Papaioea

Papaioea
Suburb
Corner Broadway and Albert Street, Papaioea
Interactive map of Papaioea
Coordinates: 40°20′52″S175°37′19″E / 40.3479°S 175.622°E / -40.3479; 175.622
Country	New Zealand
City	Palmerston North
Local authority	Palmerston North City Council
Electoral ward	Te Hirawanui General Ward Te Pūao Māori Ward
Area [1]
• Land	248 ha (610 acres)
Population  (June 2025) [2]
• Total	7,040
• Density	2,840/km2 (7,350/sq mi)
Hospitals	Palmerston North Hospital

Cloverlea	Milson	Roslyn
Takaro	Papaioea	Terrace End
Palmerston North Central		Hokowhitu

Administration building at Palmerston North Hospital

Papaioea is a suburb of Palmerston North on New Zealand's North Island.

Its name comes from the name of the original settlement in a clearing in forest which was purchased from local Māori (Ngāti Rangitāne) in 1864. The name was used to describe Palmerston North also. Somewhat later, the name had become forgotten with the transliteration of Pamutana being preferred (especially by the Native Land Court). ^[3]

The name Papaioea did not resurface until the 1920s, and is sometimes used to refer to Palmerston North as a whole.

Papaioea has many shops, food outlets and supermarkets, including Terrace End Shopping Centre (Broadtop) on Broadway Avenue. There are real estate agencies, a veterinarian clinic, medical clinics and several churches, including Broadway Methodist Church.

Aorangi Hospital, formerly known as Mercy Hospital, was a private hospital in the northwest of the suburb. It has since been demolished, with services moved to Crest Hospital in nearby Carroll Street. The site is now occupied by Broadway Radiology who occupy a new, modern building.

Horizons Regional Councils office is also located in Papaioea.

Papaioea Park is located in the north of the suburb. ^[4] It is used as a football ground and cricket ground by lower club grades, and is walled on the Featherston Street and Ruahine Street boundary. ^[5]

Palmerston North Borough Council decided to reserve land for the park in the 1920s They chose the name Papaioea to commemorate the original settlement in the area. There was a spelling mistake and the name was spelt "Papaeoia". This was not corrected until the 1970s. ^[6]

The first stage of a new social housing development opened in the area in 2019. ^[7] Palmerston North City Council applied for Government funding for a second stage of the project during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. ^[8]

The Palmerston North Hospital area is identified as a separate area by Statistics New Zealand. On the southern side of Tremaine Avenue is a predominantly suburban area, with tree lined streets and avenues. The north side of Tremaine Avenue is dominated by commercial and industrial businesses. Features in the area include Arohanui Hospice, the Northern Bowling Club, Rimu Lodge Rest Home, Willard Rest Home, and Wahikoa Park. ^[9]

Demographics

Papaioea covers 2.48 km² (0.96 sq mi) ^[1] and had an estimated population of 7,040 as of June 2025, ^[2] with a population density of 2,839 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	6,783	—
2013	6,582	−0.43%
2018	7,020	+1.30%
2023	6,879	−0.40%
Source: [10] [11]

Papaioea had a population of 6,879 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 141 people (−2.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 297 people (4.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,270 males, 3,561 females, and 51 people of other genders in 2,943 dwellings. ^[12] 4.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,035 people (15.0%) aged under 15 years, 1,587 (23.1%) aged 15 to 29, 2,889 (42.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,368 (19.9%) aged 65 or older. ^[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.3% European (Pākehā); 17.6% Māori; 4.5% Pasifika; 16.5% Asian; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.9%, Māori by 4.4%, Samoan by 0.9%, and other languages by 15.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.9, compared with 28.8% nationally. ^[10]

Religious affiliations were 33.4% Christian, 2.6% Hindu, 1.6% Islam, 1.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 2.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 50.3%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question. ^[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,542 (26.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,913 (49.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,386 (23.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 507 people (8.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,802 (47.9%) full-time, 801 (13.7%) part-time, and 189 (3.2%) unemployed. ^[10]

Individual statistical areas

Name	Area (km2)	Population	Density (per km2)	Dwellings	Median age	Median income
Palmerston North Hospital	1.07	2,541	2,375	957	41.2 years	$43,500 [13]
Papaioea North	0.80	2,454	3,068	1,107	40.3 years	$32,300 [14]
Papaioea South	0.60	1,884	3,140	882	35.2 years	$36,900 [15]
New Zealand					38.1 years	$41,500

Education

Russell Street School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, ^{[16] [17]} with a roll of 339 as of July 2025. ^{[18] [19]} It opened in 1929. ^[20]

There are also two other schools within the area: Palmerston North Boys' High School and Queen Elizabeth College.

References

1. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 23 December 2025.
2. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
3. "Palmerston North". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
4. "Papaioea". pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council.
5. "Papaioea Park". pncc.govt.nz. Palmerston North City Council.
6. "Papaioea Park". Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
7. "Thirty new social housing units for Papaioea Place tenants". Palmerston North City Council. 1 March 2019.
8. Rankin, James (19 April 2020). "Palmerston North applies for nearly $125m for projects". stuff.co.nz. Manawatu Standard.
9. "Palmerston North Hospital Community Profile(published)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
10. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Papaioea (54960). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
11. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Palmerston North Hospital (229800), Papaioea North (230500) and Papaioea South (231000).
12. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
13. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Palmerston North Hospital. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
14. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Papaioea North. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
15. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Papaioea South. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
16. "Russell Street School Official School Website". russellst.school.nz.
17. "Russell Street School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
18. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
19. "Russell Street School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
20. "Russell Street School, Palmerston North". Digital New Zealand. Retrieved 23 December 2025.