Is Palmy that bad?

Apparently John Cleese wasn't too thrilled with Palmy when he stopped off last year.

Cleese, of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame, stayed in
Palmerston North last November as part of his My Life, Time and
Current Medical Problems tour.

Cleese called the city "the suicide capital of New Zealand" and said "if you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick."

Is it really that bad? I always just thought it was a good spot to relax.