Standup stands up for hometown
The sun may not shine as much in Palmerston North, but its stars don’t mind.
Some of the city’s most famous faces have come out to bat for their often criticised hometown and its unfortunate weather forecasts.
The city became a national punchline in January when Niwa figures for 2016 revealed Palmerston North received the lowest amount of sunshine hours in the country.
But comedian Jeremy Corbett, host of TV show 7 Days, said he loved growing up in the city.
‘‘Palmerston North would be twice the size it is if the weather was better. Wind; constant. I rode to school into a head wind and home into a head wind.
‘‘Going back these days I am always struck by the geography of Palmy and the areas around it. Absolutely beautiful. If somewhat windy.’’
Corbett praised the local art scene.
‘‘I love that Palmy embraced us creative petals through our ugly duckling phase. I’ve seen promising talent get torn apart in the hard city of Auckland, but maybe Palmy was just grateful that someone was trying something. It was easy on us and at that stage it was a good thing.’’
He also praised the people.
‘‘I think also Palmy people are a city’s distilled version of the Kiwi-of-alltrades. In the same way that New Zealanders overseas do well because they muck in with any job, Palmy folk do well throughout NZ for the same reason.’’
Corbett said The Square got ’’better and better every time I visit’’ and that he got a Pork Chop Hill T-shirt whenever he was in town.
World famous freestyle motocross rider Levi Sherwood is another of the city’s famous sons, and said it was a good place to grow up.
‘‘I grew up around speedway. That is pretty awesome, how we have got a speedway and it is so close and so big.’’
Sherwood said he did get a bit of flack for living in Manawatu.
‘‘You do cop a bit but it just goes over my head.’’
However, he also pointed out he lived closer to Palmerston North’s neighbouring town Feilding these days.
‘‘Feilding is the place to be.’’