Palmerston North City Council

Last updated

Palmerston North City Council
Palmerston North coat of arms.png
Palmerston North City Council logo.png
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
Founded1930
Preceded byPalmerston North Borough Council
Leadership
Deputy mayor
Debi Marshall-Lobb
Chief executive
Waid Crockett
Structure
Seats16 [lower-alpha 1]
Political groups
  •   Independent (13)
  •   Green (2)
  •   Labour (1)
Length of term
3 years
Elections
STV
Last election
8 October 2022
Next election
11 October 2025
Motto
Palmam qui meruit ferat
("Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm")
Meeting place
PNCC administration building.jpg
32 The Square, Palmerston North
Website
www.pncc.govt.nz/Home
Footnotes
  1. One mayor, 15 councillors

The Palmerston North City Council is the territorial authority for the city of Palmerston North in New Zealand.

Contents

The council is made up of a mayor elected at-large and 15 councillors, with 13 elected from a city-wide general ward (Te Hirawanui Ward) and 2 from a city-wide Māori ward (Te Pūao Ward). They are elected using a single transferable voting system in triennial elections, [1] with the most recent elections having been held in 2022.

The current mayor is Grant Smith.

History

Palmerston North City Council, Palmerston North, New Zaland (75).JPG

Local Government in Palmerston North began with the formation of a town board and a local board within Wellington Province in 1876,. [2] When the provinces were dissolved in 1876, Palmerston North became part of the newly established Manawatū County.

An independent borough council for Palmerston North was proclaimed on 12 July 1877, splitting from Manawatū County. [3] The first borough council consisted of nine councillors, and George Matthew Snelson was elected unopposed to be the first Mayor of Palmerston North on 9 August 1877. [2]

It went on to be raised to city-status on 11 August 1930, [3] becoming New Zealand's 7th city. [4]

The boundaries of the city went on to be expanded to include parts of Awapuni (in April 1953), [5] Highbury (in April 1961), and Amberley, Aokautere, Kelvin Grove, Milson and further parts of Awapuni (in September 1967). [6]

The local elections of 1962 returned the first woman and first Māori councillors to the city council. [6]

Following the local government reforms of 1989, the city council's boundaries were again extended to include Ashhurst, Linton and Turitea through amalgamation of parts of the former Kairanga County, Oroua County and Ashhurst Town Council. [7] [8]

On 1 July 2012, Bunnythorpe, Longburn, part of the area around Kairanga and an area around Ashhurst were transferred from the Manawatū District to Palmerston North City. [9] [10]

In 2017 the council voted to create a Māori ward, but the decision was overturned by a city-wide referendum in May 2018. [11]

In 2021, Palmerston North City Council again voted to establish a Māori ward following the passing of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021. [12]

Composition

Councillors

The elected mayor and councillors provide governance for the city by setting the policy direction of the council, monitoring its performance, representing the city's interests, and employing the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive runs the everyday business of the council. The Chief Executive is currently Waid Crockett. [13]

Palmerston North City Council, 2022–2025 [14] [15]
PositionNameWard Ticket (if any)
Mayor Grant Smith At-large Independent
Deputy MayorDebi Marshall-LobbTe Pūao
CouncillorBilly MeehanTe HirawanuiIndependent
CouncillorBrent BarrettTe Hirawanui Green
CouncillorKaren NaylorTe HirawanuiIndependent
CouncillorKaydee ZabelinTe HirawanuiGreen
CouncillorLeonie HapetaTe Hirawanui
CouncillorLew FindlayTe HirawanuiIndependent
CouncillorLorna JohnsonTe Hirawanui Labour
CouncillorMark ArnottTe Hirawanui
CouncillorOrphée MickaladTe HirawanuiIndependent
CouncillorPatrick HandcockTe HirawanuiIndependent
CouncillorRachel BowenTe HirawanuiIndependent
CouncillorRoly FitzgeraldTe Pūao
CouncillorVaughan DennisonTe Hirawanui
CouncillorWilliam WoodTe Hirawanui

Civic symbols

Coat of arms

Palmerston North City Council was granted an official Coat of Arms in 1989, [16] [17] incorporating elements of the council's previous unofficial coat of arms which had been in use since 1885. The arms contain several visual puns on the name of the city. A description of the arms is: [18] [19]

