View source for Masterton

{{Short description|Town in the North Island of New Zealand}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Masterton
| native_name                     = <small>Whakaoriori ([[Māori language|Māori]])</small>
| settlement_type                 = [[Districts of New Zealand|Territorial authority district]]
| image_skyline                   = Masterton 02.JPG
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = 
| image_flag                      = 
| flag_size                       = 
| image_seal                      = 
| seal_size                       = 
| image_shield                    = File:Masterton CoA.png
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| image_blank_emblem              = 
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| motto                           = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_map          = Masterton in the North Island.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Masterton district within the [[North Island]]
| image_map1                      = 
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| coordinates                     = {{coord|format=dms|region:NZ_type:adm2nd|display=title,inline}}
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| pushpin_label_position          = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
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<!-- Location ------------------>
| pushpin_map_caption             = 
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = New Zealand
| subdivision_type1               = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Districts of New Zealand|District]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Wellington Region|Greater Wellington]]
| subdivision_name2               = Masterton District
<!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government -->
| established_title               = Town founded
| established_date                = 1854
| established_title1              = 
| established_date1               = 
<!-- Area    --------------------->
| seat_type                       = [[New Zealand Parliament|NZ Parliament]]
| seat                            = [[Ikaroa-Rāwhiti]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])<br/>[[Wairarapa (New Zealand electorate)|Wairarapa]]
| parts_type                      = 
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| p1                              = 
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor of Masterton|Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = [[Bex Johnson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.electionz.com/LGE2025Results/ELT48MS25_Result.pdf|title=2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result|publisher=Electionz|access-date=18 October 2025}}</ref>
| leader_title1                   = Deputy Mayor
| leader_name1                    = 
| leader_title2                   = MPs
| leader_name2                    = {{NZ officeholder data|Wairarapa MP|y}} ([[New Zealand National Party|National]])<br/>{{NZ officeholder data|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP|y}} ([[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]])
| leader_title3                   = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]]
| leader_name3                    = Masterton District Council
| total_type                      = Territorial
| unit_pref                       = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric-->
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="Area"/>
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 2300.21
| area_total_sq_mi                = 
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| area_land_sq_mi                 = 
| area_water_km2                  = 
| area_water_sq_mi                = 
| area_water_percent              = 
| area_urban_km2                  = 22.45
<!-- Elevation -------------------------->
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 69
| elevation_ft                    = 226
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| elevation_max_m                 = 
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_total                = {{NZ population data 2018|Masterton district|y}}
| population_as_of                = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="NZ_population_data_2018"/>
| population_density_km2          = auto
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| population_urban                = {{NZ population data 2018||y}}
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| population_blank2               = 
<!-- General information  --------------->
| population_note                 = 
| postal_code_type                = Postcode
| postal_code                     = 5810
| area_code                       = 06
| website                         = {{URL|www.mstn.govt.nz}}
| footnotes                       = 
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| timezone                        = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]]
| utc_offset                      = +12
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| utc_offset_DST                  = +13
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}}

'''Masterton''' ({{langx|mi| Whakaoriori}})<ref>
{{cite web | url= http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/english/resources_e/list_placenames.shtml | title= List of Place Names | publisher=Māori Language Commission/Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori | access-date= 30 June 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150609033527/http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/english/resources_e/list_placenames.shtml | archive-date= 9 June 2015 | url-status= dead }}
</ref> is a large town in the [[Wellington Region|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 [[Remutaka]] ranges. It stands on the [[Waipoua River (Wellington)|Waipoua stream]] between the [[Ruamāhanga River|Ruamāhunga]] and [[Waingawa River]]s – 100 kilometres north-east of Wellington and 40 kilometres south of [[Eketāhuna]].

Masterton has an urban population of {{NZ population data 2018||y}}, and a district population of {{NZ population data 2018|Masterton district|y|y|y|(|).}}

Masterton [[business]]es includes services for surrounding [[farmer]]s. Three new industrial parks are being developed{{when|date=October 2020}} in Waingawa, Solway and Upper Plain. The town functions as the headquarters of the annual [[Golden Shears]] [[sheep-shearing]] competition.

==Suburbs==
Masterton suburbs include:
* [[Lansdowne, Masterton|Lansdowne]], on the northern side
* [[Masterton East|Eastside]] and Homebush on the eastern side
* [[Upper Plain]], [[Fernridge, New Zealand|Fernridge]], [[Ngaumutawa]], Ākura and [[Masterton West]] on the western side
* [[Kuripuni]] and [[Solway, New Zealand|Solway]] on the southern side

==History and culture==

===Early history===

Masterton was founded in 1854 by the Small Farms Association. The association was led by [[Joseph Masters]] – after whom the town was named – and aimed to settle working people in villages and on the land. At first Masterton grew slowly, but as its farming hinterland became more productive it began to prosper.

In the 1870s, it overtook Greytown as Wairarapa's major town. It became a borough in 1877 and was reached by the railway line from Wellington in 1880. The railway became for a time the main line from Wellington to the north of New Zealand, and its arrival cemented the town's position as the Wairarapa region's main market and distribution centre.

