The Fitz (Palmerston North)

The Fitz was a notorious popular bar in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Opened in 1966, it gained notoriety as a student tavern until it closed in 2008. The building included the former Carvery bar and a liquor shop. The FItz and Carvery sections of the building were destroyed by fire in October 2025.

The pub was opened in 1966.[1] It became known as Palmerston North's most infamous pub due to its house rules: "no dancing, no public displays of affection, no drinking with your right hand, and no nudity before 10pm".[1] One regular customer, Deemo, allegedly set a world record by drinking an entire crate of beer (12 745ml bottles) in 58 minutes; he also "strawpedoed" an entire bottle of vodka in 4 seconds before stapling his genitals to the bar.[2] In 1999 the bar organised a public game of nude rugby.[3] A 2003 report in Salient described it as "a low-rent bogan hangout" with sticky floors and a drunk man seated in a canoe urinating into a beer jug.[4]

In September 2003 a student, William Cranswick, died of a head injury after a drunken game of bullrush in the bar. The bar's duty manager was charged with criminal nuisance and supplying liquor to intoxicated persons,[5] but the charges were dismissed in November 2004.[6][7] He was subsequently stripped of his manager's certificate.[8] An inquest into the death was told that Cranswick could have survived if an ambulance had been called.[9]

In 2005 the pub was criticised by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand for its irresponsible promotion of drinking.[10]

The pub closed in December 2008 after its owners decided that it was "not in keeping with our core business".[11][12]

2025 fire

A transformer fire in 2009 damaged the building.[13] Following its closure the building was occasionally rented out for private parties, and in 2009 for a Tiki Taane concert.[14] While the owners planned redevelopment,[15] the site lay derelict for over a decade.[16][17] In August 2024 its owners announced that it would be demolished.[18] The building caught fire on 30 October 2025, prompting an emergency "stay indoors" warning over much of Palmerston North.[19][20] Several schools, including the nearby Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School, were closed the next day due to concerns about airborne asbestos contamination from the fire.[21]

An initial investigation found that the fire was suspicious.[22] A teenager was subsequently charged with arson over the blaze.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b "Waste of Space: The Fitz pub has an infamous past, but an uncertain future". Manawatu Standard. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  2. ^ Alecia Rousseau (31 October 2025). "The Fitz inferno: Iconic student pub reduced to ashes". Manawatū Standard. Retrieved 1 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ "Players reveal naked ambition". Manawatu Standard. 9 June 1999. p. 24 – via EBSCOHost.
  4. ^ Matt Nippert (May 2003). "Under the canoe lies velcro carpet". Salient. No. 7. p. 13.
  5. ^ "Bar games end in liquor charges". Manawatu Standard. 16 November 2004. p. 1 – via EBSCOHost.
  6. ^ "Counts against bar manager are dismissed". New Zeaalnd Herald. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  7. ^ "No case to answer". Manawatu Standard. 17 November 2025. p. 1 – via EBSCOHost.
  8. ^ "Barman banned". Dominion-Post. 30 March 2005. p. A5 – via EBSCOHost.
  9. ^ "Teen who died in binge 'could have survived'". New Zealand Herald. 8 April 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Pub slammed for irresponsible behaviour". New Zealand Herald. 26 October 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  11. ^ "The Fitz closes doors - Palmerston North". RNZ. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Last call for iconic bar". Manawatu Standard. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Fitz in flames after 'almighty bang'". Stuff. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  14. ^ "The Fitz will be rocking again". Manawatu Standard. 17 July 2009. p. 2 – via EBSCOHost.
  15. ^ "Owners looking at up-market role for The Fitz site". Manawatu Standard. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2025 – via PressReader.
  16. ^ "Abandoned Fitz in limbo". Manawatu Standard. 8 May 2012. p. 3 – via EBSCOHost.
  17. ^ Judith Lacy (22 February 2024). "Former Palmerston North pub The Fitz continues to deteroriate". Manawatū Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  18. ^ Janine Rankin (6 August 2024). "End of the road for the dregs of The Fitz". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  19. ^ "'Stay inside': Crews battle fire at old Palmerston North pub The Fitz". RNZ. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  20. ^ Sam Smith (30 October 2025). "Locals told to stay inside as large fire burns at abandoned Palmerston North pub". Stuff. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Palmerston North schools shut as asbestos-filled Fitzherbert bar goes up in flames". RNZ. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Fire at asbestos-filled Palmerston North bar 'suspicious'". RNZ. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Teen charged with arson over Palmerston North pub blaze". Manawatū Standard. 12 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

40°21′37.2″S 175°36′44.3″E / 40.360333°S 175.612306°E / -40.360333; 175.612306

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