Coat of arms of Palmerston North
Crest
On top of a mural crown, the crest is a red lion passant with blue tongue and claws holding a scallop shell (taken from the badge of a palmer) in its right paw, framed by palm fronds.
Escutcheon
The shield of the coat of arms of Palmerston North is gold on the left and blue on the right and having a bordure which is blue on the left and gold on the right. On the left side of the shield is a blue eagle with its wings displayed, having a red tongue and claws, and wearing a gold crown. On the right side of the shield is a gold tower.
Supporters
For supporters, on the left side is a Māori chief (modelled on Te Peeti Te Aweawe) [20] representing the tangata whenua and on the right is a European woman in early to mid-19th Century domestic working dress representing the European settlers. [21]
Motto
Palmam qui meruit ferat ("Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm") (the motto of Lord Nelson)

Flag

Flag of Palmerston North Flag of Palmerston North, New Zealand.png
Flag of Palmerston North

The flag of the Palmerston North City Council consists of the coat of arms on a white field. There have been suggestions to change the flag to better represent the city. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmerston North</span> City in North Island, New Zealand

Palmerston North is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains, the city is near the north bank of the Manawatu River, 35 km (22 mi) from the river's mouth, and 12 km (7 mi) from the end of the Manawatū Gorge, about 140 km (87 mi) north of the capital, Wellington. Palmerston North is the country's eighth-largest urban area, with an urban population of 83,100. The estimated population of Palmerston North city is 92,500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manawatū-Whanganui</span> Region of New Zealand

Manawatū-Whanganui is a region in the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand, whose main population centres are the cities of Palmerston North and Whanganui. It is administered by the Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council, which operates under the name Horizons Regional Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porirua City Council</span> Territorial authority of New Zealand

The Porirua City Council is the territorial authority for the city of Porirua, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tararua District</span> Territorial authority district in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

The Tararua District is a district near the south-east corner of New Zealand's North Island that is administered by the Tararua District Council. It has a population of 19,250, and an area of 4,364.62 km². The Tararua District Council was created by the amalgamation of the Dannevirke Borough, Eketahuna County Council, Pahiatua Borough Council, Pahiatua County Council and Woodville District Council in the 1989 local government reforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manawatū District</span> Territorial authority district in New Zealand

Manawatū District is a territorial authority district in the Manawatū-Whanganui local government region in the North Island of New Zealand, administered by Manawatū District Council. It includes most of the area between the Manawatū River in the south and the Rangitīkei River in the north, stretching from slightly south of the settlement of Himatangi in the south, to just south of Mangaweka in the north, and from the Rangitīkei River to the top of the Ruahine Range in the east. It does not include the Foxton area and the mouth of the Manawatū River, or Palmerston North City. Its main town is Feilding. The district has an area of 2,624 km².

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashhurst</span> Settlement in Manawatū-Whanganui Region, New Zealand

Ashhurst is a town and outlying suburb of Palmerston North, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangitikei District</span> Territorial authority district in Manawatū-Whanganui

The Rangitikei District is a territorial authority district located primarily in the Manawatū-Whanganui region in the North Island of New Zealand, although a small part, the town of Ngamahanga, lies in the Hawke's Bay Region. It is located in the southwest of the island, and follows the catchment area of the Rangitīkei River.

Bunnythorpe is a village in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island, 10 km (6 mi) north of the region's major city, Palmerston North. Dairy farms predominate the surrounding area but the community facilities include Bunnythorpe School, with a roll of about 80 pupils as of 2010, as well as a rugby football club, country club and several manufacturing plants. The population was 687 in the 2018 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roslyn, Palmerston North</span> Suburb of Palmerston North

Roslyn is a suburb in the city of Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North</span> Suburb of Palmerston North

Kelvin Grove is a suburb of Palmerston North on New Zealand's North Island. It is bounded on the north by the North Island Main Trunk railway, Manawatū District and Milson, on the west by Palmerston North–Gisborne Line and Roslyn, the south by the Manawatū River, and the east by James Line and Whakarongo.

