Featherston is a town in the south of the North Island of New Zealand, east of Wellington, just east of the Rimutaka Tunnel, in the South Wairarapa District. Its population was 2325 as of 2001. Image File history File links NZ-Featherston. ... North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... Wellington (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or Poneke) is the capital of New Zealand, the countrys second-largest urban area and the most populous national capital in Oceania. ... Rimutaka Tunnel, rail tunnel through New Zealands Rimutaka Ranges between Upper Hutt, near Wellington, and Featherston. ... The South Wairarapa District Council controls the south-east tip of the North Island of New Zealand. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

The town is lcated on the eastern side of the Rimutaka Range close to the nortern shore of Lake Wairarapa. It is 35 km south-west of Masterton and 25 km east of Upper Hutt. The Rimutaka Range (often referred to as the Rimutaka Ranges) is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington. ... Lake Wairarapa is a lake at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand, 50 kilometres east of Wellington. ... Masterton is the largest town (and local government district) in the Wairarapa region in the southeastern North Island of New Zealand. ... Upper Hutt is a satellite city of Wellington, New Zealand. ...

The town gained notoriety when Japanese prisoners-of-war rioted in a nearby camp in 1943. 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

There is a hill to the west of the town known as one tree hill (not to be confused with the one in auckland). This may seem strange, as it is covered in trees. One lone tree stands tall above all others near the summit, and a walking track leads up to the tree and down the other side. The area around the top of the hill and around the entrance to the track has been upgraded in recent years, with picnic tables and a new path that goes to the top of the hill, giving a different view of the township. A barrier now restricts access to the tree to stop people walking on the roots and hopefully curb the occasional vandal.

Featherston, as seen from one tree hill.

Featherston has two primary schools, St. Teresa's and Featherston Primary. It once had a high school but that is long gone. Another rural primary school is located at South Featherston, about 2.5km from Featherston on the way to Martinborough. Image File history File links Onetreehill. ...

The town has two small supermarkets, both were once independants until Trusthouse purchased Beckets. The town also has a video store, a bottle store, a book shop, two dairies, several fish & chip shops, and Jim's Kollectables among many other second hand or antique shops.