Palmerston North · Manawatū · North Island
Moving to
Palmerston North
A flat, inland city in the Manawatū, built around Massey University, food and science research, and a freight and distribution hub.
- 91,300people in the city (June 2024, provisional)
- $545/wkmedian rent, all homes (June 2026)
- 1,770sunshine hours a year (about)
- 27,000students at Massey, all campuses (listing, undated)
Try the quiz
Is Palmerston North right for you?
Three quick questions about getting around, work and the coast. It is only a lifestyle check, and it does not say anything about a visa outcome.
0%
Palmerston North could suit you
You like a flat, compact city with study and science close by, and that is what Palmerston North offers. Look at the job and visa side separately.
Maybe, with some trade-offs
Palmerston North fits part of what you want. Think about the inland setting and the type of work available, then compare it with another city.
Another city may suit you better
Palmerston North does not look like the closest match right now. Browse the other city guides, or book a chat to talk about what you are after.
What Palmerston North is known for
Swipe through the industries behind the jobs.
Work in Palmerston North
Palmerston North's work leans on education, science, distribution and public service. Manawatū's economic site counts 70,306 filled jobs in the year to December 2024 (Infometrics), and that figure is for the wider Manawatū region and not only the city. Construction and manufacturing together make up 18% of jobs, healthcare and social assistance 13%, public administration 10% and education and training 10%.
Several employer lists on that site are undated, so use them as a guide to who hires in the region and check current vacancies yourself. A job is only possible if your visa allows it, so start with the work visa guide.
The weather
Tap a season. The bars show the average daytime high for each month.
22°
average daytime high, December to February
Warm days, with highs of 23° in January and February.
19°
average daytime high, March to May
Highs fall from 22° in March to 16° in May.
13°
average daytime high, June to August
Cool by day, with highs of 13 to 14° and July the lowest at 13°. Overnight temperatures are not shown here.
17°
average daytime high, September to November
Warming from 15° in September to 18° in November.
- 23°Jan
- 23°Feb
- 22°Mar
- 19°Apr
- 16°May
- 14°Jun
- 13°Jul
- 14°Aug
- 15°Sep
- 17°Oct
- 18°Nov
- 21°Dec
Source: NIWA climate averages 1991–2020 for Palmerston North (mean daily maximum, rounded half up; seasonal figures are the average of three months, rounded). NIWA's 1991–2020 average sunshine for Palmerston North is 1,771.7 hours a year.
What life is like
Palmerston North is a flat city. The council's welcome pack, a file labelled 2022, says you can get anywhere within about 10 minutes and that walking and cycling are popular on the flat ground. It also warns that the city is at risk of earthquakes, flooding and storms. Te Ara, writing in 1966, says it became a borough in 1877 and a city in 1930, and was named after Lord Palmerston.
The council joined Immigration New Zealand's Welcoming Communities programme in 2017 and reached Established Welcoming Community accreditation in 2020. Median rent is $545 a week across all homes in Palmerston North City (June 2026).
What locals love
- A flat layout where walking and cycling are popular
- Massey's Manawatū campus and UCOL in the city
- A median rent of $545 a week for all homes (June 2026)
- Free parking on most suburban streets, with a small fee in the centre (council welcome pack)
Good to know
- Winter daytime highs are 13 to 14°
- It is an inland city, so the sea is a drive away
- The council's welcome pack warns of earthquake, flood and storm risk
- Job figures are for the Manawatū region, not the city alone, and several lists are undated
- The Massey student figure covers all campuses and has no date
Visas, study and community
Which visas fit
People come to Palmerston North to study, to work in education, science, logistics or health, and to join family. The usual routes are a student visa, a work visa with an accredited employer, and partner or family visas. Your own situation decides what fits, and the rules change, so confirm with Immigration New Zealand.
Work visas → · Study visas → · Partner and family → · Residence →
Costing a move to Palmerston North? Work out the INZ fee for your visa with the visa fee calculator.
Immigration New Zealand runs a free information service for new migrants. Its contact centre is on 0508 558 855 (New Zealand landlines only) or +64 9 914 4100 from mobiles and overseas. Most people apply online.
Study
Massey University's Manawatū campus is at Tennent Drive. Its Study with New Zealand listing says Massey also has campuses in Auckland and Wellington.
UCOL Te Pūkenga Manawatū is at 18 Princess Street, in the city centre near The Square. Its campus page says Rangitāne gave it the name Rangitāne Tikaraina ki te Mātauranga, which partly translates as straight pathway to education. Check each website for courses, fees and entry rules.
Community
The Manawatū Multicultural Council is a registered charity based at Hancock Community House, 77-85 King Street. A Palmerston North City Council review says it coordinates the city's ethnic and cultural groups and runs free English conversation groups, language and cultural groups, computer classes, welcoming events and a community connectors service. The review counted 54 member organisations as at September 2021.
The city council's welcome pack lists the Multicultural Council's phone as 06 358 1572 and says it can help with information, translation help and English conversation groups. The city council's Welcoming Communities page links to the welcome pack and a neighbourhood map for finding community groups.
You can also ask questions in our community forum →
Talk to us from anywhere
You do not need to be in Palmerston North to book a free 20-minute chat by phone or video. We explain things in general terms and do not give personal immigration advice.
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