Palmerston North score: 28/100 (Moderate) Updated September 27, 2026

Is Palmerston North safe? New Zealand travel risk

Is Palmerston North safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026

Palmerston North scores 28/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates New Zealand Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions, updated 29 Apr 2026); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise normal security precautions. No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.

Palmerston North scores 28/100 (Moderate). The score combines security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards and current alerts measured for this location and New Zealand (how it is calculated). The sections below are specific to Palmerston North: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km, frequently asked questions.

Driven by: health and medical access (46/100) and natural hazards (43/100).

A score of 28 is higher than the scores of 21% of the 241 countries we cover.

Consult the New Zealand travel risk page for nationwide security advisories, entry protocols, and consular warnings.

Local Geographic Profile

Geographically located in Manawatu-Wanganui (40.3549° S, 175.6095° E), Palmerston North sits 125.3 km SSW from Wellington at 34 m elevation.

Region
Manawatu-Wanganui

Coordinates
40.3549° S, 175.6095° E

Elevation
34 m

Time Zone
Pacific/Auckland

Population
76,236

Nearest city with evaluated safety score: Wellington (125.3 km SSW).

Emergency & Transport Infrastructure

Aviation Hub Palmerston North Airport (PMR) 3.9 km N

Hospital Care Crest Hospital 0.7 km NNE

Police Station Palmerston North Police Station 0.5 km ESE

Surrounding Localities in New Zealand

Feilding · 14.9 km NNW Levin · 41.9 km SW Whanganui · 66.7 km NW Masterton · 68.1 km S Waikanae · 74.0 km SW

Natural Hazard Calendar & History

No GDACS or USGS events recorded within 100 km in the past five years.

For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the New Zealand travel advice & laws.

Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the New Zealand entry requirements.

Nearby Destinations with Scored Guides

Paraparaumu Beach 10

79.4 km SW

Lower Hutt 15

112.2 km SSW

Wellington 85

125.3 km SSW

Questions travellers ask about Palmerston North

Is Palmerston North safe?

Palmerston North currently scores 28/100 on our composite travel risk index (moderate risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for New Zealand (Level 1 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.

Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Palmerston North · Methodology

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          Sources: SimpleMaps, GeoNames, OSM contributors, OurAirports, Open-Meteo, GDACS, USGS · Data desk · Sources · Editorial Policy
      