Palmerston, New Zealand

The town of Palmerston, in New Zealand's South Island lies 50 kilometres to the north of the city of Dunedin. The main town in East Otago, it grew at a major road junction: State Highway 1 links Dunedin 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.

Related Topics:
New Zealand - South Island - Dunedin - East Otago - Oamaru - Christchurch - Maniototo

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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.

Related Topics:
Shag River - Pacific - Maori - Politician - John McKenzie

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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.

Related Topics:
North Island - Palmerston North - Otago - 1862 - 1871 - Lord Palmerston - British - Prime Minister

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