Esplanade Gardens. March brings the
annual International Festival, a colourful celebration
of the ethnic diversity embraced by the people and city
of Palmerston North.
Palmerston
North is served by an excellent international airport
only a short distance from the city. It has a very good
record for all weather operation, and the 1500 metre runway
is capable of taking all domestic and some international
aircraft currently flying within New Zealand. Both Air
New Zealand and Ansett New Zealand operate first class
trunk services, while Freedom Air operates a trans Tasman
service. A considerable number of commuter aircraft also
serve the City, including Mount Cook Airlines, Air Nelson,
and Eagle Airways. In April 1996, the first International
flight departed Palmerston North Airport, which now boasts
4 International flights per week to Sydney, Brisbane and
return.
By
road, Palmerston North is only seven hours drive from
Auckland and two hours from the capital, Wellington. The
City's central location also places it within easy two
hour drives of the North Islands Central Plateau skifields,
the beaches and wineries of the Hawkes Bay, Mount Taranaki
and historic Maori sites of the Taranaki region, and the
rural splendor of the Wairarapa.
Mother
nature has endowed Manawatu area with endless opportunities
to experience the great outdoors, from short walks in
splendid native bush, half day walks through the spectacular
Manawatu Gorge, to tramping in the majestic Ruahine, or
Tararua Ranges. Museums, gardens and arts & crafts
abound, with many cottage industries to be discovered
in the beautiful Pohangina Valley. The area provides every
type of accommodation - top class hotels, motels, hostels,
bed and breakfasts, home and farmstays. An excellent array
of restaurants and bars to suit all palates are a popular
feature of the city.
Statistics
| Area:
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32,594
hectares (the Council administers an area of 32,594
hectares which includes the communities of Ashhurst,
Aokautere, Whakarongo, Linton and the Palmerston
North urban area.) |
| Population:
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75,000
(statistics New Zealand estimate, 1998) |
| Rateable
Properties:
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27,600
|
| Nonrateable
Properties:
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100
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Demographic Information
Age Distribution
Palmerston North has a relatively young age profile that
reflects, among other things, the City’s important tertiary
education, and training and military sectors. However,
like elsewhere in New Zealand, the City’s population is
gradually aging as the proportion of people in the older
age groups increases.
Ethnic profile
Palmerston North’s ethnic profile is different to that
of New Zealand as a whole. European: 76%
Maori: 13%
Pacific Island: 2%
Asian: 5%
Other: 3%
Average Income
Palmerston North’s Average Income in 1996: $42,160
People per Household
The average number of people per household in 1996 was
2.9
Climate
Palmerston North's average mean daily maximum temperature
ranges from 22 degrees celsius in February (14 deg. cel.
overnight minimum) to 12 degrees celcius in July (2 deg.
cel. overnight minimum).
Palmerston North averages 20 days per year above 25 deg.
cel.
There are on average 200 rain-free days.
Rain actually only falls 5% of the time.
The average rainfall is 960mm.
July has the highest average rainfall of 97mm while the
lowest is measured in February at 60mm. Fog is a rarity
and hence the Palmerston North Airport is open 99.5% of
the year which is more than any other airport in the country.
The prevailing wind is a westerly breeze and in spring
can be stronger, but rarely reaches galeforce.
History of Palmerston North
When the Borough Council came into existence in 1877,
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.
Roading
was the first priority for the new Council. The town had
28 miles of street, but only 6 were formed and metalled
- the other 21 were identified only by survey pegs in
the forest. The Council raised a loan of £10,000
in 1878 and spent most of this money on clearing the road
lines, and forming and metalling the streets.
As
the forest around Palmerston North was cleared and farms
were established, the borough grew in prosperity. By 1885
the Council was brave enough to raise a public works loan
of £50,000 and used this money to provide a public
water supply (1889), a primitive sewage disposal system
(1890) and further improvements to streets and stormwater
drainage.
