Papaioea

Suburb in Palmerston North, New Zealand

Papaioea
Suburb
Palmerston North Hospital
Coordinates: 40°20′52″S 175°37′19″E / 40.3479°S 175.622°E / -40.3479; 175.622
Country	New Zealand
City	Palmerston North
Local authority	Palmerston North City Council
Electoral ward	Te Hirawanui General Ward Te Pūao Māori Ward
Area [1]
• Land	248 ha (613 acres)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Total	7,560
Hospitals	Palmerston North Hospital

Cloverlea	Milson	Roslyn
Takaro	Papaioea	Terrace End
Palmerston North Central		Hokowhitu

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

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).^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

The first stage of a new social housing development opened in the area in 2019.^[7] Palmerston North City Council applied for Government funding for a second stage of the project during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.^[8]

The Palmerston North Hospital area is identified as a separate area by Statistics New Zealand. On the southern side of Tremaine Avenue is a predominantly suburban area, with tree lined streets and avenues. The north side of Tremaine Avenue is dominated by commercial and industrial businesses. Features in the area include Arohanui Hospice, the Northern Bowling Club, Rimu Lodge Rest Home, Willard Rest Home, and Wahikoa Park.^[9]