Feilding, New Zealand

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Feilding is a town in the Manawatu region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 54, 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North.

As of the 2001 census, the usually resident population of Feilding was 12,708, a decrease of 430 since 1996. The town is the seat of the Manawatu District Council.

The town was named after Colonel William Feilding, a director of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Corporation Ltd. who negotiated the purchase of a 100,000 acre (400 km²) block of land from the Wellington provincial government in 1871. The first settlers arrived from Great Britain on 22 January 1874.

The town is a service town for the surrounding farming district. The Manawatu Plains, on which the town is sited, are very fertile land, and as such it is a prosperous agricultural area. Being located on the floodplain of a major river has its problems, however, and in February 2004 the town suffered extensive flooding, with approximately 150 homes rendered uninhabitable.

One of New Zealand's main motor racing circuits, Manfeild, is located at the south edge of the town and an active light aircraft airfield at the Eastern edge. The depot of the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society is located in the town and it runs railway excursions from this base. Feilding has the largest stock saleyards in the southern hemisphere right in the central business area.

Feilding has won the annual NZ's Most Beautiful Town award 12 times. One feature of the town is that there are no traffic lights and no parking meters.

The town is currently undergoing renervations in all area's of the main center. The square has been completed, with funding from both the council and public. Bricks and tiles were available for public to purchase as part of their donation. These display their name, and with some a message to be left for the town to read.

Famous people from Feilding include Murray Ball (the kiwiana cartoonist who drew Footrot Flats) and popular musical group Evermore. Comedian James Lye's home is Feilding.

External links

The Overlander passenger train stops: (North Island Main Trunk Railway)
Auckland (Britomart) \| Middlemore \| Papakura \| Pukekohe \| Hamilton \| Otorohanga \| Te Kuiti \| Taumarunui \| National Park \| Ohakune \| Marton \| Feilding \| Palmerston North \| Levin \| Paraparaumu \| Porirua \| Wellington (Railway Station)

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