Palmerston North City Council

Te Hirawanui General Ward
The Palmerston North City Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 15 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the city). 13 councillors will be elected from the Te Hirawanui ward. This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Palmerston North City Council election.

Climate change and resilience

Climate change poses a huge challenge for communities as more frequent extreme weather events require us to rethink how we live and where. Local authorities are at the forefront of efforts to respond, with responsibilities for environmental planning and regulation, as well as civil defence. Many councils have plans to reduce emissions in their area and are working to help their communities adapt to a warming world.

Climate change and resilience

Climate change poses a huge challenge for communities as more frequent extreme weather events require us to rethink how we live and where. Local authorities are at the forefront of efforts to respond, with responsibilities for environmental planning and regulation, as well as civil defence. Many councils have plans to reduce emissions in their area and are working to help their communities adapt to a warming world.

  • Commit the council's budgets to achieving a 30% reduction in Palmerston North greenhouse gas emissions by 2031.

    Commit the council's budgets to invest in infrastructure that service and protect, enhance and preserve the environment.

    Lobby the government to ensure urban development powers and policies (from a national perspective) are sustainable now and into the future.

  • Support policies that encourage multi-modal transport options – e.g cycling, walking and e-scooters.

    Ensure that town planning encourages infill housing options on main arterial routes – thereby supporting public transport.

    Support current work within council that has us working to achieve our emissions targets. (-30% by 2031).

  • Promote community-led awareness and preparedness for responding to and mitigating against the adverse effects of extreme weather.

    Reduce risk by opposing developments on high-risk, flood-prone land, and increasing planting in de-forested areas to stabilise land.

    Include provisions for fruit and nut tree planting in green spaces and social housing, to increase the long term food supply in the city.

  • Deliver a sustainable future and a reduced ecological footprint through more effective planning of infrastructure.

    Protect, maintain and enhance our natural and built environment.

    Work towards our city becoming a low carbon economy.

  • To help align with the national direction, council recently committed to reducing citywide carbon emissions by at least 30% by 2031.

    Council in lead-up to 2021/31 and the climate change team will be looking into plans for other low-carbon technology and processes we can adopt.

  • Commit to evaluating what can be done to reduce factors contributing to ongoing climate change and begin effective big and small changes ASAP.

    Commit to a survival plan that will allow the community to navigate the inevitable climate changes ahead that are now way too late to avoid.

    Commit to ensuring civil defence capability is kept at maximum efficiency as well as ensuring all structures are earthquake strengthened.

  • Promote energy efficiency and conservation.

    Strengthen our emergency management preparedness and climate contingency planning.

    Take urgent action to achieve emissions reduction targets within the timeframes we have committed to.

  • Establish a quarterly scaled emergency response exercise for a civil defence emergency in Palmerston North.

    Confirm access to fuel emission technology that reduces emissions levels and save costs on fuel usage.

    Establish a council contractor code of environmental compliance.

  • Provide safe infrastructure for alternatives to private car use such a separated cycle lanes, public transport infrastructure.

    Enable intensification of housing within the city boundaries.

    Provide food waste collection on an opt-in basis.

  • Establish a hemp farm and processing plant, everything plastic can be made from hemp, hemp products are recyclable and 100% biodegradable.

    Commit more resources to The Manawatū Food Action Network, so we are ready with food security in case of emergency.

    Commit to planting more native trees across the city, trees eat carbon dioxide.

  • Climate change is one of the most important issues. Improve our roads and footpaths to encourage people to walk and cycle.

    Encourage supplying subsidies to people who would like to use solar power alongside electric power.

    Encourage recycling by providing incentives such as free rubbish bags and showing people the benefits of recycling.

  • Encourage cycling by introducing end of trip facility guidelines for new commercial buildings so workers have showers, lockers, etc at work.

    Start a three month trial of increased bus services to determine the most popular routes/times, without committing long term to unused routes.

  • Support an eco city, responding to climate change for the benefit of everyone. Decrease carbon emissions and reduce our ecological footprint.

    Protect and enhance our natural and built environments, accommodate growth through intensification, and support active transport.

    Work with our partners towards achieving shared goals.

  • Reduce citywide carbon dioxide equivalent emissions 30% by 2031.

    Best possible available wastewater treatment for Palmy.

    Fund community projects.

  • Establish binding emissions reduction targets and climate action plans for the city that are consistent with NZ's emissions budgets to 2035.

    Transition all council buildings and facilities including swimming pools onto 100% clean, renewable energy by 2030.

    Require solar panels on all new buildings and major renovations in Palmerston North.

  • Provide a voice connecting Pacific views to the language of the mainstream climate change debate.

    Support action on climate change, global warming and carbon emissions for the well-being of future generations in our city.

    Maintain healthy green spaces whether the city develops vertically or horizontally or a combination of both.

  • Progress lowering our greenhouse gas emissions and educating our community to play their part.

    Promote active transport and public transport.

