Feilding is a thriving rural town with a strong business environment and a relaxing, rural atmosphere. With a population of only around 14,500 the town is a booming economic hub for rural Manawatu.
Feilding is approximately 19km from the city of Palmerston North and 150km north of the capital city of Wellington. All major transport services stop in Feilding and Palmerston North aiport is a 15 minute drive away.
Feilding businesses are more often than not, owner/operated, making for a more personable shopping experience. Unique, heritage style buildings are scattered throughout the town and offer everything from clothing to restaurants, manufacturing to second hand bargains - enjoy the laid back nature of shopping in Feilding and grab yourself a bargain! Parking is free and there are no traffic wardens.
The Feilding Sale Yards, located in the heart of the town, are a hub of activity every Friday as local farmers congregate on the town to sell and buy livestock. The yards are one of the biggest in the southern hemisphere and tours are available (bookings essential) from the Feilding Information Centre.
Friday is also Farmers Market day where local growers can be found in Manchester Square, plying their wares.
Being a rural town, Feilding has many parks that can be enjoyed by the public.
Kowhai Park (South Street) is without a doubt the most popular park in the town. A bush clad area with a childrens playground and aviary, Kowhai Park is an ideal place on a sunny day. The park hosts the "Festival of Lights" and is home to many different species of birds that the public can view 7 days a week. The beautiful gardens alongside water features ensure everyone, both young and old can appreciate the setting. Kowhai Park is also the start (or finish!) of the Kitchener Park walkway.
Kitchener Park is located on Kawa Kawa Road about a 2 minute drive from the town centre. It boasts NZ's tallest kowhai tree in its 11(ish) hectares of native bush. A popular walking destination (about 1 hour return) linked to Kowhai Park.
Timona Park is alongside the Oroua River and is dog friendly. Complete with a new playground, the park is home to twilight cricket, soccer in winter and has barbeque areas for picnics.
Feilding is a rural town located in the heart of the Manwatu District. The area is situated in the lower half of the North Island and covers an area of around 2,780 sq kilometres - as shown in the Manawatu District boundary map. This area covers from Rangiwahia in the north, to Himatangi Beach in the south.
The population of the Manawatu District is now around 30,000 (provisional stats via council website) as of June 2011 - with definitive stats available around the end of November 2011. Feilding makes up for around 14,500 of this population.
Feilding was named after Colonel William Henry Adelbert Feilding, a director of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Corporation Ltd, who negotiated the purchase of a 100,000 acre (400 kmē) block of land from the Wellington provincial government in 1871. The first settlers arrived from Great Britain on 22 January 1874.
Colonel Feilding was the son of William Feilding, the 7th Earl of Denbigh and his wife Lady Mary Elizabeth Kitty Moreton.
In 1871, he journeyed to Foxton by coach, where he was met by Arthur Halcombe who was to escort him inland to view the block he was to purchase. They viewed land in Ashurst, witnessed the first road through the Manawatu Gorge being built, and eventually travelled to the Manchester Block, where the purchase for the land was made at a value of £75,000.
He returned in 1875 to a town struggling to exist through a wet and cold winter. He gave words of encouragement to those trying to establish themselved, and by 1895 (now General Feilding) the town was established and growing.
Feilding died of cholera in Bangkok in March 1895.
(Source: TeAra.govt.nz)
