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Palmerston, New Zealand





























Palmerston
Urban Area Population 1,020 (2001)
Territorial
Authority
Name East Otago
Population Around 2,500 (2004 est.)
Extent
Includes the towns of East Otago

Waikouaiti , Palmerston ,
and Karitane
Regional
Council

Name Waitaki District Council



The town of Palmerston, in and Waikouaiti to the south with Oamaru and Christchurch to the north, whereas Provincial Highway 85 (known colloquially as "The Pigroot") heads inland to become the principal highway of the Maniototo .

Palmerston stands near the banks of the Shag River , five kilometres inland from the Pacific coast. Between it and the sea stands the lone hill of Puketapu ( Maori for ''sacred hill''), crowned with a monument to the 19th century Otago Politician Sir John McKenzie . An annual race takes place up to the memorial and back which is called the Kelly's canter dedicated to Albert Kelly who ran up Puketapu as a constable in the palmerston police force every day during world war II.

Many people confuse the town of Palmerston with the much more populous North Island city of Palmerston North , whose residents often call their home simply "Palmerston". Otago 's town has the earlier claim to the name, however - its surveying dates from 1862 , whereas the northern city did not receive its name until 1871 . Both towns take their names from Lord Palmerston , the 19th-century British Prime Minister .


REFERENCES


Dann, C. & Peat, N. (1989). ''Dunedin, North and South Otago''. Wellington, NZ: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01438-0.