    Implement a food resilience policy.

  • Continue and strengthen our partnership with Massey and Fonterra to develop and deliver sustainable agricultural methods.

    Partner with private enterprises to encourage the growth of green technology enterprises in our city.

  • Investigate food waste policies so it diverts food waste from the landfill.

    Promote safer streets by removing large vehicles from using the city centre roads.

    Investigate home water storage facilities so we can store our own water in case of lack of rainfall.

  • Commit the council's budgets to achieving a 30% reduction in Palmerston North greenhouse gas emissions by 2031.

    Commit the council's budgets to invest in infrastructure that service and protect, enhance and preserve the environment.

    Lobby the government to ensure urban development powers and policies (from a national perspective) are sustainable now and into the future.

  • Support policies that encourage multi-modal transport options – e.g cycling, walking and e-scooters.

    Ensure that town planning encourages infill housing options on main arterial routes – thereby supporting public transport.

    Support current work within council that has us working to achieve our emissions targets. (-30% by 2031).

  • Promote community-led awareness and preparedness for responding to and mitigating against the adverse effects of extreme weather.

    Reduce risk by opposing developments on high-risk, flood-prone land, and increasing planting in de-forested areas to stabilise land.

    Include provisions for fruit and nut tree planting in green spaces and social housing, to increase the long term food supply in the city.

  • Deliver a sustainable future and a reduced ecological footprint through more effective planning of infrastructure.

    Protect, maintain and enhance our natural and built environment.

    Work towards our city becoming a low carbon economy.

  • To help align with the national direction, council recently committed to reducing citywide carbon emissions by at least 30% by 2031.

    Council in lead-up to 2021/31 and the climate change team will be looking into plans for other low-carbon technology and processes we can adopt.

  • Commit to evaluating what can be done to reduce factors contributing to ongoing climate change and begin effective big and small changes ASAP.

    Commit to a survival plan that will allow the community to navigate the inevitable climate changes ahead that are now way too late to avoid.

    Commit to ensuring civil defence capability is kept at maximum efficiency as well as ensuring all structures are earthquake strengthened.

  • Promote energy efficiency and conservation.

    Strengthen our emergency management preparedness and climate contingency planning.

    Take urgent action to achieve emissions reduction targets within the timeframes we have committed to.

  • Establish a quarterly scaled emergency response exercise for a civil defence emergency in Palmerston North.

    Confirm access to fuel emission technology that reduces emissions levels and save costs on fuel usage.

    Establish a council contractor code of environmental compliance.

  • Provide safe infrastructure for alternatives to private car use such a separated cycle lanes, public transport infrastructure.

    Enable intensification of housing within the city boundaries.

    Provide food waste collection on an opt-in basis.

  • Establish a hemp farm and processing plant, everything plastic can be made from hemp, hemp products are recyclable and 100% biodegradable.

    Commit more resources to The Manawatū Food Action Network, so we are ready with food security in case of emergency.

    Commit to planting more native trees across the city, trees eat carbon dioxide.

  • Climate change is one of the most important issues. Improve our roads and footpaths to encourage people to walk and cycle.

    Encourage supplying subsidies to people who would like to use solar power alongside electric power.

    Encourage recycling by providing incentives such as free rubbish bags and showing people the benefits of recycling.

  • Encourage cycling by introducing end of trip facility guidelines for new commercial buildings so workers have showers, lockers, etc at work.

    Start a three month trial of increased bus services to determine the most popular routes/times, without committing long term to unused routes.

  • Support an eco city, responding to climate change for the benefit of everyone. Decrease carbon emissions and reduce our ecological footprint.

    Protect and enhance our natural and built environments, accommodate growth through intensification, and support active transport.

    Work with our partners towards achieving shared goals.

  • Reduce citywide carbon dioxide equivalent emissions 30% by 2031.

    Best possible available wastewater treatment for Palmy.

    Fund community projects.

  • Establish binding emissions reduction targets and climate action plans for the city that are consistent with NZ's emissions budgets to 2035.

    Transition all council buildings and facilities including swimming pools onto 100% clean, renewable energy by 2030.

    Require solar panels on all new buildings and major renovations in Palmerston North.

  • Provide a voice connecting Pacific views to the language of the mainstream climate change debate.

    Support action on climate change, global warming and carbon emissions for the well-being of future generations in our city.

    Maintain healthy green spaces whether the city develops vertically or horizontally or a combination of both.

  • Progress lowering our greenhouse gas emissions and educating our community to play their part.

    Promote active transport and public transport.

    Implement a food resilience policy.

  • Continue and strengthen our partnership with Massey and Fonterra to develop and deliver sustainable agricultural methods.

    Partner with private enterprises to encourage the growth of green technology enterprises in our city.

  • Investigate food waste policies so it diverts food waste from the landfill.

    Promote safer streets by removing large vehicles from using the city centre roads.

    Investigate home water storage facilities so we can store our own water in case of lack of rainfall.