GORDON LIGHTFOOT | Culture
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
A Palmerston North man has once again clarified that his hometown is “actually pretty central to everything, ay,” during a routine conversation that did not require clarification.
Jason Reid, 34, made the comments after a colleague suggested meeting in Wellington.
“People forget Palmy’s right in the middle,” Reid said. “Two hours to Wellington. Couple to Napier. Not far to New Plymouth. It’s basically the hub.”
Reid confirmed he often finds himself explaining the geography.
“Everyone thinks it’s just cows and wind. But it’s strategic. You can get anywhere.”
The Palmerston North local said the city’s centrality is underrated, ignoring his own main point which is essentially it’s a great place to leave to go somewhere else.
“We’re not trying to be flashy like Auckland. We’re just sensible. You want to go somewhere? Sweet as. It’s pretty central.”
A former university flatmate, now based in Auckland, said Reid has been delivering variations of the same speech since 2011.
“He used to draw imaginary maps in the air,” the flatmate recalled. “You’d just nod until he finished.”
Reid maintains the reputation issue is overblown.
“Look, I’m not saying it’s the capital. I’m just saying location wise, we’re hard to beat.”
Reid cut the interview short after having the sudden urge to calculate travel times to three separate cities no one had mentioned.
More to come.
