Feilding facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Feilding
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Town
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Manchester Square
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| Nickname(s):
'Friendly' Feilding
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| District | Manawatū District |
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| Named for | Colonel William Henry Adelbert Feilding |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 23.59 km2 (9.11 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 17,750 |
| • Density | 752.4/km2 (1,948.8/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode |
4702
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| Telephone | 06 |
| Website | www.feilding.co.nz |
Feilding is a friendly town in the Manawatū District of New Zealand's North Island. You can find it about 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North on State Highway 54. Feilding is the main centre for the Manawatū District Council.
This town is known for being very beautiful. It has won the award for New Zealand's Most Beautiful Town 16 times! Feilding has an Edwardian theme, which means many buildings in the town centre are built in the style of the early 1900s. The town is making its main streets even prettier with new paving and plants.
Feilding is a busy hub for the farms around it. The Feilding Saleyards are a big part of the local farming community. Farmers bring their animals here to be sold. It's special because the saleyards are right in the middle of town! The land around Feilding is very good for farming.
Because the town is on a floodplain near a big river, it can sometimes flood. In 2004, there was a large flood. But now, new flood protection plans are in place to help keep the town safe.
Contents
Feilding's History
Early European Settlement
Feilding was named after Colonel William H. A. Feilding. He was a director of a company that bought a large piece of land in 1871. The first European settlers arrived from Great Britain on January 22, 1874.
The Feilding Edwardian Project started in 1993. Its goal was to make the town centre look great again. Many of the buildings were built in the 1900s, during the Edwardian era. These buildings have been carefully restored. Feilding has many historic places to visit. These include The Coach House Museum, St Johns Church, and the Feilding & Districts Steam Rail Society.
Marae in Feilding
Feilding is home to two marae. These are special meeting places for the Māori iwi (tribe) of Ngāti Kauwhata. They are called Aorangi Marae and Kauwhata Marae.
In 2020, the government helped upgrade Kauwhata Marae. This project also created jobs for people in the area.
People of Feilding
Feilding is a medium-sized town. It covers an area of about 23.59 square kilometres.
In 2018, Feilding had a population of 15,912 people. This was an increase of over 1,500 people since 2013. There were more females than males living in the town. About one-fifth of the people were under 15 years old.
Most people in Feilding are of European background (87%). About 19.4% are Māori. There are also smaller groups of Pacific peoples and Asian people.
Many people in Feilding (50.9%) said they had no religion. About 36.4% were Christian.
Feilding's Economy
Feilding is an important centre for farming. It also has some unique businesses.
One interesting company is Proliant. It built a factory in Feilding to make a special product from cattle blood. This product, called bovine serum albumin (BSA), is used in medicines and vaccines. Proliant makes about half of the world's BSA!
Fun Things to See and Do
- Manfeild Autocourse: This is one of New Zealand's main motor racing tracks. You can watch exciting races here.
- Feilding Aerodrome: This is a small airfield for light aircraft.
- Feilding and District Steam Rail Society: You can take fun trips on old steam trains from their depot in town.
- Feilding Saleyards: These are large stockyards right in the town centre. They used to be one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.
- The Coach House Museum: Learn about the history of the area.
- Focal Point Cinema Feilding: Catch a movie with friends.
- Te Ahuru Mowai: This is a community hub and library.
- You won't find any traffic lights or parking meters in Feilding!
Schools in Feilding
Secondary Schools
- Feilding High School: This is the main high school for students in years 9-13.
Primary and Intermediate Schools
- Feilding Intermediate School: For students in years 7-8. It opened in 1964.
- Lytton Street School: For younger students in years 1-6. It opened in 1901.
- Manchester Street School: Also for students in years 1-6. It opened in 1874.
- North Street School: For students in years 1-8.
- St Joseph's School: A Catholic school for students in years 1-8.
- Taonui School: Located just outside Feilding, for students in years 1-8.
Sports and Recreation
Feilding has many places for sports and fun activities:
- Manfeild: Circuit Chris Amon: This is a famous motor racing track. It even hosts the New Zealand Grand Prix.
- Johnston Park: This is a rugby ground. It's home to the Feilding Rugby Football Club.
- Johnston Park also has a lawn bowling club.
- Feilding Golf Club: A great place to play golf.
- Feilding Squash Club: For playing squash.
- Makino Aquatic Centre: A swimming pool complex.
The Feilding Marathon is a long-running event. It started in 1955 and has been held every year since! It also includes a half-marathon race.
Famous People from Feilding
Many talented people have come from Feilding, including:
- Murray Ball: A famous cartoonist who created Footrot Flats.
- Jed Brophy: An actor who played Nori the Dwarf in The Hobbit movies.
- Air Marshal Sir Charles Roderick Carr: A high-ranking air force officer.
- Mason Durie: A well-known psychiatrist.
- Keith Elliott: A brave soldier who received the Victoria Cross medal.
- Mihingarangi Forbes: A respected journalist.
- Sarah Hirini: A star rugby player for New Zealand's women's teams.
- Michael Houstoun: A brilliant concert pianist.
- Glen Jackson: A rugby player and referee.
- Tom Scott: Another famous cartoonist.
- Jesse Sergent: An Olympic Cyclist.
- Aaron Smith: A famous All Black rugby player.
- Simon van Velthooven: An Olympic cyclist and America's Cup winner.
- The Evermore band: A popular music group with brothers Dann, Jon, and Peter Hume.
- Many All Black rugby players attended Feilding High School, including Codie Taylor, Adam Whitelock, George Whitelock, Luke Whitelock, and Sam Whitelock.
Images for kids
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Feilding Clocktower
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View of Feilding facing south
