Palmerston North Airport (PMR) does not have a dedicated lounge; Air New Zealand serves the field with regional turboprop aircraft on domestic-only routes to the country's main centres, a service level built for frequency rather than the premium long-haul traffic that typically justifies a lounge, and that domestic-scale operation, not any lack of terminal space, is the real reason no lounge has developed here.
For an actual Air New Zealand lounge, Auckland and Wellington are the realistic destinations. Auckland's airport hosts the airline's largest lounge presence, covering both domestic and international travellers with eligible status or premium tickets, and Wellington operates a smaller lounge for its own domestic network. Either is a genuine option if your Palmerston North trip connects onward through one of those two cities, rather than expecting anything locally.
Palmerston North itself is home to Massey University's main campus, and the airport's terminal, while compact, has general seating and a cafe suited to short waits between regional flights rather than a lounge-style premium experience. The terminal process here is straightforward: check in, clear the small security area, and wait in the shared gate lounge alongside every other passenger regardless of status or membership. The Manawatu region surrounding Palmerston North is also known for agricultural events and university-term travel patterns tied to Massey University, both of which shape local demand more than any premium-traveller segment a lounge would typically serve.
If you are flying out of Palmerston North, plan on the terminal's general seating and cafe rather than a lounge, and save any Air New Zealand lounge visit, or a Priority Pass style stop, for your connection in Auckland or Wellington instead. New Zealand's school-holiday and Christmas-New Year periods bring the busiest domestic travel demand, so book and arrive with that rhythm in mind. Confirming your connecting flight's lounge access ahead of time, rather than assuming it, is the simplest way to avoid disappointment on either end of a Palmerston North journey.