History

New Zealand's national anthem is sung in two languages – Maori and English.

The first inhabitants of Manawatu were Maori. They arrived in New Zealand approximately 1000 years ago from Polynesia. Many Manawatu Maori today trace their lineage back to Rangitane, a great warrior chief who once ruled the land.

Europeans arrived in the early 1800s to create farms from the forested plains and the area is still a major food producing area. Europeans comprise 80 to 90 percent of today's population.

Early Europeans and Maori signed the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 This is a binding legal agreement between the original Maori settlers and European settlers who were represented by the British government.  The Treaty of Waitangi underpins New Zealand culture and law today.

In the 20th century Manawatu became a highly productive farming district, and from 1928, when Massey Agricultural College and the Dairy Research Institute both opened, Palmerston North began to develop its role as a leading centre of education and research.   Building on these strengths has seen the city enter the 21st century as a vibrant centre with a growing presence of tertiary students and specialist research facilities.