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.

Recreation and culture

From parks and libraries to museums and art galleries, councils can be a key supporter of sporting, recreational and cultural events that bring communities to life. Community facilities, including sports grounds and town halls, are often owned and run by councils.

Recreation and culture

From parks and libraries to museums and art galleries, councils can be a key supporter of sporting, recreational and cultural events that bring communities to life. Community facilities, including sports grounds and town halls, are often owned and run by councils.

  • Keep free swimming for under five years.

    Support the annual Festival of Cultures.

    Support local sports tournaments and keep working with Sport Manawatū and Manawatū Cricket.

  • Ensure that Palmerston North is a vibrant cultural hub where access to cultural and sporting facilities can be shared by all.

    Ensure that council events are targeted to be enjoyed by all the community.

    Provide support to community organisations and individuals to help make Palmerston North a creative and exciting city.

  • Ensure that a wide range of recreational activities inspired by all ethnic cultures are developed to maximize inclusive social interaction.

    Ensure people are able to access a 'living history' of our community through available media and that our historical buildings are protected.

    Commit to an effective policy for managing alcohol-influenced behaviours and providing effective 'quit smoking' resources for nicotine addicts.

  • Support family-centred recreational redevelopment of the Square.

    Palmerston North needs more covered sports spaces and outdoor recreational opportunities.

  • Ensure that all council-managed facilities are adequately maintained and safe for use by community groups.

    Seek public input into the selection and/or placement of public art.

    Examine opportunities to better support niche community sports and recreation.

  • Support the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA) in their goal of attracting a five star hotel to Palmerston North and work with them on locations and conference centre options.

    Support the arts in our community by attending events and, if selected, serving on the council's creative communities funding committee.

    Support the development and maintenance of good sports grounds and facilities, and look after our over 60 parks.

  • Encourage more cultural events and celebrate festivals so each cultural group feels a part of the community and feel a sense of belonging.

  • Engage children back into sport and look at reducing the cost barrier for this.

    Organise cultural festivals for all communities and give them the leadership to be able to do this.

    Reduce the amount of liquor shops and vape shops around areas like schools and low decile areas.

  • Partner with local groups to encourage festivals to celebrate the diversity of our city.

    Examine the funding model for the Central Energy Trust Arena and determine if improvements can be made to increase usage and profitability.

  • Amateur theatre encouraged by all age groups.

    Public library increased opening hours.

  • Freeze all new projects and concentrate on maintaining what we already have as far as physical locations and facilities.

    Alcohol is the worst drug in our society. Freeze all new liquor licenses in the city.

    Establish an 'Entrepreneurs Hub' in the city to teach our people how to make money online.

  • Celebrate the city's history and diversity, cultures and languages, through a full programme of events and community activity.

    Support the continuing provision of great cultural institutions to the requirements of the earthquake prone buildings legislation.

    Develop the city's reputation for creativity and the arts through collaboration and smart investment, working with partners and sector leads.

  • Commit to not developing any green spaces in Palmerston North.

    Support more artists/musicians national and international to hold events/festivals in our city.

  • Complete the riverside shared path from Palmy to Ashhurst, and advocate for repurposing the Gorge Road for adventure recreation.

    Ensure there is public input into the selection of public art in all cases where public land and/or public money are used.

    Provide more 'pocket parks'. These are small-scale open spaces, easily accessible at neighbourhood scale, used for play and recreation use.

  • Provide excellent public facilities free to users, eg remove library fines for all users, continue with free swimming for under fives.

    Celebrate community diversity with events that reflect our multi-ethnic community.

    Support arts, cultural and sporting facilities and programmes to enhance community well-being.

  • All Palmerston North City Council facilities (including sporting facilities) need to continue to be accessible to all of the community.

    All Palmerston North City Council Community events need to continue to be accessible to all of the community. They also need to be well-run.

    The liquor license function of the council needs to be continued to run-well.

  • Support Palmerston North City Council investment in arts, culture and heritage as this supports the well-being of our community.

    Continue to invest in key festival events, eg Manawatū multicultural event. A regional event that provides strong return on spend.

  • Advocate for attractive, safe, and accessible spaces, recreation areas, parks and walkways for leisure, sporting and outdoor activities.

    Continue to encourage and host cultural and sporting events.

    Increase long-term creative sector investment.

  • Provide infrastructure to enable growth and a transport system that links people and opportunities.