Waipoua timber mill was producing [[Butter#Bulk packaging|butter boxes]] as early as 1884.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 Feb 1884|title=WAIRARAPA DAILY TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT18840219.2.5|access-date=2021-01-08|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>

In April 1965, one of the country's worst industrial accidents occurred at the General Plastics Factory on 170 Dixon Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://education.rangitane.iwi.nz/index.php/history/pathways/1960s-1980s |title=A Brief Timeline of the Wairarapa|access-date=31 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114031750/http://education.rangitane.iwi.nz/index.php/history/pathways/1960s-1980s |archive-date=14 January 2015  }}</ref>

During [[World War II]] two battalions of the [[United States Marine Corps]] were stationed in Masterton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Piers |date=2023-03-14 |title=American soldiers were a welcome sight in wartime Wellington |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/131367676/american-soldiers-were-a-welcome-sight-in-wartime-wellington |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Piers |date=15 November 2024 |title=Semper fidelis: US Marines contribution celebrated |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360486778/semper-fidelis-us-marines-contribution-celebrated |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=www.thepost.co.nz}}</ref>

<gallery>
Masterton Railway Station c.1887 - c.1915 (10469055393).jpg|The railway station opened 1880, demolished 1967
Queen Elizabeth II standing on platform of her railway carriage at Masterton. PHOTOGRAPHER J.F. Le Cren DATE 15 January 1954 (cropped).jpg|Railway station, 15 January 1954
Queen Street, Masterton (21320336331) (cropped).jpg|Queen Street in the early 1900s
1912 Post Office Masterton (3537174276).jpg|The Post Office opened 1900, demolished 1960
General_Plastics_(N.Z.)_Ltd._Explosion_and_Fire_(1965)_(26271497746) (cropped).jpg|4 killed in the General Plastics Explosion and Fire 1965
</gallery>

===Modern history===

In essence, providing support services for rural industry – living off the sheep's back – Masterton's real growth ended with that sector's retrenchment after the 1974 British entry to the trade and political grouping now the [[European Union]]. Efforts to decentralise industry to New Zealand's provinces gave Masterton a print works and some other industries, but the lost economic activity was not restored.

From the 1970s, people and businesses left for opportunities elsewhere. In the 1980s, with government deregulation and protective tariffs lifted, more businesses closed, and the town declined further.<ref name="DNZB Masterton">DNZB "Wairarapa places" – Masterton by Ben Schrader Retrieved 12 January 2014</ref>

It 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.

===Marae===
The Te Ore Ore marae was built in 1881 by [[Pāora Te Pōtangaroa]] and opened in 1881. The original building was destroyed in 1939 but was later rebuilt. The marae is located in [[Te Oreore]] near Masterton and is one of the main marae for Masterton. The marae is affiliated with [[Ngāti Hamua]], a sub-tribe of [[Rangitāne]].<ref>{{cite encyclopaedia|encyclopaedia=Te Ara|date=11 June 2015|first1=Ben|last1=Schrader|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/wairarapa-places/page-3|chapter=Wairarapa places|title=Masterton}}</ref>

==Demographics==
[[File:Natusch.jpg|thumb|House for his family by architect [[Charles Natusch]] builders C E Daniell]]
Masterton District covers {{convert|2300.21|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=18 October 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Masterton district|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Masterton district|y}}|R}}/2300.21|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>. The Masterton urban area covers {{convert|22.45|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area"/> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Masterton|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Masterton|y}}|R}}/22.45|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|1996|22,755|2001|22,614|2006|22,623|2013|23,352|2018|25,557|2023|27,678|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the Masterton District|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Masterton District (048)|masterton-district|Masterton District}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>}}
[[File:2023 NZ Census Population Density - Masterton District.png|thumb|Population density in the 2023 census]]
Masterton District had a population of 27,678 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 2,121 people (8.3%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 4,326 people (18.5%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 13,401 males, 14,175 females and 102 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 10,911 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.048.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 2.7% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 42.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 5,127 people (18.5%) aged under 15 years, 4,635 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 11,637 (42.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 6,276 (22.7%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.7% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 22.6% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 4.6% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 5.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori language by 4.7%, Samoan by 1.2% and other languages by 6.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 32.5% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.8% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.4% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 1.2% [[Religion of Māori people|Māori religious beliefs]], 0.4% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.5% [[New Age]], 0.1% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]],  and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 55.5%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,976 (13.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 12,756 (56.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 5,898 (26.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,794 people (8.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 10,590 (47.0%) people were employed full-time, 3,300 (14.6%) were part-time, and 543 (2.4%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.048.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Masterton District (048)}}</ref>

===Urban area===
Masterton's urban area covers {{Convert|22.45|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area"/> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Masterton|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Masterton|y}}|R}}/22.45|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2013|18,246|2018|19,917|2023|21,606|percentages=pagr|align=right|title=Historical population for the Masterton urban area|source=<ref name="Census 2023 UA"/>}}
The urban area had a population of 21,606 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 1,689 people (8.5%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 3,360 people (18.4%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 10,323 males, 11,205 females and 78 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 8,631 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1403.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 2.9% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 41.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 4,023 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 3,810 (17.6%) aged 15 to 29, 8,832 (40.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 4,941 (22.9%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023 UA"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.0% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 25.1% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 5.3% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 6.1% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori language by 5.3%, Samoan by 1.5% and other languages by 6.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 33.1% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 1.0% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.5% [[Islam in New Zealand|Islam]], 1.4% [[Religion of Māori people|Māori religious beliefs]], 0.4% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 0.5% [[New Age]], 0.1% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]],  and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 54.3%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,124 (12.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 9,903 (56.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 4,926 (28.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,143 people (6.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 8,061 (45.8%) people were employed full-time, 2,406 (13.7%) were part-time, and 459 (2.6%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023 UA">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1403.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Masterton (1403)}}</ref>

==Climate==
Masterton enjoys a mild [[temperate climate]] (Köppen: Cfb), grading towards a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean climate]] (Köppen: Csb). Due to the geography of the Wairarapa valley and the [[Tararua Range]] directly to the west, the town's temperature fluctuates more than the nearby inland city of [[Palmerston North]]. Masterton experiences warmer, dry summers with highs above 30&nbsp;°C possible and colder winters with frequent frost and lows below 0&nbsp;°C.

