Te Manawa is Palmerston North's main cultural institution, combining an art gallery, a regional history museum, and a science centre under one roof. The building was purpose-designed in the 1990s and sits in the centre of the city, a short walk from The Square.
The regional history collection is strongest, covering Māori settlement of the Manawatu, the arrival of European farmers, and the development of Palmerston North as the region's market and university city. The art gallery holds a rotating collection of New Zealand contemporary art with some strong regional representation. The science centre is designed with children in mind but has enough interactive exhibits to hold adult interest for an hour or so. Admission is free for the permanent collections.