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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It wasn’t quite the weather we ordered today, so tonight’s qualifying will continue tomorrow Sunday 4 February.

Tickets for today’s event will now become valid for Sunday 4 February.

Tickets originally purchased for Sunday 4 February will now become valid for Monday 5 February only.

If you have disposed of your ticket for tonight’s event, please visit our ticket booth located at Gate 2 on Cuba Street so that we can locate your transaction and re-issue you your ticket for Sunday’s rescheduled event. This ticket booth will be open from 10.00am tomorrow. If possible, please bring a copy of your ticket purchase confirmation email and photo ID.

If you had booked reserved seating, this remains unchanged. The Grand Parade will commence at 6.00pm tomorrow as originally planned, with racing beginning following the conclusion of the Grand Parade.

We’ll see you all back here tomorrow!

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We’ve put together some key event information that you may find useful if you’re attending this weekend.

Tickets

Saturday & Sunday at 10:00am – Gate 2 ticket booth located on Cuba Street will be open for ticket sales and ticket pick-ups. If you’re picking up your tickets before the weekend, these can be collected from our office located on the ground floor of the Grandstand building during office hours. Entry for access to our office is via Gate 1 on Waldegrave Street. Make sure you bring along a valid ID or a copy of your ticket purchase confirmation email to collect your tickets.

If you plan to purchase a ticket on the event day, this can only be done at Gate 2 and Gate 3, and the back-fields entry to the venue. 

Pre-purchased ticket holders can enter through any of our entry points.  

If your tickets are on your phone, make sure your setting is on light mode and your screen brightness is turned up. This helps us scan tickets quicker and keeps queues moving.

Please make sure everyone in your group is holding their own ticket. 

Parking

The only option for onsite premium car parking is off Pascal Street, Gate 4 entrance. This parking is limited and is available on a first-in, first-served basis. $20 per car and the gates open at 2pm for this, both days.

Free Street parking is available around the perimeter of the Railway Land (Church & Main Street) on a first in first-in-first-served basis. 

There is limited mobility parking available onsite. Parks are available on a first-in-first-served basis and are located on the fields behind the grandstand. Entry is via Gate 5 on Pascal Street and is open from 2.00pm each event day. These mobility parking spaces are free of charge. A valid mobility permit must be presented upon arrival and must always be displayed clearly in your vehicle.

Camping will be available on our back fields from 10:00am, Friday 2 February. Access is via Gate 5 on Pascal Street and campsites are available on a first-in, first-served basis. 

Key timings

Teams Scrutineering, Saturday 3 February from 12:30pm – 3:00pm. Head down to The Square for your chance to view the racing vehicles and this year’s competing teams! 

Saturday & Sunday at 3:00pm – GATES OPEN! 

Drivers signings will be available in the Barber Hall from 3:45pm on Saturday. Come along to meet your favourite teams

Corporate hospitality opens 4:30pm

Grandstand seating opens 4:30pm

Public bars open 5:30pm  

The Grand Parade will start at 6:00pm on both event days, with racing beginning after the Grand Parade. 

Please note

Food and beverages will be available to purchase at the venue. Click to view the event map below for our food and beverage locations.

Sealed non-alcoholic beverages (no glass) up to 500ml or water up to 1.5Lt. are permitted. Water bottle refill stations are also available in the Cuba Street food court and on Level 1 of the Grandstand.

Commercially prepared food is not allowed inside the venue, this includes the likes of Domino’s, KFC and McDonald’s. 

Home-prepared food (not commercially prepared) is permitted in the venue, including sandwiches, baking, salads and fruit. 

There are no cash-out facilities at the venue. You will find some ATMs in the city centre, including the Plaza Shopping Centre.

Smoking and vaping is permitted in designated areas only. These locations are at the rear of the south stand, at the bottom of the stairwell and at the blue picnic table at the rear of the main grandstand building.

Bag searches will be conducted upon entry to the venue & prohibited items will be confiscated. View the conditions of entry here

Prohibited items include alcohol, megaphones, pushchairs and hi-vis clothing. 

Any person who is, or appears to be, intoxicated will not be permitted entry to the venue. 

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We’ve partnered with Ticketek so you can now buy your individual and family passes online.

How will it work?  

Tickets are now available to purchase and download online for upcoming Speedway events. When you arrive at the Arena, you can skip the queue and walk straight through the gates where there will be staff to scan your tickets. You can print your tickets out or keep them downloaded on your phone, whatever works best for you. 

Will it cost extra?  

The tickets are still the same price ($25 for an adult, $10 for a child, $60 for a family) but purchasing them online does come with an additional $2.50 service fee per ticket. 