{{Weather box
|location = Masterton (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1906–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 35.6
| Feb record high C = 35.1
| Mar record high C = 34.4
| Apr record high C = 29.9
| May record high C = 27.3
| Jun record high C = 22.2
| Jul record high C = 21.9
| Aug record high C = 21.9
| Sep record high C = 26.0
| Oct record high C = 28.4
| Nov record high C = 31.3
| Dec record high C = 35.1
| year record high C = 35.6
|Jan high C = 	25.3
|Feb high C = 	25.1
|Mar high C = 	22.6
|Apr high C = 	19.3
|May high C = 	16.3
|Jun high C = 	12.9
|Jul high C = 	12.9
|Aug high C = 	14.1
|Sep high C = 	16.0
|Oct high C = 	18.3
|Nov high C = 	20.4
|Dec high C = 	22.7
| year high C = 	18.8
|Jan mean C = 	18.7
|Feb mean C = 	18.5
|Mar mean C = 	16.5
|Apr mean C = 	13.5
|May mean C = 	11.1
|Jun mean C = 	8.5
|Jul mean C = 	8.0
|Aug mean C = 	9.1
|Sep mean C = 	10.9
|Oct mean C = 	12.7
|Nov mean C = 	14.5
|Dec mean C = 	16.9
| year mean C = 	13.2
|Jan low C = 	12.1
|Feb low C = 	11.8
|Mar low C = 	10.3
|Apr low C = 	7.7
|May low C = 	5.8
|Jun low C = 	4.1
|Jul low C = 	3.1
|Aug low C = 	4.1
|Sep low C = 	5.8
|Oct low C = 	7.1
|Nov low C = 	8.6
|Dec low C = 	11.0
| year low C = 	7.6
|Jan record low C  = -1.1
|Feb record low C  = 0.5
|Mar record low C  = -2.2
|Apr record low C  = -3.3
|May record low C  = -4.6
|Jun record low C  = -6.9
|Jul record low C  = -7.0
|Aug record low C  = -6.9
|Sep record low C  = -4.6
|Oct record low C  = -3.9
|Nov record low C  = -2.2
|Dec record low C  = -0.6
|year record low C = -7.0
|rain colour = green	
|Jan rain mm = 	52.4
|Feb rain mm = 	48.5
|Mar rain mm = 	69.9
|Apr rain mm = 	71.5
|May rain mm = 	72.9
|Jun rain mm = 	91.0
|Jul rain mm = 	113.6
|Aug rain mm = 	81.7
|Sep rain mm = 	73.2
|Oct rain mm = 	82.0
|Nov rain mm = 	71.9
|Dec rain mm = 	60.6
|year rain mm = 	
| Jan rain days = 	5.2
| Feb rain days = 	4.7
| Mar rain days = 	6.2
| Apr rain days = 	8.5
| May rain days = 	10.3
| Jun rain days = 	9.9
| Jul rain days = 	10.6
| Aug rain days = 	11.8
| Sep rain days = 	10.7
| Oct rain days = 	9.2
| Nov rain days = 	8.5
| Dec rain days = 	6.9
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm	
|Jan sun = 	232.2
|Feb sun = 	197.0
|Mar sun = 	180.0
|Apr sun = 	159.7
|May sun = 	139.5
|Jun sun = 	106.1
|Jul sun = 	115.3
|Aug sun = 	156.0
|Sep sun = 	165.8
|Oct sun = 	204.3
|Nov sun = 	200.9
|Dec sun = 	220.1
|year sun = 	
|Jan humidity= 76.0
|Feb humidity= 82.9
|Mar humidity= 84.2
|Apr humidity= 87.0
|May humidity= 89.5
|Jun humidity= 91.3
|Jul humidity= 91.1
|Aug humidity= 89.6
|Sep humidity= 83.5
|Oct humidity= 79.0
|Nov humidity= 78.8
|Dec humidity= 76.9
|year humidity= 84.2
|source 1 = NIWA Climate Data (humidity 1981–2010)<ref name = NIWA>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240520001949/https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/climate-data-and-activities
| archive-date = 20 May 2024
| url = https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/climate-data-and-activities
| title = Climate data and activities
| publisher= NIWA
| access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 2473, 2610, 2612, 7578, 17466, 36735, 37662, 40984)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 15 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="niwa">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.niwascience.co.nz/edu/resources/climate/
 |title=Climate Data
 |access-date=9 January 2013
 |publisher=NIWA
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225183604/http://niwascience.co.nz/edu/resources/climate
 |archive-date=25 February 2009
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Government==
{{See also|Mayor of Masterton}}
[[File:Masterton 01.JPG|thumb|upright|Golden Shears sign]]

