Last updated July 2026
The Square, known by its Māori name Te Marae o Hine (the courtyard of the daughter of peace), is the 17-acre / 7-hectare central park of Palmerston North and the geographic heart of the city. Designed by surveyor J. T. Stewart in 1866 when the township was laid out, the central square has been a public gathering space for more than 160 years and is surrounded by the city centre’s shops, cafes and civic buildings.
The park combines wide lawns, mature trees, ornamental gardens, a duck pond and a giant outdoor chess set with significant heritage features including the 1957 Hopwood Clock Tower, the 1926 Cenotaph, the 1902 Coronation Fountain, the Te Peeti Te Aweawe memorial and a 1990 set of carved pou honouring Rangitāne ancestors. It hosts farmers markets, festivals and major civic events year round.
Practical Information
| Location | Central Palmerston North, bounded by Main St, Church St, Coleman Pl and Fitzherbert Ave |
| Māori name | Te Marae o Hine – the courtyard of the daughter of peace |
| Size | 17 acres / 7 hectares |
| Established | 1866 (laid out in J. T. Stewart’s town plan) |
| Key features | Hopwood Clock Tower (1957), Cenotaph (1926), Coronation Fountain (1902), duck pond, Rangitāne pou carvings (1990), Te Peeti Te Aweawe memorial |
| Open | Open public space, 24 hours |
| Cost | Free |
| Facilities | Seating, toilets nearby, surrounding cafes and shops, i-SITE visitor centre |
About The Square
The Square sits at the geographic centre of Palmerston North and has been the city’s main public space since the township was laid out in 1866. Surveyor J. T. Stewart placed a large central square in the original town plan, and the space remained largely untouched while the surrounding streets and buildings grew up around it.
In 1878 Rangitāne and Ngāti Raukawa petitioned for the Square to carry the Māori name Te Marae o Hine: the courtyard of the daughter of peace, a name chosen to symbolise different cultures and tribes coexisting peacefully in Papaioea (the Māori name for Palmerston North). The name request was unsuccessful at the time but is now formally recognised, and Te Marae o Hine appears alongside The Square in council and tourism material.
Today the Square functions as the city’s living room: lunch spot for office workers, weekend picnic ground for families, venue for the Manawatū Farmers Market, ice skating in winter and major civic ceremonies including Anzac Day at the Cenotaph. The surrounding ring of buildings includes the city library, the former Chief Post Office building, hotels, banks and the i-SITE visitor centre.
History of The Square
The Square originated as part of the 1866 town plan for Palmerston North, with the open space set aside as the focal point of the new settlement on land that had been part of the Papaioea clearing. Early European development left the central area largely undeveloped while streets and buildings formed around its edges.
The Māori name Te Marae o Hine was proposed in 1878 by Rangitāne and Ngāti Raukawa leaders to reflect hopes for peaceful coexistence among all peoples. Although not immediately adopted, the name gained formal recognition in later decades and now appears in official council references alongside the English name.
Heritage elements accumulated over time, including the 1902 Coronation Memorial Fountain, the 1926 Cenotaph, the 1957 Hopwood Clock Tower and the 1990 pou carvings. These features document both European civic milestones and Rangitāne connections to the site.
Walking The Square
The Square offers an easy, flat loop walk of roughly one kilometre around its perimeter paths, passing lawns, gardens, the duck pond and all major heritage features. Walkers can start at the i-SITE visitor centre and circle clockwise or anticlockwise, pausing at the Hopwood Clock Tower in the centre, the southern Cenotaph and the pou carvings near the council building.
Interpretive signage and the arrangement of pou, memorials and fountains provide context on the site’s Māori and civic history while walking. The route is fully accessible, with seating throughout and connections to surrounding shops and cafes for breaks.
Popular times include weekday lunch hours and Saturday mornings during the Manawatū Farmers Market on the eastern side. The walk combines well with visits to the adjacent city library or nearby retail areas.
Events and What’s On
The Square is the main outdoor events venue for Palmerston North. The Manawatū Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings on the eastern side; the city hosts Christmas in the Park, New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Anzac Day dawn service at the Cenotaph, multicultural festivals and a seasonal ice skating rink. Eventfinda lists The Square as one of the city’s most-used outdoor venues.
Between events the Square functions as everyday public space: feeding ducks at the pond, using the giant chess set, lunch on the lawns, walking the perimeter or sitting under the trees. The i-SITE visitor centre on the Square is a useful first stop for travellers.
What Visitors Often Say
Visitors describe the Square as well kept, attractively landscaped and the clear centre of the city, with the Hopwood Clock Tower as the recognisable focal point and the duck pond, giant chess set, war cenotaph and pou carvings drawing positive specific mentions. Many people find it a useful relaxing stop while exploring the surrounding shops, cafes and the city library.
Practical observations: the Square is at its best at lunch hour on a sunny weekday and on farmers market Saturday mornings; the i-SITE visitor centre on the Square is a useful first stop; the seasonal ice skating rink (typically June to August) is popular with families; some reviewers note groups of youth gathering in the evenings as a deterrent but the daytime atmosphere is consistently described as pleasant.
Where to Learn More
Manawatū Heritage: Te Marae o Hine, The Square: Palmerston North City Council heritage record with archival photos and full history of the Square and the Māori name.
Manawatū Heritage: Hopwood Clock Tower: full council heritage record covering the clock’s 1906 Post Office origins and the 1953 Hopwood gift / 1957 tower construction.
PNCC News: Rangitāne ancestral leader honoured in Te Marae o Hine: council article on the pou carvings and Rangitāne connection to the Square.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Māori name for The Square?
Te Marae o Hine, meaning the courtyard of the daughter of peace. The name was first requested by Rangitāne and Ngāti Raukawa in 1878 and is now formally recognised alongside The Square.
How big is The Square?
17 acres / 7 hectares of central city park.
When was the Clock Tower built?
The Hopwood Clock Tower in the Square was completed in 1957, funded by a ten thousand pound gift from Arthur Hopwood in 1953. The clock itself dates from 1906 and was originally housed in the Chief Post Office of Palmerston North.
Why is the clock called Kerei Te Panau?
The clock was named in 1906 for the Rangitāne rangatira Kerei Te Panau, by Ellen Wood (wife of then Palmerston MP William Wood) when the British-built clock and chimes were installed in the Chief Post Office.
What events are held in The Square?
The Manawatū Farmers Market (Saturday mornings), Anzac Day dawn service at the Cenotaph, Christmas in the Park, New Year’s Eve celebrations, multicultural festivals and a seasonal ice skating rink (typically June to August).
Is The Square free to visit?
Yes. It is an open public park, accessible 24 hours.
What are the pou carvings about?
The pou were carved in 1990 by John Bevan Ford (Ngāti Raukawa), Warren Warbrick and Johnson Takarangi, depicting the Rangitāne ancestor Rangitāne flanked by his grandmothers Reretua and Hinerau, honouring the Māori name Te Marae o Hine.
Is The Square suitable for walking?
Yes. A flat, fully accessible one-kilometre perimeter loop passes all major features with seating and interpretive elements along the way.
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