Papaioea

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

Map of Papaioea

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).[1]

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 Council office is also located in Papaioea.

Papaioea Park is located in the north of the suburb.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

The first stage of a new social housing development opened in the area in 2019.[5] Palmerston North City Council applied for Government funding for a second stage of the project during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.[6]