Between 1877 and 1989, Masterton Borough Council administered the area. An early mayor was the storekeeper [[Myer Caselberg]] (1886–1888).<ref name="DNZB Caselberg">{{DNZB| Christensen| Margaret|3c8| Myer Caselberg|access-date=12 December 2011}}</ref>

The Masterton District Council (MDC) is the Masterton District territorial authority. It is made up of an elected mayor, a deputy mayor/councillor, and seven additional councillors. They are elected under the [[First Past the Post]] system in triennial elections, with the last election being held on Saturday 15 October 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://times-age.co.nz/local-government/final-results-for-local-body-elections/ |title= Final results for local body elections |publisher=Wairarapa Times Age |access-date= 17 October 2022}}</ref>

The current council members are:<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mstn.govt.nz/council/mayor-and-councillors |title= Councillors |publisher=Masterton District Council |access-date= 4 April 2024}}</ref> Gary Caffell (M), general ward; Bex Johnson (DM), Tom Hullena, Tim Nelson, Craig Bowyer, at large; David Holmes, Stella Lennox, Brent Goodwin, Māori ward; Marama Tuuta.

Nationally, Masterton is part of the {{NZ electorate link|Wairarapa}} general electorate and the {{NZ electorate link|Ikaroa-Rāwhiti}} Māori electorate.<ref>{{cite web |title= Find my electorate |url= http://www.elections.org.nz/voters/find-my-electorate |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date= 21 December 2015}}</ref>

===Politics 2013 to 2016===
Applications for local government reorganisation from the Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Wairarapa district councils in mid-2013 led to a proposal from the Local Government Commission for a region-wide unitary authority. In June 2015, the Commission decided not to proceed with this proposal due to lack of public support. Instead, because about 40 per cent of submissions suggested alternatives to the status quo, the Commission decided to work with councils and the community to achieve some consensus on the challenges it faced, and to collaborate in identifying possible options to address the challenges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lgc.govt.nz/the-reorganisation-process/reorganisation-current-applications/view/wellington-region-reorganisation/?step=main |title=Current applications &#124; Local Government Commission |publisher=Lgc.govt.nz |date=8 July 2016 |access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref>

==Education==
{{see also|List of schools in the Wellington Region#Masterton District}}

Masterton's schools were reviewed in 2003 to take into account a changing demographic of the population, with several primary schools closing and merging. Today, there are five state primary schools in the township – four state contributing primaries: Douglas Park, Fernridge, Masterton Primary and Solway; and one state full primary: Lakeview. In addition, there are five state full primary schools in the surrounding district: Mauriceville, Opaki, Tinui, Wainuiouru and Whareama, and two state-integrated primaries: St Patrick's, a Catholic contributing primary, and [[Hadlow Preparatory School|Hadlow]], an Anglican full primary.

Masterton Intermediate School, with over 500 students, is the only intermediate school in Masterton (and the Wairarapa), bridging the gap between the state contributing primary schools and the secondary schools.

Two state secondary schools serve Masterton: [[Wairarapa College]] is the largest of the two with 1050 students, serving the western side of the town, while [[Makoura College]] with 320 students serves the eastern side of town. Four state-integrated schools also serve the town: [[Chanel College, Masterton|Chanel College]] is a coeducational Catholic school with its own intermediate department; [[Rathkeale College]] and [[St Matthew's Collegiate School|St Matthew's Collegiate]] are Anglican boys and girls schools respectively, with St Matthew's having an intermediate department; and [[Solway College]] is a Presbyterian girls school with intermediate. There is also a composite (primary/secondary combined) Māori immersion school in the town: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa.

Masterton has its own polytechnic, run by UCOL (Universal College of Learning).

The Masterton District Library and Archive, situated on Queen Street, are part of the Lower North Island SMART Libraries group, which involves sharing books and information between 22 libraries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.mstn.govt.nz/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000830082627/http://www.library.mstn.govt.nz/ |archive-date=30 August 2000 |title=Masterton District Library and Wairarapa Archive}}</ref>

==Media==
===Newspapers===
[[File:Wairarapa Times Age Building.jpg|thumb|[[Wairarapa Times-Age|Times-Age]] offices and printing works]]

There are several newspapers circulated in Masterton, including two daily publications (''[[Wairarapa Times-Age]]'', ''[[The Post (New Zealand newspaper)|The Post]]'') and a free community title, ''Wairarapa Midweek''.
The ''Wairarapa Times-Age'' is the only daily newspaper based in Masterton. Formed by a merger between the ''Wairarapa Age'' and the ''Wairarapa Daily Times'' on 1 April 1938, The ''Wairarapa Times-Age'' has an audited paid circulation of 5,427.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newspaper.abc.org.nz//audit.html?mode=embargo&npa_admin=1&org=npa&publicationtype=19&publicationid=204&memberid=182&type=22 |title=Newspaper Audit Process |publisher=Newspaper.abc.org.nz |access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> The Wairarapa Times-Age is owned by Stuff Group which bought the ''Wairarapa Times-Age'' from National Media Limited in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=byline |first=No |date=2024-05-15 |title=Stuff Group purchases Times-Age |url=https://times-age.co.nz/times-age/stuff-group-purchases-times-age/ |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=[[Wairarapa Times-Age]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> 

