Following a competitive procurement process, Eventfinda has been selected to provide ticketing services for the Central Energy Trust Arena and the Palmy Conference + Function Centre. The decision reflects a strategic shift by Palmy Venues + Events and the Palmerston North City Council to deliver a more flexible and transparent ticketing experience. 

“We were impressed by Eventfinda’s deep understanding of council requirements, their technical capabilities, and their commitment to working collaboratively with our events community,” said John Lynch, Manager Venues + Events. “Their platform will significantly improve the ticketing experience for our eventgoers, while providing our team and event organisers with the control, data and support we need.” 

Trusted across Aotearoa 

Eventfinda is already the ticketing partner of choice for a growing number of local councils and public venues across New Zealand. Their platform is purpose-built to meet the evolving needs of local government – with proven security standards, financial transparency and user-friendly self-service tools. 

Benefits of the Partnership 

This new partnership brings several key benefits to both event organisers and attendees, including: 

• Real-time reporting and financial transparency 

• Proven cyber security and data protection standards 

• Dedicated trust account for all ticket funds 

• Seamless integration and self-service tools 

• Responsive New-Zealand based customer and promoter support 

Supporting Community and Commercial Success 

Palmy Venues + Events hosts over 3,000 bookings each year across a wide range of activities – from grassroots sport and local celebrations to large-scale conferences and concerts. This move is part of Palmerston North City Council’s broader commitment to enhancing event delivery and ensuring community and commercial success. 

We’re excited to work alongside Eventfinda and look forward to making the most of this new partnership to enhance event experiences in Palmy. 

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With three premier venues, a dedicated team and a reputation for delivering high-quality experiences, it’s time to consider Palmy Venues for your next conference or business gathering. 

Our venues are built to make your event stand out 

Need big and bold?  
Central Energy Trust Arena (Arena) is one of New Zealand’s most versatile conference and events venues. From trade shows and industry expos to banquets and gala dinners, Arena can be configured to suit your needs. With on-site catering, modern AV facilities and seamless support from our experienced team, you’ll have everything you need under one roof. 

Prefer a sleek, purpose-built space in the heart of the CBD?  
The Palmy Conference + Function Centre is ideal for conferences, award dinners, corporate meetings, multi-day events and everything in between. With flexible room layouts, breakout spaces and an elegant central setting, we ensure your meeting – big or small – runs smoothly.  

Perhaps a peaceful historic venue with exquisite gardens? 

Caccia Birch House is a historic building located alongside the Manawatu Lagoon. With beautiful manicured gardens and a peaceful environment, it is a perfect retreat for events where you want to focus on your meetings without the distraction of city life at the front door.  

You bring the people. We’ll do the rest 
Every event at Palmy Venues + Events comes with a dedicated event coordinator – at no extra cost. Our coordinators take the pressure off busy organisers, helping with everything from creating floor plans to liasing with caterers and AV technicians. Whether you’re planning your first event or your fiftieth, we’ll make it feel easy so you can focus on what really matters.  

You focus on the content. We’ll take care of the details. 

Easy to get to and even easier to enjoy 
Palmy is perfectly positioned in the centre of the North Island, making it the ideal meeting placve for delegates from all corners of the country. Our compact city means minimal travel between venues, accommodation, restaurants and attractions – making your event run smoother and ensuring the satisfaction of your guests. 

There’s something for everyone in Palmy 
After a productive day, your attendees can enjoy a slice of local life: grab pizza at Tonys for dinner, unwind with a beer or wine at Brew Union, take a riverside stroll along our scenic walkways or explore local stories and art at Te Manawa Museum..  

No matter who you are or what you do, we’ve got the venue for you.  

Let’s start planning your next event

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New Years in the Square 

We welcomed 2025 in style with 8,000 people gathering at Te Marae o Hine – The Square for a night of celebration. The event included performances from Lost Tribe Aotearoa and Lenny Pearce for a toddler rave DJ set. We celebrated with fireworks, a silent disco and a kids’ science zone. A live event screen even featured real-time messages from attendees, adding a personal touch to the night. 

Lunar New Year 

2,500 people joined us to celebrate the Lunar New Year, enjoying captivating cultural performances and a diverse array of traditional cuisine. One of the most important holidays celebrated in East and Southeast Asia, it was a colourful tribute to our multicultural community. 

Waitangi Day 

Palmy again commemorated Waitangi Day at Te Marae o Hine, in collaboration with Rangitanē o Manawatū. The event attracted 2,500 people and featured a showcase of local talent, headlined by the Tuari Brothers. A beautiful day of reflection, unity and culture. 

