Palmerston North is a city located in the North Island of New Zealand. It serves as the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region and is situated in the eastern Manawatū Plains near the north bank of the Manawatū River. The city is positioned approximately 140 km (87 mi) north of Wellington, the nation's capital.
The city is the eighth-largest urban area in New Zealand. It has an estimated population of 90,500, with an urban population of 81,200. Geographically, it lies about 35 km (22 mi) from the mouth of the Manawatū River and 12 km (7 mi) from the end of the Manawatū Gorge.