The ''Wairarapa Midweek'', a weekly [[community paper]] with an audited circulation of 21,186,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newspaper.abc.org.nz//audit.html?mode=embargo&npa_admin=1&org=npa&publicationtype=20&publicationid=336&memberid=182&type=5 |title=Newspaper Audit Process |publisher=Newspaper.abc.org.nz |access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> is distributed every Wednesday along with the TA Property. The ''Wairarapa Times-Age'' building at 70 Chapel Street no longer holds the presses, and the space was used by the nascent Masterton [[Fab lab]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Norman|first1=Emily|title=Fab Lab plans to leapfrog to latest tech|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11482446 |publisher=NZME |date=17 July 2015 |access-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> which has now relocated to UCOL.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fab Lab finds new home at UCOL |url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/5/285989|publisher=Fuseworks Media |date=17 July 2015 |access-date=24 June 2017}}</ref>

Fairfax NZ owned The Post is widely circulated in the Masterton district. The Wellington-based metropolitan daily newspaper has an office, Media House, at 123 Chapel Street in Masterton. The Dominion-Post has an audited paid circulation of 55,496.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newspaper.abc.org.nz//audit.html?mode=embargo&npa_admin=1&org=npa&publicationtype=19&publicationid=817&memberid=378&type=21 |title=Newspaper Audit Process |publisher=Newspaper.abc.org.nz |access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref>

===Radio===
Masterton is serviced by one local radio station. Wairarapa's MORE FM 89.5 or 105.9 for the coastal frequency. MORE FM broadcasts locally from 6am to 10am daily from studios in [[Kuripuni]]. The station was founded by controversial Broadcaster Paul Henry, as TODAY FM 89.3 in Carterton, in 1991. Later the station was rebranded as Hitz 89FM, Wairarapa's Best Music.

===Television===
Television coverage reached Masterton in 1963, after the Otahoua transmitter east of the town was commissioned to relay Wellington's WNTV1 channel (now part of [[TVNZ 1]]). The town was early receiving television, since the Otahoua transmitter was required to repeat the signal from the Mount Victoria (and later [[Mount Kaukau]]) transmitter in Wellington to the [[Wharite Peak]] transmitter near Palmerston North (also commissioned in 1963).<ref>{{cite news|date=28 June 1967|title=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|volume=351|page=1394}}</ref> Digital terrestrial television (Freeview HD) was introduced to the Masterton area in July 2011, in preparedness for the area's digital switchover in September 2013. The service broadcasts from the Popoiti transmitter, south of the township.<ref>{{cite news |title=Town may get HD television |first=Nathan |last=Crombie |url=http://www.times-age.co.nz/local/news/town-may-get-hd-television/3922874/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720131025/http://www.times-age.co.nz/local/news/town-may-get-hd-television/3922874/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 July 2011 |work=[[Wairarapa Times-Age]] |publisher=APN News & Media |location=Masterton |date=16 September 2010  }}</ref>

==Utilities==
===Water and drainage===

==== Water supply ====
Masterton's water is piped from the [[Waingawa River|Waingawa]] through a Masterton District Council treatment plant on the river, about 10 kilometres west of the town. The water is clarified and filtered, then chlorinated and fluoridated. Lime is added to neutralise the pH to protect the pipes. There is a fluoride-free drinking water tap in Manuka Reserve in Manuka Street.<ref>[https://mstn.govt.nz/drinking-water/ ''Masterton District Council''] accessed 30 November 2018</ref>

Typhoid epidemics broke out each year in Masterton<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 September 1896 |title=The Masterton Water Supply Bill |page=2 |work=Wairarapa Daily Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT18960922.2.23 |via=[[Papers Past]]}}</ref> and in 1896 Parliament approved a Borough Council loan to build a drainage and water supply system. Work on the water supply did not begin until 1899 delayed by disagreements over the appropriate sources for water.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 October 1899 |title=Wairarapa News |pages=6 |work=Evening Post |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18991020.2.53 |via=[[Papers Past]]}}</ref> It was finished at the end of 1900 when at the formal opening ceremony there was enough pressure to send a jet right over the Post Office tower to the accompaniment of the Masterton Municipal Brass Band. The mayor, Mr Pownall, said he was now ready to pour cold water on the scheme's opponents.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 December 1900 |title=Water at last |pages=2 |work=Wairarapa Daily Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT19001221.2.9 |via=[[Papers Past]]}}</ref> A covered reservoir and treatment plant at Fernridge was supplied by an intake from springs beside the Waingawa four miles further up river. The main was duplicated in 1915. It was replaced by the current system, completed in 1983.

==== Wastewater ====
A sewage system was completed in 1901. It drained through settlement ponds and filter beds to the [[Ruamahanga River]] south of the town.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 1901 |title=Masterton's sewerage works |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT19010622.2.9|work=Wairarapa Daily Times|via=[[Papers Past]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=13 August 1903 |title=Masterton's sewerage system |page=2 |work=Wairarapa Daily Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT19030813.2.15 |via=[[Papers Past]]}}</ref> The sewage farm's system included a newfangled "[[septic tank]]" which was subject to failures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT19040804.2.19|title=The sewage farm|work=Wairarapa Daily Times|date= 4 August 1904|page=5|via=[[Papers Past]]}}</ref>

