Palmerston North
Palmerston
General Information
Other Name: Te Papa-i-oea, District: Palmerston North, State: Manawatu Wanganui, New Zealand
Area: 0 -
Languages Spoken: English and Maori
Long Distance Code: 06
Importance: Student City
Best Time to Visit: December to - and September
International Access: Connected to all the major cities of New Zealand.Description
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 79,800 (June 2008 estimate).As of 2008 Palmerston North is the eleventh largest city in New Zealand, and the centre of the seventh largest urban area. 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 twenty-five and as a result, the city has been marketed as ''Student City''.Location
Palmerston North covers an area of 325.94 square kilometres (126 sq mi) and one million people live within a two hour (200 km/120 mi) radius. The city is situated about 140 km (87 mi) 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 (22 mi) from the river''s mouth and 12 km (7 mi) from the end of the Manawatu Gorge.Climate
Palmerston North''s climate is temperate with maximum daytime temperatures averaging 22 °C (72 °F) in summer and 12 °C (54 °F) in winter. On average temperatures rise above 25 °C (77 °F) on 20 days of the year. Annual rainfall is approximately 960 mm (37.8 in) with rain occurring approximately 5% of the time. There are on average 200 rain free days each year.
From Monro Hill, named after a British immigrant who settled here in 1870 and founded the country''s first rugby club, there is a view of the spacious campus of Massey University.
The Rugby Museum is devoted to New Zealand''s national sport.
Te Manawa is a regional culture centre where art, heritage and science themes dominate. Our exhibitions explore the past; seek to inform today and pose questions about tomorrow. We host international touring shows and home-grown exhibits that celebrate the joys and challenges of provincial life, these are supported by education programmes, special events, performances and workshops. Te Manawa is a store house of regionally and nationally important collections of Taonga Maori, New Zealand contemporary art, social and natural history. Opening hours: 10am-5pm including weekends and public holidays (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year''s Day and Good Friday).
The hub of the town''s life is the Square, originally a large open space of almost 7 ha, which in earlier days was traversed by the railroad but is now a park, with fountains, and the site of the modern Civic Centre.
Taylor-Jensen Fine Arts is the Central Districts Premier Art Gallery offering to a discriminating public the best in local and regional New Zealand art in all media: oil and acrylic paintings, watercolours, graphics, sculpture, glass, ceramics, turned and carved wood, textiles, jewellery, furniture and design, Maori art and more.