Smiths City Palmerston North: Closed After Liquidation

For over a century, Smiths City served New Zealand families furnishing homes, equipping sports teams, and stocking school gear. Now the retailer has moved from liquidation sales to final closure — and if you’re trying to find the Palmerston North store or wondering whether any stock remains, the picture has changed several times since September 2025. Here’s where things stand.

Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand · Address: 535–545 Main Street · Phone: 06 355 1788 · Website: smithscity.co.nz · Status: Liquidation complete; store closed

The table below consolidates verified details about the Palmerston North store and the wider Smiths City collapse.

Is Smiths City still trading?

Current trading status

Smiths City is no longer trading. The retailer entered voluntary administration on 2 September 2025, with Colin Gower and Diana Matchett of BDO Christchurch appointed as administrators. All nine stores and the online shop temporarily closed that day for a stocktake and financial assessment.

Eight of the nine stores — but not Dunedin — reopened for a liquidation sale beginning 5 September 2025. The official statement from Smiths City confirmed that over 21,000 items were available at significantly reduced prices during the sale, which ran until 14 September 2025. Two more stores closed as the sale wound up, and staff reductions followed shortly after.

Liquidation sale details

The liquidation sale offered discounts off the lowest ticketed price, reaching up to 70% off in the final days. Stores accepted only EFTPOS and bank transfers during the sale period — cash was not accepted. Administrators sought expressions of interest for the business or its assets during the sales process, but no buyer came forward for a going-concern operation.

Where is Smiths City Palmerston North located?

Address and directions

The Palmerston North store was located at 535–545 Main Street, in the city centre. The location sat within the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand’s North Island. For those familiar with the area, the store occupied a prominent spot along the main retail strip, historically drawing customers from across the wider Manawatu district.

“Customers can expect a wide range of items at significantly reduced prices – over 21,000 pieces must go.”

— BDO New Zealand Liquidators (via 1News)

Contact information

The Palmerston North store’s phone number was 06 355 1788. The official website at smithscity.co.nz served as the primary source for updates throughout the administration and liquidation process.

Who owned Smiths City?

Current ownership

Smiths City (2020) Limited was the corporate entity operating the retail chain. The company entered voluntary administration on 2 September 2025, with BDO Christchurch administrators Colin Gower and Diana Matchett overseeing the process. The company was ultimately placed into full liquidation following a creditors’ vote on 1 October 2025.

Previous owners

The retailer had a long history in New Zealand, originally founded as a family business before eventually becoming a corporate entity. Prior to 2020, the business had changed hands through various ownership structures. In 2020, the company was rebranded as Smiths City (2020) Limited as part of a financial restructuring.

What happened to Smiths City?

Bankruptcy proceedings

The voluntary administration on 2 September 2025 provided breathing space for administrators to assess the company’s financial position. Stocktake and financial assessment were completed on 5 September 2025, after which eight stores reopened for liquidation sales. Administrators sought expressions of interest for a going-concern sale but none materialized.

On 1 October 2025, creditors voted to place Smiths City into full liquidation. The total liabilities reached $26.8 million, including $1 million owed to the Inland Revenue Department. Secured creditors were owed approximately $10 million, while unsecured creditors faced a bleak outlook given the gap between liabilities and available assets.

Creditor impacts

The company debt of $26 million (as reported in earlier filings) ballooned to $26.8 million by the time of liquidation. With limited assets and secured creditors prioritized, unsecured creditors — including trade suppliers, landlords, and customers with deposits — are unlikely to recover their losses. The outlook for these groups appears bleak, according to reporting from NZ Herald.

Smiths City Palmerston North opening hours and shopping

Store hours

Specific opening hours for the Palmerston North store during the liquidation sale were not publicly listed by Smiths City administrators. The official statement indicated sales began at 9 a.m. for some stores, but did not provide location-specific hour breakdowns for each reopened outlet.

Prior to 2025, historical records show the Palmerston North store operated Sunday hours of 10:00–16:30 under normal trading conditions. However, these hours do not apply to liquidation-period sales, which operated under different parameters determined by administrators.

Furniture and online options

Smiths City offered furniture, sporting goods, and school equipment throughout its history. During the liquidation sale, over 21,000 items were available at significantly reduced prices. The online shop operated temporarily but is no longer functional as of April 2026.

“The liquidation sale will run for a limited time only and while stocks last.”

— Smiths City Administrators (Official Statement)

For those seeking similar products in the Manawatu region, alternative retailers may include furniture outlets, sporting goods stores, and school equipment suppliers operating independently in the area. The loss of Smiths City leaves a gap that independent retailers and other chains may fill.

For New Zealand shoppers seeking furniture or sporting goods, the closure of Smiths City leaves a gap in the market that independent retailers and other chains may fill in the Manawatu region and beyond. The loss of a 100-plus-year-old retailer underscores the pressures facing mid-sized specialty stores in an increasingly competitive retail environment.

Frequently asked questions

Consumers in the Manawatu region looking for comparable products can explore alternatives such as the Country Road Outlet NZ for furniture options, or search for used cars for sale Christchurch and similar regional listings to locate independent retailers filling the gap left by Smiths City.