In 2012, after a period of heavy rain, eels were found in a Masterton street.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Flooding brings eels to the streets of Masterton |language=en |work=[[Newshub]] |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2012/03/flooding-brings-eels-to-the-streets-of-masterton.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526053626/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2012/03/flooding-brings-eels-to-the-streets-of-masterton.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2022 |access-date=2023-06-25}}</ref> In 2013, when the existing treatment pond at the [[Homebush, Masterton|Homebush]] wastewater treatment plant was being replaced with a new pond, the council had to relocate an estimated 85,000 eels that were living in the old pond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boyer |first=Seamus |date=13 February 2013 |title=$50,000 may go on shifting pond eels |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wairarapa/8296048/50-000-may-go-on-shifting-pond-eels |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonallack |first=Andrew |date=17 September 2013 |title=Slippery problem neatly solved |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/slippery-problem-neatly-solved/YOBZVR4NU5VUS25KINCBPBHFQY/ |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Around half of the eels (about 20 tonnes), were rescued by the [[iwi]] [[Ngāti Kahungunu|Ngati Kahungunu]] for relocation into other Wairarapa lakes and streams.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=13 October 2013 |title=Eels rescued from sewage pond |url=https://waateanews.com/2013/10/13/eels-rescued-from-sewage-pond/ |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=Waatea News |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

In March 2022, following periods of heavy rain, high levels of groundwater infiltration into the sewage network led to the emergency discharge of treated sewage into the Ruamahanga River from the Homebush wastewater treatment plant for a period of one week.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Emily |date=3 March 2022 |title=Masterton making emergency discharge of treated wastewater into river |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-democracy-reporting/127941690/masterton-making-emergency-discharge-of-treated-wastewater-into-river |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> In April 2023, the council was strongly criticised for continuing incidents of overflow of raw sewage into properties in Cockburn Street during periods of heavy rain, a recurring problem that dates from 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Emily |date=6 April 2023 |title='A mental mindf***' - Masterton residents speak out on sewage, illness |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/04/06/a-mental-mindf-masterton-residents-speak-out-on-sewage-illness/ |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=1 News |language=en}}</ref>

===Energy===
The Wairarapa Electric Power Board was [[Carterton, New Zealand#Significant old buildings|established in Carterton]] in 1920<ref group=note>With nine members, two from Masterton Borough and one each from Carterton Borough, Greytown Borough, Featherston Borough, Martinborough Town District and portion of Masterton County, a portion of Wairarapa South County, and a portion of Featherston County. ''Wairarapa Age'', 10 April 1920, page 4</ref> to supply the Wairarapa with electricity from the [[List of dams and reservoirs in New Zealand#Other schemes|Kourarau]] hydropower station at Gladstone, southeast of both towns. Masterton was connected to [[Mangahao Power Station|Mangahao]] on 17 May 1925 when the transmission line from [[Bunnythorpe]] to Masterton (via Woodville and Mangamaire) and the Masterton substation were commissioned.<ref>[http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/itemdetail.cfm?itemid=141 Engineering Heritage New Zealand] accessed</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1925 Session I — D-01 Public Works statement by the hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works.|url=https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1925-I.2.2.3.1|website=atojs.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref> The Wairarapa Electric Power Board moved to headquarters in Masterton in the 1950s. The power board, then named Wairarapa Electricity, dissolved following the 1998 electricity sector reforms. The retail business was sold to [[Genesis Energy Limited|Genesis Energy]] and the distribution lines business sold to [[Powerco]]. Today Powerco continues to operate the local distribution network in the town and surrounding district with electricity fed from [[Transpower New Zealand|Transpower]]'s national grid at its Masterton substation in Waingawa.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.powerco.co.nz/about-us/our-business/our-networks/ |title= Our Networks |publisher=Powerco |access-date= 15 October 2018}}</ref>

Masterton Gas Company was established by the Borough Council in 1886<ref>''Wairarapa Daily Times''  28 December 1886, Page 2</ref> by the corner of Bannister and Kirton Streets. About 20 years later it was moved to the end of Bentley Street, just south of the railway station. The large quantities of coal were brought in by rail. By 1945 it had become clear consumers preferred electricity<ref>[https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19450412.2.110 ''Evening Post''] 12 April 1945, Page 9</ref> and the gasworks closed in the 1950s.

There is no [[Oil and gas industry in New Zealand|natural gas]] network in Masterton, making it the largest North Island urban area without one. There has been no more than a proposal to connect Masterton to the North Island natural gas network via a branch off the Palmerston North to Hastings high-pressure pipeline, commissioned in 1983.

===Telephone===
The Masterton [[Telephone magneto#Telephony|magneto telephone exchange]] opened on 31 January 1897, with 53 subscribers. On 31 May 1919, Masterton became the first town in New Zealand to have a fully automatic (Western Electric 7A [[Rotary system|Rotary]]) telephone exchange.

Masterton and nearby [[Carterton, New Zealand|Carterton]] were the first towns in New Zealand to introduce the [[1-1-1|emergency number 111]], in September 1958.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Fiftieth anniversary of 111 emergency service |publisher=Beehive |date=8 May 2008 |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/fiftieth+anniversary+111+emergency+service |access-date=25 June 2009 }}</ref>

Before the 1991 to 1993 changes, the area code for Masterton was 059. Today the area code is 06, and numbers generally begin with 370, 372 (rural areas), 377, 378 and 946. Numbers beginning 946 are businesses.

