Masterton
Masterton (Māori: Whakaoriori) is a large town in the Greater Wellington Region of New Zealand that operates as the seat of the Masterton District (a territorial authority or local-government district). It is the largest town in the Wairarapa, a region separated from Wellington by the Rimutaka ranges. It stands on the Waipoua stream between the Ruamahunga and Waingawa Rivers – 100 kilometres north-east of Wellington and 39.4 kilometres south of Eketāhuna.
Masterton
Whakaoriori (Māori) | |
|---|---|
Location of Masterton District in North Island | |
| Coordinates: 40°58′S 175°39′E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Greater Wellington |
| District | Masterton District |
| Town founded | 1854 |
| NZ Parliament | Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori) Wairarapa |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Gary Caffell |
| • Deputy Mayor | Bex Johnson |
| • MPs | Mike Butterick (National) Cushla Tangaere-Manuel (Labour) |
| • Territorial authority | Masterton District Council |
| Area | |
| • Territorial | 2,300.17 km2 (888.10 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 21.54 km2 (8.32 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 69 m (420 ft) |
| Population (June 2023) | |
| • Territorial | 29,100 |
| • Density | 13/km2 (33/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 22,600 |
| • Urban density | 1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 5810 |
| Area code | 06 |
| Website | www |
Masterton has an urban population of 22,600, and a district population of 29,100 (June 2023).
Masterton businesses includes services for surrounding farmers. Three new industrial parks are being developed in Waingawa, Solway and Upper Plain. The town functions as the headquarters of the annual Golden Shears sheep-shearing competition.