Can I still purchase tickets at the gates like normal?

Yes, you can still purchase tickets at our ticket booths with cash or eftpos on the day, with no additional fees. 

Where can I purchase these tickets?  

They can be purchased online HERE or over the counter in the Central Energy Trust Arena administration office, Palmy Conference + Function Centre, or the Regent on Broadway.  

What about if the meeting gets rained out?  

If event postponement occurs BEFORE entry into the stadium, your Ticketek ticket will be valid for entry to the next scheduled Speedway event.
If event postponement occurs AFTER entry into the stadium, you will be issued with a physical rain-out ticket upon exiting the venue which can be used to gain entry to an alternative Speedway event over the 2023-24 season (excluding ENZED Superstock Teams Champs) and your Ticketek ticket will become invalid.

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2. Founded in 1886 as the Palmerston North Showgrounds, we’ve been around for 137 years! 

3. With indoor venues like the B&M Centre, Fly Palmy Arena, Arena 3 and 5, there’s no shortage of space to host a wide range of events. The combined floor area of these indoor venues totals a staggering 14,000m²! Just for reference, that’s enough to park over 1,500 cars side by side!

4. Central Energy Trust Arena’s central location makes it the perfect spot for groups from all over New Zealand to “meet in the middle” and compete in the sports they love. We belong to New Zealand’s second-largest population hub, with over one million people located within a two-hour (200km) radius. 

5. We’re the proud home of 36 different sporting codes. From speed skating to badminton and so many sports in-between… 

6. We welcome over 400,000 Visitors annually. In the 12 months to June 30, 2023, we saw 468,218 visitors through the doors – to be exact.  

7. The original pavilion burnt down in a fire in 1977 but was replaced with the new grandstand you see today – being officially reopened in 1981.  

8. The Manawatu Sports Stadium (now Fly Palmy Arena) was officially opened by HRH the Prince of Wales (King Charles III) on 2 April 1981. 

9. Central Energy Trust Arena covers an area of 180,000 square metres (18 hectares) which would be enough to fit 20 artificial turfs, exactly like what’s on our backfields. 

10. We offer special rates to local community and charity groups, with up to 50% off venue hire. To find out more, speak to one of our event coordinators today.

11. Our busiest event of the year, ENZED Superstock Teams Champs, brings in an estimated 6 million dollars of economic benefit to the local economy every year.  

12. A team of 19 people work behind the scenes to make sure every event goes off without a hitch. This includes our amazing event coordinators, cleaners, events venue officers and managers.  

13. The speedway track on the oval is 431 metres in length and is a mixture of clay and lime.  

14. The Central Energy Trust Arena is recongised as being the busiest multi-purpose complex in the country, with over 3,000 bookings every year.  

15. Arena 1 has enough seating for 18,000 spectators. 

16. The Playing field on Arena 1 measures 165m in length, and 95m wide. 

17. Our Entrance Plaza bridge is 45m in length and is no less than 4m tall to provide adequate access for emergency and service vehicles to pass underneath. 

18. The Palmerston North City Council has owned and operated Central Energy Trust Arena since 1973. 

19. The playing field on Arena 1 takes one and a half hours to mow and stripe before a game. The grass is normally cut to anywhere between 25-50mm in length. All the white lines are painted by a GPS guided robot – seriously cool to watch in action! 

20. Of the 3,057 bookings we hosted in the last 12 months, 2,938 were for community and charity organisations. This means over 95% of all bookings support our local community groups, giving them a space to connect. 

We hope you learned something new about the Central Energy Trust Arena! If you’re wanting to get in touch with an event coordinator about venue hire and our community rates, then feel free to get in touch today by clicking HERE.

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Most people organising conferences don’t do it full-time, though. Sometimes it’s a “small” part of your day job that somehow becomes huge when conference time comes around. Sometimes it’s something you take turns with other branches to manage. And sometimes it’s a complete hospital pass that makes you wish you’d called in sick that day! 

If you’re a part-timer or first-timer, you’re not alone! At Palmy Venues most of our customers are in the same boat. So, we specialise in helping organisers like you deliver conferences and events our clients describe as “awesome,” “brilliant,” and, most often, just plain “bloody good.”  

 What makes a bloody good conference?  

The bits in-between.  

While your presenters and keynote speakers are stressing over their slides and what they’re planning to say, experience tells us that PowerPoint isn’t what your delegates remember most. Catching up with colleagues, chatting over coffee or even sharing a beer or wine at a nearby restaurant is where the real memories are made. At Palmy Venues we know how important that is.