===Internet===
On 3 December 2015 the [[Ultra-Fast Broadband|UFB]] rollout to the town was completed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11555818|title=Masterton ultra-fast network complete|date=13 December 2015|publisher=[[NZME]]|access-date=4 December 2015}}</ref>

==Transport==

Masterton is very well served by public transport, with rail and bus links. Despite Masterton and the Wairarapa valley being reasonably close to [[Wellington]], they are separated by the [[Rimutaka Range]]s with [[State Highway 2 (New Zealand)|State Highway 2]] cutting a winding hill road through the range, and the [[Rimutaka Tunnel|Rimutaka railway tunnel]]. The [[Wairarapa Line]] [[railway]] allows access to [[Wellington]], [[Lower Hutt]] and [[Upper Hutt]].

Unlike other parts of the country, the Wairarapa has seen passenger rail services remain, largely due to its proximity to Wellington and the Rimutaka Tunnel's advantage over the Rimutaka Hill road. There has been talk of constructing a road tunnel through the ranges for decades, but this has been ruled out due to the extremely high cost.<ref>{{cite news |first=Don |last=Farmer |title=Rimutaka road tunnels back on the agenda |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=10970165 |work=[[Wairarapa Times-Age]] |publisher=APN News & Media |location=Masterton |date=23 May 2008 |access-date= 4 February 2012 |quote=In their report to Transit the consultants contend tunnels would be an excellent service linking Featherston with Upper Hutt but costs would rule them out as a viable, economic option. }}</ref> According to the latest transportation plan from the Greater Wellington Regional Council,<ref>{{cite web | title=Greater Wellington Regional Council Wairarapa Corridor Plan, December 2003 | url=http://www.gw.govt.nz/council-publications/pdfs/Regional%20Transport_20031218_150035.pdf | access-date=5 September 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306220018/http://www.gw.govt.nz/council-publications/pdfs/Regional%20Transport_20031218_150035.pdf | archive-date=6 March 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref> the only work planned is for upgrades to the Rimutaka Hill road and the addition of passing lanes between [[Featherston, New Zealand|Featherston]] and Masterton.

===Rail===
Masterton is linked to Wellington and the Hutt Valley by the [[Wairarapa Connection (train)|Wairarapa Connection]], a [[Tranz Metro]] passenger service run for Greater Wellington Region's [[Public transport in Wellington|Metlink]], primarily operating at peak times serving commuters from Masterton and the Wairarapa with five return services on Monday to Thursday, six on Friday and two at weekends and public holidays. There are three railway stations in the town; [[Masterton railway station|Masterton]], [[Renall Street railway station|Renall Street]] and [[Solway railway station|Solway]]. Four stations north of Masterton used to operate at [[Opaki railway station|Opaki]], [[Kopuaranga railway station|Kopuranga]], [[Mauriceville railway station|Mauriceville]] and [[Mangamahoe railway station|Mangamahoe]]. Services to these stations ceased between 1969 and 1988. To cope with an increase in logging in the Wairarapa, an additional 2.5 hectare rail freight hub has been operational in Norfolk Road, Waingawa since March 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dieseltalk.co.nz/news/masterton-rail-freight-hub-opens-2016|title=New Masterton rail freight hub opens in 2016|date=3 December 2015|publisher=DieselTalk|access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>

===Bus===
[[File:Yak 52 Wairarapa.jpg|thumb|upright|Four Yak-52s [[Wings over Wairarapa]] airshow 2007]]

There is a local [[Public transport in Wellington|Metlink]] bus service in Masterton operated by Tranzit. The buses operate on five routes: three suburban and two regional, including:{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Public transport in Wellington|Metlink Bus Services]]
! Termini
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| <span style="color:#dc5088;">'''Route 200'''</span><br/>Masterton/Featherston
|| Wairarapa Hospital<br/>Featherston Station
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| <span style="color:#03777d;">'''Route 201'''</span><br/>Masterton West
|| Masterton – Church Street<br/>Worksop Road (Woolworths)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| <span style="color:#f2b323;">'''Route 202'''</span><br/>Masterton South & East
|| Masterton – Church Street<br/>Masterton – Church Street
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| <span style="color:#7a7db3;">'''Route 203'''</span><br/>Masterton – Lansdowne Circuit
|| Masterton – Church Street<br/>Worksop Road (Woolworths)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| <span style="color:#76c6e7;">'''Route 205'''</span><br/>Featherston/Martinborough
|| Featherston Station<br/>Martinborough
|}

There is also the MPN: Masterton to Palmerston North (via Woodville) service, not operated under the Metlink brand.

===Air===
[[Hood Aerodrome]] is 2 miles southwest of the town of Masterton. As of 2015, there are no commercial flights from Hood Aerodrome. From early 2009 until late 2013, Air New Zealand provided flights to Auckland, operated by subsidiary [[Eagle Airways]] six days a week, mainly to serve business customers in the Wairarapa.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4709769a34.html|title=Air NZ announces Masterton-Auckland route|date=29 September 2008|publisher=[[Fairfax New Zealand]]|access-date=21 September 2009}}</ref> There have been a few other unsuccessful attempts at commercial air travel in Masterton, mostly failing due to its proximity to major airports in [[Wellington New Zealand|Wellington]] and [[Palmerston North]]. The most significant was by [[South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand]] (SPANZ), which operated daily flights using [[Douglas DC-3|DC3]]s during the sixties to destinations nationwide until the airline's closure in 1966.