By
1902, when the borough celebrated its 25th anniversary,
the population had reached 7,000 people, and Palmerston
North was a rapidly growing agricultural service centre,
set in the midst of a prosperous agricultural district.
During the next 30 years a massive upgrading of civic
facilities took place. All major streets were re-built,
a new water supply and sewage system was constructed (1905-07),
a public library was opened (1900), an opera house was
built (1905) and a series of parks and reserves established
throughout the borough. The Council also became involved
with trading activities, purchasing the local gas works
in 1915, the local abattoir in 1917, and establishing
a bus service in 1921. An electric power station was also
erected in 1924 and generated sufficient electricity to
meet the needs of the borough for some years.
In
1930 the population reached 20,000 and city status was
bestowed by the Governor General, but during the next
two decades the development of the city was restricted
by the economic depression of the 1930s and the World
War of the 1940s. The only major projects undertaken by
the Council during this period were the construction of
a new bridge across the river at the end of Fitzherbert
Avenue (1935) and the establishment of the airport at
Milson (1936).
After
the war a tremendous period of growth took place, with
the population rising from 25,000 in 1945 to 58,000 in
1977. The city expanded its boundaries in 1949, 1953,
1961 and 1967 and the Council undertook another massive
upgrading of the civic amenities. All the principal streets
were reconstructed, a new dam and water treatment plant
was built (1953-56) and the old septic tanks were replaced
by a new sewage treatment plant (1968). The Airport was
provided with a sealed runway in 1958 and natural gas
was introduced in 1970.
Recreational
and cultural facilities were also expanded during this
period. Playgrounds and community halls were established
in new suburbs, the Opera House was upgraded (1955), an
art gallery was established (1959), a new Library building
was erected (1965), the Lido swimming centre was built
(1966) and a museum was opened (1971).
After
the Government removed the railway station and railway
yards from the centre of the city (1964-66), the Council
developed a complex of civic buildings on the old railway
land. The first of these was the Art Gallery (1977), followed
by the Civic Administration Building and Council Chamber
(1979) and the Globe Theatre (1982). A portion of the
old railway land was also utilised for the construction
of a new Fire Station, but the remainder of the land has
been retained as a green, open space in the heart of the
City.
During
the 1980’s the Council also developed the old agricultural
and pastoral Showgrounds into a major recreational asset
for the region, with the largest improvements being the
Manawatu Sports Stadium (1981) and the grandstand (1986).
As
part of a nation-wide reorganisation of local government,
a new Palmerston North City Council was constituted on
1 November 1989. The boundaries of the City were extended
to include Ashhurst, Whakarongo, Aokautere, Linton and
some adjacent rural areas previously administered by the
Kairanga and Oroua counties. The size of the Council was
increased to 16 elected members (15 Councillors and 1
Mayor), and the City was divided into 6 wards for electoral
purposes.
As
a result of new legislation, the Council established Local
Authority Trading Enterprises (LATEs) (limited liability
companies) to carry out its gas, electricity and bus services,
but market competition subsequently resulted in the closing
down of the bus service (1991), the sale of gas undertaking
(1994) and the merger of the electricity business with
a neighbouring company (1997). The Airport was also transferred
to the control of a Council-owned company, which completed
a new terminal building in 1992 and developed facilities
for an international air service to Australia in 1996.
Other
major projects completed in recent years include the roading
“flyover” at the intersection of Summerhill Drive and
Tennent Drive (1993), a new Science Centre and Manawatu
Museum (1994), a new Library building (1996), improvements
to the small dam at the Turitea waterworks (1996), the
restoration of the Regent Theatre (1998) and the building
of the community swimming pool at Freyberg High School
(1998).
Name
The subdivision of this area began in 1866, when 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.
The
original name of this township was "Palmerston",
bestowed in honour of the Third Viscount Palmerston (Henry
John Temple), a former Prime Minister of Great Britain.
The suffix "North” was added in 1871 by the Post
Office, in order to distinguish the settlement from its
namesake in the South Island.
The
Maori translation of Palmerston North is "Pamutana".
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