Festival of Cultures 

A celebration of diversity like no other. From 21-23 February, more than 15,000 attendees joined us for the iconic Festival of Cultures. The weekend kicked off with the Multicultural Carnival Parade, followed by Saturday’s World Food, Craft, and Music Fair, both at Te Marae o Hine. The celebration wrapped up on Sunday with the always-popular Teas and Coffees of the World at Caccia Birch House.  

It was amazing to see so much involvement from the community, showcasing Palmy’s reputation as the most regionally diverse city in Aotearoa. A massive thanks to the Manawatū Multicultural Society for their continued partnership. 

Esplanade Day 

Victoria Esplanade came alive on 2 March as over 16,000 people flocked in for a sunny day full of family-friendly fun. With entertainment from Fairy Cat and Friends, Andrew Wilson Magician, DanceWorks, Palmerston North Knights and much more, attendees were spoilt for choice at the biggest family day on the Palmy calendar. 

ENZED Superstock Team Champs 

Palmy’s biggest weekend of motorsport roared to life with 16,000 fans packing in each night at Central Energy Trust Arena. It was another thrilling edition of this iconic event. 

Volleyball Nationals + Beats and Bites 

Palmy welcomed 200 teams and over 2,500 competitors and officials for the NZ School Volleyball Championships in March. With an estimated $4.2 million economic benefit to the region, the city was buzzing with activity. We also hosted the Beats and Bites event at Te Marae o Hine to welcome all competitors, staff and their whānau into the city. 

Festival of Colours 

On Friday 21 March, Te Marae o Hine was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour as 2,000 attendees celebrated the Festival of Colours. The holi-inspired event was a hit with all who came down to share joy, throw some paint, and enjoy the tunes from Dj Dfresh. 

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In celebration of this exciting event, the city is offering a chance for one lucky winner and a friend to experience a luxurious weekend getaway, right in the heart of Palmy.

This incredible prize package includes:

• Three-night stay at the luxury Hiwinui Country Estate (Check-in 13 September, check-out 16 September)
• Exclusive courtside hospitality for the Saturday and Sunday Davis Cup matches
• Meet and greet with the international tennis teams competing in the tournament
• $200 dining voucher for a top Palmy restaurant
• Round-trip flights for two to Palmerston North

Entries are now closed.

More about the Davis Cup fixture – New Zealand vs Luxembourg

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As of early June, 95 per cent of community sport had ramped back up again at Central Energy Trust Arena. This includes netball, basketball, rugby, football, badminton, skating, ultimate frisbee, table tennis and volleyball, all of which use the B&M Centre, Arena 5 and Arena 6 fields.

The new artificial turf, which complements the grass fields, is one of the Arena’s most highly utilised venues. Rugby, football and ultimate frisbee are on the turf daily before and after school hours, up until 10pm on some evenings.

“The turf is a fantastic asset at the Arena, and this shows now more than ever as it can be used in all weather conditions, even in the thick of winter. Our team has heard rave reviews about the turf, its durability and ease of use, when compared with a wet and muddy grass field,” Venues Manager John Lynch says.

Alongside community sports, the Central Energy Trust Arena and the Palmerston North Conference & Function Centre have both seen a surge in commercial bookings over the past week, with their event calendars quickly steering back to pre-COVID levels. 

“Whether it be providing entertainment with our busy events calendar, providing a service by hosting meetings, conferences and seminars, or simply seeing hundreds of people returning to their beloved sports code, our team is excited to be back up and running at pace,” Lynch says.

“We’re thrilled to have BlindSpott coming to Fly Palmy Arena during September. This event cements our position on the national concert and tour circuit, which is a real win for the city and region,” Lynch says.

The Arena is also hosting the Woman’s Lifestyle Expo in October, as well as the Manawatū Home & Lifestyle Show in November. Lynch also hints at an upcoming event that will be a hit with the theatre, gymnastics and wider arts community, plus the commercial market with corporate hospitality in the pipeline.

“An exciting event will go on sale in early August, all of which is still under wraps as our team finalises details. This is a really unique event for the city, and we anticipate patrons will travel from surrounding regions to attend.”

Mayor Grant Smith says the events industry has highlighted the importance of having a connected community in recent times, plus the wider economic benefit the facilities and events provide to the region.

“How our venues are bouncing back from COVID-19 challenges to provide an essential connection for many people in our community is a true reflection of our city’s resilience,” Smith says.

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