Milson is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. The suburb is located to the north of the city, beyond the North Island Main Trunk Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whakarongo</span> Suburb of Palmerston North

Whakarongo is a suburb of Palmerston North, New Zealand, between the city and Ashhurst. It is mainly rural, and features many vegetable gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oroua County</span> County in New Zealand

Oroua County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island. Centred on the town of Feilding, it had an extent of just under 500 square kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longburn railway station</span> Defunct railway station in New Zealand

Longburn railway station was a station in Longburn, on the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand. The platform, which is across from the Fonterra Factory, remains but the structure has been demolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awapuni railway station</span> Defunct railway station in New Zealand

Awapuni railway station was a station in Kairanga County, on the Foxton Branch and, from 1908, the North Island Main Trunk in New Zealand, now in the Palmerston North suburb of Awapuni. It was beside the Mangaone Stream, near its confluence with the Kawau Stream, about 400 m (440 yd) west of Maxwells Line on the north side of Pioneer Highway. Nothing remains of the former station, except a wide verge, partly occupied by a cycleway, built in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koitiata</span> Settlement in Manawatū-Whanganui Region, New Zealand

Koitiata is a settlement located in the southwestern part of Rangitikei District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. At the time of the 2018 census, Koitiata had a population of 126. Marton is located 24 km to the east and Whanganui is located 29 km to the northwest. Nearby Koitiata is Lake Koitiata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whanganui District Council</span> Territorial authority of New Zealand

The Whanganui District Council, formerly spelled Wanganui District Council, is the territorial authority for Whanganui District, New Zealand, comprising the city of Whanganui and its surrounding areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Smith (politician)</span>

Grant Charles Smith is the 29th mayor of Palmerston North, New Zealand. He was first elected to the Palmerston North City Council in 2013, and was elected as mayor in the February 2015 by-election when Jono Naylor resigned. He then won the 2016 election with around 17,500 more votes than his only rival. He was re-elected in 2022. He came from a background of marketing and media, selling his design business when first elected as mayor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tangi Utikere</span> New Zealand politician

Tangi William Edward Utikere is a New Zealand politician, and Member of Parliament for Palmerston North since 2020. He was the deputy mayor of Palmerston North from 2016 to 2020, being the first non-European to serve in that role.

Māori wards and constituencies refer to wards and constituencies on urban, district, and regional councils in New Zealand that represent local constituents registered on the Māori parliamentary electoral roll vote. Like Māori electorates within the New Zealand Parliament, the purpose of Māori wards and constituencies is to ensure that Māori are represented in local government decision making.

References

  1. "How we elect our Council". www.pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  2. 1 2 "1870s". pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 McLintock, A. H.; Bailey, Susan. "PALMERSTON NORTH". teara.govt.nz. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  4. "1930s". pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  5. "1950s". pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  6. 1 2 "1960s". pncc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  7. "Palmerston North City Council". archivescentral.org.nz. Archives Central. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  8. McKinnon, Malcolm. "Manawatū and Horowhenua region - Government". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  9. "Local Government (Manawatu District and Palmerston North City) Boundary Alteration Order 2012". gazette.govt.nz. New Zealand Gazette . Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  10. "City takes 1100 properties". Manawatu Standard. Stuff. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  11. Lawrence, Kirsty (20 May 2018). "Palmerston North mayor disappointed Māori wards rejected". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  12. "Māori wards". www.pncc.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  13. "Senior leadership team". www.pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  14. "Elected members". www.pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  15. "LGE 2022 - Final" (PDF). www.pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  16. ""Armorial Bearings of the city of Palmerston North"". manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Library. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  17. "Coat of Arms Grant". archivescentral.org.nz. Archives Central. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  18. "Arms (crest) of Palmerston North". www.heraldry-wiki.com. Heraldry of the World. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  19. Rankin, Janine (9 March 2023). "Mystery surrounds how a symbolic woman lost her boot". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  20. "CULTURE & SPORT COMMITTEE MEETING" (PDF). palmerstonnorth.infocouncil.biz. 13 September 2023. pp. 19–21. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  21. "CULTURE & SPORT COMMITTEE MEETING" (PDF). palmerstonnorth.infocouncil.biz. Palmerston North City Council. 8 March 2023. p. 9. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  22. Rankin, Janine. "Palmerston North could adopt green and white theme for a flag". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2024.