    Provide community facilities and events that reflect the diverse and changing needs of our communities.

    Commit to ongoing investment into CET Arena and other key sports facilities to promote quality local, national and international fixtures.

  • Keep free swimming for under five years.

    Support the annual Festival of Cultures.

    Support local sports tournaments and keep working with Sport Manawatū and Manawatū Cricket.

  • Ensure that Palmerston North is a vibrant cultural hub where access to cultural and sporting facilities can be shared by all.

    Ensure that council events are targeted to be enjoyed by all the community.

    Provide support to community organisations and individuals to help make Palmerston North a creative and exciting city.

  • Ensure that a wide range of recreational activities inspired by all ethnic cultures are developed to maximize inclusive social interaction.

    Ensure people are able to access a 'living history' of our community through available media and that our historical buildings are protected.

    Commit to an effective policy for managing alcohol-influenced behaviours and providing effective 'quit smoking' resources for nicotine addicts.

  • Support family-centred recreational redevelopment of the Square.

    Palmerston North needs more covered sports spaces and outdoor recreational opportunities.

  • Ensure that all council-managed facilities are adequately maintained and safe for use by community groups.

    Seek public input into the selection and/or placement of public art.

    Examine opportunities to better support niche community sports and recreation.

  • Support the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA) in their goal of attracting a five star hotel to Palmerston North and work with them on locations and conference centre options.

    Support the arts in our community by attending events and, if selected, serving on the council's creative communities funding committee.

    Support the development and maintenance of good sports grounds and facilities, and look after our over 60 parks.

  • Encourage more cultural events and celebrate festivals so each cultural group feels a part of the community and feel a sense of belonging.

  • Engage children back into sport and look at reducing the cost barrier for this.

    Organise cultural festivals for all communities and give them the leadership to be able to do this.

    Reduce the amount of liquor shops and vape shops around areas like schools and low decile areas.

  • Partner with local groups to encourage festivals to celebrate the diversity of our city.

    Examine the funding model for the Central Energy Trust Arena and determine if improvements can be made to increase usage and profitability.

  • Amateur theatre encouraged by all age groups.

    Public library increased opening hours.

  • Freeze all new projects and concentrate on maintaining what we already have as far as physical locations and facilities.

    Alcohol is the worst drug in our society. Freeze all new liquor licenses in the city.

    Establish an 'Entrepreneurs Hub' in the city to teach our people how to make money online.

  • Celebrate the city's history and diversity, cultures and languages, through a full programme of events and community activity.

    Support the continuing provision of great cultural institutions to the requirements of the earthquake prone buildings legislation.

    Develop the city's reputation for creativity and the arts through collaboration and smart investment, working with partners and sector leads.

  • Commit to not developing any green spaces in Palmerston North.

    Support more artists/musicians national and international to hold events/festivals in our city.

  • Complete the riverside shared path from Palmy to Ashhurst, and advocate for repurposing the Gorge Road for adventure recreation.

    Ensure there is public input into the selection of public art in all cases where public land and/or public money are used.

    Provide more 'pocket parks'. These are small-scale open spaces, easily accessible at neighbourhood scale, used for play and recreation use.

  • Provide excellent public facilities free to users, eg remove library fines for all users, continue with free swimming for under fives.

    Celebrate community diversity with events that reflect our multi-ethnic community.

    Support arts, cultural and sporting facilities and programmes to enhance community well-being.

  • All Palmerston North City Council facilities (including sporting facilities) need to continue to be accessible to all of the community.

    All Palmerston North City Council Community events need to continue to be accessible to all of the community. They also need to be well-run.

    The liquor license function of the council needs to be continued to run-well.

  • Support Palmerston North City Council investment in arts, culture and heritage as this supports the well-being of our community.

    Continue to invest in key festival events, eg Manawatū multicultural event. A regional event that provides strong return on spend.

  • Advocate for attractive, safe, and accessible spaces, recreation areas, parks and walkways for leisure, sporting and outdoor activities.

    Continue to encourage and host cultural and sporting events.

    Increase long-term creative sector investment.

  • Provide infrastructure to enable growth and a transport system that links people and opportunities.

    Provide community facilities and events that reflect the diverse and changing needs of our communities.

    Commit to ongoing investment into CET Arena and other key sports facilities to promote quality local, national and international fixtures.