Palmerston North Central

The CBD is centred around 17 hectares of land, known as the Square. There are notable buildings and streets which surround this land, such as the old Post Office building (now a restaurant and nightspot) and the Square Building on the corner of Main Street East and the Square (which served as the old library to the city).

Surrounding The Square are several shops and restaurants, shopping centres, the Palmerston North Library, the Regent on Broadway, Arena Manawatu and the Rugby Museum, Te Manawa (formerly Manawatu Science Museum and Art Gallery), and the Centrepoint Theatre.

High-rise buildings in the city include the Spark telecommunications building on Main Street East, FMG House (Palmerston North's tallest building) and the former State Insurance building. Palmerston North City Council has its buildings on the corner of the Square and Main Street West, including by the large Civic Building. Palmerston North Police have moved from their old building on Church Street to a new complex across the road.

The All Saints Anglican Church dominates the south-west sector of the Square, characterised by its red brick construction. The Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Broadway Avenue is located east of the square.

The main Palmerston North campus of Universal College of Learning is located on the corner of King and Princess Streets. It has a red brick facade and atrium. The brick building was formerly Palmerston North Technical High School (now Queen Elizabeth College, Rangitikei Street) and Palmerston North Teachers' College.

Palmerston North Intermediate is a co-educational state intermediate school,[5][6] with a roll of 702 as of March 2020.[7]

Carncot Independent School is a co-educational private primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[8][9] with a roll of 119.[10]

Mana Tamariki is a co-educational charter school for Year 1 to 13 students, located next to Aorangi Hospital.[11] It has a roll of 68.[12]

Palmerston North Adventist Christian School is a co-educational state-integrated Christian primary school,[13] with a roll of .[14]