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Tell us about a day in Manawatū for you
One thing I have realised, we are actually pretty routine-based on a workday. Adam and I like to get up and out early for some fresh air before we start our day, that’s generally a bike ride for Adam and a walk for me - often out to He Ara Kotahi bridge, it’s so beautiful. The nature of living and working in the same place means it’s nice to get out of the house first thing so that we can mark a start of the workday. We like to pop down to Mouthwater or Sublime for coffee - living in town means we have great coffee literally on our doorstep - then we are back to fire up the workstations.
From there my day is often a mix of social stuff; meetings, engaging with clients, and always plenty of time at the desk thrown in - head down, bum up getting work done. People are loving the new space so often I will host meetings, otherwise Barista Cafe is a favourite spot. When I am working with clients for the first time I like to check out their workplaces, so I will meet there to better understand their work culture.
Adam and I both try to wrap up between 5pm and 6pm and spend the evenings out and about. That could look like a pint with friends, more often than not at Brew Union, or out to dinner with family, we like Tony’s Pizza or Speight’s Ale House. If it’s a mint day though we try to get outside and might play 9 holes of golf. At the moment we like Orlando Country or Palmerston North Golf Courses. Recently we tried out Rangatira Golf Course which was amazing, it cascades down three levels and you get a cable car back up, great for a weekend mission when we have a bit more time.
I suppose that’s seasonal though right? In the winter we like to retreat a bit more and bunker down. Regardless, we are never left wondering what to do any time of the year!
You certainly are social butterflies! How does your weekday differ from a weekend for you in Manawatū?
Weekends are pretty much the same. We still like to get up and out, often going for a ride at Arapuke Mountain Bike Park or we might walk the Tawa Loop at Te Āpiti. In the winter we will often go for a longer ride and enjoy taking the shared river pathway He Ara Kotahi, sometimes going as far as Linton. Regardless, Manawatū offers lots of opportunities to get outdoors and we like to make the most of that!
Other than that, the Speedway is a regular occurrence as it’s literally a hop, skip and a jump from home. We are also lucky to have both sets of parents here and siblings close too, so we might go with them to a gig at The Stomach. At the moment with the nice weather, we might do a family catch up at Victoria Esplanade; a picnic there is great for kids to be able to run around.
It sounds like you have a great community in Manawatū. Is that the main reason that keeps you living here?
Ah, it’s all the things! It’s a real privilege to be able to create the life you fantasised about.
In Manawatū we have access to the things we want, enjoy and need. The affordability of the city and region mean we can both run our businesses here but also have a nice quality of life. We often say we wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing anywhere else, and some of that is because of the foundations and networks we have built throughout the years. We both grew up here and are grateful for the huge amount of support we have, particularly when it came to building our house and businesses here. We felt more confident navigating that process simply because you gain this intrinsic knowledge from hearing everyone else’s stories. We totally realise that not everyone would have that in some of the bigger cities.
It’s funny because as a teen I thought I would leave, but it just never made sense to. Day to day living in Manawatū can look the same as living almost anywhere else in the world - it’s pretty awesome here. With the investment in infrastructure I can see around the city and region I think it will just keep getting better. The continued efforts put into the shared paths, the new highway around Te Āpiti - Manawatū Gorge, and more, all make the city so much more liveable and attractive moving forward. New spaces like He Ara Kotahi and the extensive river pathway trails have been so fun to enjoy, and I am excited to see more of that.
You’ve lived here a long time; what do you think the biggest misconception is about Manawatū?
To be honest, I don’t come across a lot of negative comments. Adam and I are both “Palmy hard”, so I think if they have them, people keep those opinions to themselves to avoid the debate. I suppose in the wind there’s the thought that nothing happens or that the region is solely agricultural, but I don’t think that’s the case. People are doing interesting things here in the arts, music, sports – there is a high calibre of creativity and achievement throughout the community, and I genuinely think that is well recognised.
On the flipside, people who say nothing happens here… I think that can be good too! Economically it’s pretty reliable, the weather is consistent. At the end of the day people like predictability and Manawatū is very much you know what you’re going to get. It might not be sexy, but stability is really valuable when it comes to building a life, and after many of the global events in recent years – it's something most people value.
Absolutely. When you have people visiting, what are some things you make sure they try or see?
I would want to know their interests before making too many recommendations, but there is a must do for everybody! Arapuke Park for mountain biking, or there are lots of long-distance road cycling routes, walks, and fun garden nature stuff around.
I would highly recommend a show at Centrepoint, the buzz there is awesome! Or a gig at The Stomach is always a good time.
There are lots of cool, little touch points around the city that you can string together to make a fun day. There are great art gallery shows; the recent Robyn Kahukiwa exhibition and the Dibble exhibition were great; Peep, down the Regent Arcade, is awesome showcasing a range of contemporary art; and there’s more coming through all the time – you can’t say you aren’t exposed to excellent artwork in Manawatū!
I mean, grab yourself a coffee on a rainy Sunday morning, pair it with the quality art exhibitions and sculptures we have here in the city, and you’re doing what others are doing in major cities around the world right here in Palmerston North. We love to take visitors for a walk around some of our favourite sculptures in the city, especially if we’ve been for dinner in town and are making our way back to our place for a cuppa.
We love the speedway, as well as anything that goes on in The Square – like The Rural Games, that’s a great event. I feel like it’s always nice to be around that many people in your own city and attending a big event like that is good for the soul! So, if that’s on while visitors are here then that’s where we will head.
Lot’s of great options! What about the future, what’s on the horizon for you guys?
Just be here. Continue to figure out ways we can contribute to the communities we work and live in. We are excited to see the region become even more liveable and the continued investment in the city will do that. We will just continue to hone our craft and keep trying to get out there and meet new people in a place we love.
Jemma is a Graphic Designer with a specialty in Branding. You can check out her work at Jemma Cheer Design Company (JCDC) online or call in to have a yarn with her at 267 Main Street, Palmerston North. Right next door you’ll find Adam at Central Bike Studio, a full-service bicycle shop selling premium bikes and fixing them good as new when you need it.
Palmerston North City i-SITE
The Square, Palmerston North
0800 MANAWATU
(626 292)
[email protected]
Feilding and District
Information Centre
Feilding Railway Station
61 Aorangi Street
+64 6 323 3318
[email protected]
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