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Types of Events

Conferences & Meetings

Palmy is a great place for conferences and both international and local events. Our central north island location is easily accessible, and our centrally located venues can host up to 1,600 people for a conference.

Features:

  • Connecting rooms and spaces that can be expanded, reduced, or used in combination
  • Onsite catering
  • Free onsite and CBD parking
  • Sophisticated modern audio-visual equipment and high-speed internet
  • An onsite technical manager, operations staff, and dedicated event coordinator

Gala Dinners & Cocktail Functions

A gala dinner is a special occasion that should be celebrated in style. At Central Energy Trust Arena and the Conference + Function Centre, we have the expertise onsite to deliver a professional and polished dinner or cocktail function. By day our venues provide professional and purpose-built meeting rooms and sporting facilities, by night the same rooms can be transformed into a themed gala dinner, cocktail party or awards ceremony.

At Central Energy Trust Arena, Fly Palmy Arena (Arena 2) and the B&M Centre are popular choices for gala dinners, with the Fly Palmy Arena corporate lounges and the J.A. Russell Supplies Lounge being popular cocktail function options. At the Conference + Function Centre, the Elwood Room and Conference Room provide plentiful space for a gala dinner, while The Gallery is a popular choice for a cocktail function.

Both venues have an extensive portfolio of onsite furniture and equipment from draping to carpet and staging units. The team works alongside production event contractors to visually bring your event to life through advanced lighting, theming and projection options.

Exhibitions & Trade Shows

Planning a trade show or expo? We’ve got you covered with eight versatile spaces that can be tailored to suit your event – along with onsite catering, plenty of free carparks, organiser offices, media rooms and hospitality suites.

Central Energy Trust Arena has Fly Palmy Arena (Arena 2), Arena 3, the B&M Centre (Arena 4), while the Conference + Function Centre has the Elwood Room and Conference Room. The foyer spaces, Gallery and Seminar Room can also be used as standalone spaces or additional space for your event. For large events, Fly Palmy Arena (Arena 2) is ideal – it’s a purpose-built sports and entertainments venue.

Organising big events can be stressful, but it doesn’t need to be. Our experienced team will work with you to ensure your event runs smoothly, to time and budget. We take considerable care and pride in going the extra mile to make your event a great success!

We offer:

  • Event Coordinators who provide expertise in event management and planning, to support you in the lead-up to your event and the wrap-up
  • Onsite furniture and equipment portfolio
  • Sound systems and electrical services
  • Free car parking
  • 25+ car parks at the rear of the building for events at the Conference + Function Centre
  • Onsite catering service
  • Promotional and marketing support and advice
  • Security, crowd management and St John first aid services
  • Cleaning and waste removal

Sporting Events & Tournaments

A lot of sport happens at our place. We handle close to 3,000 bookings a year and are home to 36 sporting codes at Central Energy Trust Arena.

Central Energy Trust Arena is the primary sporting and events complex in the lower North Island, and is well known as a leading multi-use sporting and events facility. Located in the heart of Palmerston North city, Central Energy Trust Arena is a destination for large events. The park like environment offers six indoor and outdoor venues with an arrange of corporate and media lounges within the 18-hectare site.

The Arena’s main outdoor venue is Arena 1, home to Manawatu Rugby and the Mighty Manawatu Turbos through winter and Robertson Holden International Speedway over summer. Overlooking the oval, the grandstand complements the highly regarded playing surface that has helped the Arena to secure a range of international and national sporting fixtures.

A key attraction for national and regional sporting tournaments is the ability to house all teams under one roof. We host many national sporting tournaments including basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, futsal and more due to our ability to run a full tournament without having to leave the building – three of our venues interlink, Fly Palmy Arena (Arena 2), Arena 3 and the B&M Centre (Arena 4). There are also plenty of rooms that can be used for corporate hospitality, tournament offices, referee lounges, physio rooms, gala dinners and managers’ spaces.

Day to day, the venues are used by community, school and regional sporting codes for a range of ages and abilities.

Weddings

Planning your dream wedding has never been easier. Our all-inclusive wedding packages can turn your dream wedding into a reality.

Whether you picture a grand formal wedding reception or a small intimate gathering, let our experienced Venue + Event Coordinators create a spectacular event just for you.

We have complete wedding packages designed for value for money without compromise. We pride ourselves on excellent service, food, and ambiance.

Palmy Venues provides a walk-in, walk-out service. Our team does all the setting up so you can have a worry-free wedding. At the end of the night you can leave without the hassle of packing and cleaning up.

Absolute Caterers have many years of combined industry experience both locally and internationally. They know the key to a fantastic wedding is not just the food but the service as well, so whether you’ve planned a small, intimate affair or a large-scale wedding, the team at Absolute Caterers provide wedding catering to make your day perfect. Whatever your unique style, taste, and budget, you need a wedding catering service that truly understands the experience you want to create for your guests. Absolute Caterers commitment to unique food that utilises the freshest local ingredients, impeccable presentation, and friendly service will have your guests talking about your wedding for years to come.

Please contact your Venues + Events Coordinator or email [email protected] to request our latest wedding information booklet.

Concerts

With multiple venue options at Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmy has found its place on the tour circuit with the flexibility of indoor and outdoor spaces and the ability to host a small gig or major concert. Our venues have seen some epic acts over the years, including UB40, Katchafire, Six60, Jimmy Barnes,  and Sol3 Mio. Our geographical location makes us perfect to host concerts, with over one million people located within a two-hour (200km) radius of Central Energy Trust Arena.

Arena 1 sets the scene for an impressive outdoor summer concert. With an abundance of seating, staging and corporate hospitality options, Arena 1 can put on quite the show. This venue provides promotes with huge space and big opportunity. Fly Palmy Arena is a purpose-built entertainment venue and a popular choice with concert promoters. This venue boasts new retractable seating units, staging modules, rigging points, corporate lounges and a ticketing office. The B&M Centre is also a popular choice among promoters and typically utilised for smaller indoor gigs. The B&M Centre can be adjusted in size, using draping to design the perfect setting and size for your gig, and provides a more relaxed, club-like setting.

All our venues have ample room for security and bag check areas, plus the perimeter of Central Energy Trust Arena is secure. Whatever the scale of your event, you’ll find our venues can put on a stellar performance.

Planning an event?

Take the next step, browse venues or tell us about your event and we will give you a quote.