We’ll work with you to build networking time into your schedule, and give your guests the spaces they need to mix and mingle. Palmy Conference + Function Centre is right in the middle of town, putting our great bars, restaurants and accommodation within easy walking distance. Need a recommendation? Our experienced local team will be happy to point you in the right direction. 

Food for thought.  

How many conference venues do you know that make all their baked goods from scratch in-house? At Palmy Venues we know that great catering is a sure way to put a smile on people’s faces. On the flipside, a disappointing catering experience is a sure way to get delegates offside (or see them heading down the road for takeaways).

We make great food a top priority – that’s why if your morning coffee comes with scones and slices, you’ll know they’ve been baked by our team, not ordered in. Our event coordinators will also work closely with you to plan everything from finger food to a formal dinner. 

Let’s get technical. 

The technical side of conferences – screens and projectors, sound systems, stage lighting and so on – is one of those things that people usually only notice when things go wrong. A microphone not working, or feeding back through the speakers, flat batteries in the presentation remote, a projector that makes your slides look like they’re on a 1970s colour TV… you don’t want that.

At Palmy Venues we have a full-time technical manager to work with you before and during your event to make sure every one of your speakers looks and sounds like a star. Hybrid events, allowing people to dial in to a video-streamed version of the conference, are all in a day’s work too. 

Timing time 

They say in show business that if you’re early, you’re on time and if you’re on time, you’re late. Same goes for bloody good conferences! A lot goes into making sure conferences start, break and end on time. After organising thousands of events, we know how long to allow for every part of your event and how to make sure things happen on time.  

Speaking of time, you’re probably thinking that this all sounds like a lot of work for a part-time conference organiser. We’ve got your back! Choose Palmy Venues for your next event and you’ll work with one event coordinator from the first planning chat onwards. They’ll take the time to understand what you’re looking for, work out what’s doable for your budget (spoiler: probably more than you think!) and all those hundreds of details that go into making a bloody good conference. 

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If your role involves organising conferences and business events, it can feel like everything is your job. Catering question? Your problem. Glitches with the AV? Your problem. The keynote speaker suddenly wants a live mariachi band as she walks on stage. You again. 

Very few people in New Zealand organising conferences or other business get-togethers do it full-time. For most, putting together that roadshow, sales conference or awards dinner is just one more thing to squeeze into the diary. So, solving those last-minute problems – or organising things so they don’t happen in the first place  – is a big ask. 

That’s where professional event coordinators come in. 

At Palmy Venues we have five full-time event coordinators on the team, 100% committed to making sure your event, big or small, goes off without a hitch. Unlike almost all our clients, running events is all our team does.  

Catering? Can do. 

They say that a bad lunch will be remembered long after the memories of your awesome PowerPoint have faded. OK, no one says that, but it’s true! Our event coordinators know how to meet your need for feed, whether it’s stand-up snacks, a buffet lunch or a formal sit-down dinner. Having great in-house caterers means we can also deliver amazing value for any budget.  

Audio-visual awesomeness. 

Hello is this thing on? Great conference AV is made up of two parts: leading-edge tech and super-skilled people. Our onsite technical officer is your go-to to make sure your event has all the gear it needs and that everything – including video streaming – happens how it’s meant to when it’s meant to. 

We know some people. 

Our event coordinators have many years of experience running conferences right here in Palmy. That means when you need some flowers arranged, cocktails mixed, dancefloor bangers played, restaurants recommended or guests transported they’ll know exactly who to call. Conference organising headaches? Not on our watch! 

Budget magic. 

Whether you have a fixed budget or are looking to us for guidance, our event coordinators are experts at turning every dollar into a great conference experience. Because our venues are council-owned, we look at the bigger picture when costing events. We’re here to help bring people to Palmy, not just to make a profit. That means that seat for seat, sausage roll for sausage roll, our conferences are some of the best value you’ll find. 

Speaking of budget… 

This is the part in the infomercial where the host asks, “so how much would you expect to pay for a dedicated, experienced event coordinator to make your conference awesome?” 

Plot twist: nothing. Zip. Zero. When you’re smart enough to run an event with Palmy Venues there’s no extra charge for the end-to-end service you’ll receive from your event coordinator. We’re here to make Palmy the go-to choice for conference organisers so our whole community benefits – not try and get every last cent out of your budget!  

Any questions? 

 Not just a killer way to end your conference presentation… questions are where our event coordinators really shine. Running 3500 events a year, from community venue bookings to three-day national conferences for 300 people, means we know ALL the questions to ask organisers up front. That way, nothing is missed, everything is planned and you’re well on your way to taking all the credit for a Bloody Good Conference. Go you! 

You can read more about what our event coordinators bring to your next Bloody Good Conference here.

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