Featherston, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Featherston Paetūmōkai  (Māori)
Fitzherbert Street in Featherston
Region	Wellington Region
Territorial authority	South Wairarapa District
Ward	Featherston Ward
Community	Featherston Community
Founded	1856
Named for	Isaac Featherston
Electorates	Wairarapa Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)
Area
• Total	3.19 km2 (1.23 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	2,780
• Density	871.5/km2 (2,257/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	5710
Area code(s)	06

Featherston (in Māori, Paetūmōkai) is a town in the South Wairarapa District. It is located in the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. The town sits at the eastern base of the Remutaka Range. It is also near the northern shore of Lake Wairarapa. Featherston is about 63 km (39 mi) north-east of central Wellington. It is also 37 km (23 mi) south-west of Masterton.

The town has a population of 2,780 (June 2023). Featherston has become a "satellite town" for Wellington. This means many people live in Featherston but work in Wellington. This change happened after the Remutaka rail tunnel opened in 1955. In 2006, about 36% of working residents in Featherston worked in Wellington. Because it's close to the capital and houses are more affordable, Featherston has become popular. Many writers, artists, and young families have moved here. This has led to new businesses and creative activities.

Featherston's History

Wairarapa Moana, also known as Lake Wairarapa, was one of the first places settled in New Zealand. People lived here as far back as 800 years ago. The lake had lots of fish and birds. A main reason people settled here was for tuna, which are native freshwater eels. These eels could be caught in large numbers when they migrated to the sea. People would dry the eels to store or trade them. Many seasonal settlements for eeling were built around Lake Wairarapa. Some permanent settlements were on higher ground nearby.

The town of Featherston was first called Burlings. This name came from Henry Burling, who opened a guesthouse in 1847. It was near the Māori settlement of Pae-O-Tu-Mokai. In 1856, the government planned the town. They named it after Isaac Featherston, who was a leader at the time.

Featherston During Wartime

Featherston Camp in 1916

The Featherston Military Camp was a very important training camp in World War I. It was built in 1916 and could hold up to 8,000 soldiers. The camp was bigger than the town itself. It had 16 dining halls, six kitchens, 17 shops, a movie theater, a hospital, and a post office. After training, soldiers would march over the Remutaka Range. They would then leave from Wellington to go to war.

During World War II, in 1942, the camp became the Featherston prisoner of war camp. It held about 800 Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) who were captured in the South Pacific. On February 25, 1943, a sad event happened there. A group of Japanese prisoners refused to work. Guards fired a warning shot, which wounded a prisoner. The prisoners then stood up, and the guards opened fire. This resulted in 48 deaths and 74 injuries. During the war, details of this event were kept secret. This was to prevent the Japanese from harming Allied POWs in return. After the war, a Japanese POW visited the site in 1974. A joint New Zealand–Japanese project later built a memorial ground. It is located 2 km (1.2 mi) north of the town on State Highway 2.

Fell Locomotive Museum

Featherston's library, Heritage register No 3976

Featherston is home to the world's only remaining Fell locomotive engine. You can see it at the Fell Locomotive Museum. This special train system worked for 77 years, from 1878 to 1955. It was designed to climb steep hills. You can still see parts of the old trains and the busy settlement on the Remutaka Rail Trail Cycleway.

Featherston's Population

Featherston covers an area of 3.19 square kilometers (1.23 sq mi). It has an estimated population of 2,780. This means there are about 871 people per square kilometer.

At the 2018 New Zealand census, Featherston had 2,487 people. This was an increase of 237 people since the 2013 census. There were 1,035 households. The population included 1,254 males and 1,233 females. The average age was 43.8 years. About 18.9% of the people were under 15 years old.

Most people in Featherston are of European (Pākehā) background (88.9%). About 19.7% identify as Māori. People can identify with more than one ethnic group.

Fun Things to Do in Featherston

Anzac Hall and Lake Wairarapa

The Anzac Hall was built in 1916. It was a place for soldiers to relax and have fun during World War I. It is a large, beautiful wooden hall. It was restored for its 100th birthday and is now a Category 1 historic place. Today, it is used as a town hall and community center. People use it for concerts, events, and meetings.

Royal Hotel, Featherston

Lake Wairarapa Domain is a popular spot for outdoor activities. You can go for walks, cycle, or even ride motorcycles. It's also great for fishing, watching birds, and exploring the wetlands.

Events and Culture

In 2015, Featherston became a "Booktown." This means it's a town that loves books! It hosts an annual literary festival and other book-related events all year. Other yearly events include the winter Time Traveller's Ball. There's also a summer series of Featherston First Friday community arts nights. The Cross Creek Rail Society also holds a Mini Train Carnival. The Royal Hotel reopened in 2017 after being renovated. It has a cool steampunk theme, which fits the town's history and love for stories.

Sports Clubs

Featherston has many sports clubs. One of the oldest junior football clubs in New Zealand is here. The Featherston Junior FC started back in 1856! There is also a rugby union club, a hockey club, an athletics club, a swimming club, and an indoor sports complex.

Schools in Featherston

Featherston has several schools for younger students:

• Featherston School is a public primary school for students in Year 1 to 8.
• South Featherston School is also a public primary school for Year 1 to 8 students.
• St Teresa's School is a Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students.

Featherston used to have a high school called Featherston District High School. It closed in the mid-1960s.

Getting Around Featherston

Featherston is located where two main roads meet: State Highway 2 and State Highway 53.

• State Highway 2 goes south from Featherston to Wellington. It passes over the Remutaka Pass and through the Hutt Valley. North of Featherston, it goes to Masterton, passing through Greytown and Carterton.
• State Highway 53 connects Featherston to Martinborough.

Featherston also has a train station, Featherston railway station, on the Wairarapa Line. The Wairarapa Connection train stops here. It travels between Masterton and Wellington. Trains run five times a day on weekdays and twice a day on weekends. The train ride to Wellington station takes just over an hour.

Featherston's Climate

Sister City

Featherston is a sister city with Mesen, a city in Belgium.

Famous People from Featherston

• Jonathan Winter (born 1971), a champion swimmer who competed in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.
• Bernard Beckett (born 1967), a writer known for young adult fiction.
• Joy Cowley (born 1936), a well-known children's author.
• Rob Campbell (born 1951), an economist and businessman.
• Henry Bunny (1822–1891), a politician who represented the Wairarapa area.
• Rawi Cundy (1901–1955), a rugby union player.
• Quentin Donald (1900–1965), a rugby union player and local politician.
• Charles Elgar (1855–1930), an entrepreneur.
• Ella Elgar (1869–1945), a socialite and art collector.
• Barry Oldridge (born 1950), a wrestler.
• Dan Riddiford (1914–1974), a politician.
• Graham Sims (born 1951), a rugby union player and trade commissioner.
• Adrienne Staples (born 1956/1957), a local politician.