Palmerston North, city, New Zealand, in Wellington Provincial District, southern North Island, on the Manawatu River. A road and rail hub in a sheep-raising and dairying area, the city has industries producing furniture, bricks, apparel, flour, dairy products, and beer. It is the site of Massey University (1926) and several attached research institutes. The city of Palmerston North was settled by Scandinavians about 1871. Population (1998 estimate) 75,700.
