Masterton

Masterton is the largest town (and local government district) in the Wairarapa region in the southeastern North Island of New Zealand. It is 85 kilometres north-east of Wellington and 70 kilometres south of Palmerston North, and stands on the Ruamahanga River.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Masterton is a thriving community with a 2001 population of 22,617. It therefore did not quite qualify to be a city by 1989 when the minimum population requirement for that status was lifted from 20,000 to 50,000. A commuter rail link allows many residents easy access to work in the cities of Wellington, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Named after pioneer Joseph Masters, it was first settled by Europeans on 21 May 1854. It gained borough status in 1877.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Local industries involve service industries for the surrounding farming community. The town is the headquarters of the annual Golden Shears sheep-shearing competition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although Masterton and the Wairarapa valley are reasonably close to Wellington, they are separated by the Rimutaka Ranges with a narrow winding road and a rail tunnel. There has been conjectural talk of constructing a road tunnel through the ranges, but as of the latest transportation plan from the Greater Wellington Regional Council, the only work planned is for upgrades to the existing Rimutaka Hill road and the addition of passing lanes between Featherston and Masterton.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wairarapa: The Wairarapa is a district or subregion of New Zealand occupying the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of Wellington and south-west of Hawke Bay. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest....

North Island: The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island....

Wellington: :For other Wellingtons, see Wellington (disambiguation). For the City of Wellington, see Wellington City....