== Queen Elizabeth Park ==
{{Main|Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton}}

[[File:Queen Elizabeth Park Masterton (23166740666).jpg|thumb|A quiet corner of the park]]

Queen Elizabeth Park covers more than {{convert|20|ha|acre|abbr=off}} near the heart of Masterton on land set aside for the purpose in 1854. Its most notable aspects are the Giant Sequoia (''[[Sequoiadendron giganteum]]'') trees planted in 1875, its other mature trees, and sheltered oval cricket ground. Queen Elizabeth came to Masterton Park in 1954 to be noisily welcomed by the mayor and the citizens and every schoolchild of the Wairarapa. After that, she rested at the Empire hotel, waved to the crowd from the balcony and graciously gave her own name for the park.

=== Miniature railway ===
[[File:Queen_Elizabeth_Park_Railway,_Masterton_-_panoramio.jpg|thumb|Queen Elizabeth Park Railway]]
The park contains a [[Ridable miniature railway|miniature railway]], built by the [[Jaycees]] and opened in 1972<ref>{{cite web|date=2017-09-18|title=Full steam ahead for miniature train|url=https://trusthouse.co.nz/2017/09/19/full-steam-ahead-miniature-train/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Trust House|language=en-GB}}</ref> by [[Norman Kirk]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Masterton Miniature Train Society – August 1972 – Opening Day – Former rail worker and future Prime Minister Norman Kirk brings DG755 into the station|url=https://www.facebook.com/627416967335724/photos/a.2004731976270876/2004733629604044/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref> It has a single station, Waipoua, and is upkept by a group of volunteers. A ride on the train costs $1, a fare that has been unchanged since 1984.<ref>{{cite web|date=2022-01-20|title=Miniature steam train hits the tracks in Masterton's QEII park|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/127482962/miniature-steam-train-hits-the-tracks-in-mastertons-qeii-park|access-date=2022-02-04|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> The line has a steam locomotive, restored in 2021,<ref>{{cite web|title=Masterton Miniature Train Society|url=https://www.facebook.com/627416967335724/photos/a.2263672537043484/4761003980643648/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref> which formerly operated at [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]] and at [[Caroline Bay]], Timaru,<ref>{{cite web|title=Masterton Miniature Train Society – 1958 – Timaru. During its years in Timaru "Atlantic" usually ran on a fairground railway at Caroline Bay, but has been photographed running in other locations. This photo is believed to be at the A&P Showgrounds near Smithfield.|url=https://www.facebook.com/627416967335724/photos/a.2263672537043484/3801164443294278/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref> where a steam locomotive was operating in 1942.<ref>{{cite web|date=28 Dec 1942|title=BAY CARNIVAL. TIMARU HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19421228.2.25|access-date=2022-02-05|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> The locomotive's origin is unknown,<ref>{{cite web|title=Masterton Miniature Train Society – Thanks to Tony & Carl Garstang|url=https://www.facebook.com/627416967335724/photos/a.2263672537043484/3187386468005415/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}</ref> though it is similar to many [[4-4-2 (locomotive)|Atlantic]] steam engines built by [[Bassett-Lowke#Model Trains|Bassett-Lowke]] from 1911.<ref>{{cite web|title=Category:Bassett-Lowke Garden Railways – The Brighton Toy and Model Index|url=https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Bassett-Lowke_Garden_Railways|access-date=2022-02-05|website=www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Museum ==
Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History opened in Masterton in 1969. A sculpture by [[Barbara Hepworth]] was the first item in the museum's collection. It now contains almost 4,000 items.<ref name="Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History">{{cite web |title=Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History |url=http://www.aratoi.org.nz |publisher=Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History}}</ref>

==Sports==
In rugby union, [[Heartland Championship]] team [[Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union|Wairarapa Bush]] is based in Masterton, playing their home games at [[Memorial Park, Masterton|Memorial Park]].

In association football, [[Central Premier League]] side [[Wairarapa United]] play some of their home games at Masterton; also playing in [[Carterton, New Zealand|Carterton]].

In [[cricket]], the [[Hawke Cup]] team [[Wairarapa cricket team|Wairarapa]] have their headquarters in Masterton. Their home ground is [[Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton|Queen Elizabeth Park]].

Masterton has an all-weather athletics track at the [[Colin Pugh Sports Bowl]] in [[Lansdowne, Masterton|Lansdowne]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2013 |title=Willis christens new track |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/wairarapa-news/8182723/Willis-christens-new-track |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en |archive-date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617005133/https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/wairarapa-news/8182723/Willis-christens-new-track |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[motorcycle speedway]] track known as Penlee Speedway existed on the Norfolk Road during the 1970s and 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historicspeedway.co.nz/Penlee%20speedway.htm |title=Penlee Speedway in the lower North Island of New Zealand |website=Historic Speedway New Zealand |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref> It opened in November 1971 and was a significant venue for important speedway events, including the final of the [[New Zealand Solo Championship]] in 1978 and 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmnz.php |title=Historyczne Zestawienie Wynikow 1929-2023 |website=Speedway History |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{Main category|People from Masterton}}
{{Div col}}
* [[Sylvia Ashton-Warner]], writer
* [[Mary Gertrude Banahan]], Catholic sister
* [[Barry Barclay]], writer and filmmaker
* [[Harold Barrowclough]], Chief Justice of New Zealand
* [[Rocco Berry]], rugby league player
* [[Amanda Billing]], actor
* [[Roger Blackley]], art historian
* [[Constance Bolton]], artist
* [[Michael Bracewell (cricketer)|Michael Bracewell]], international cricketer
* [[Matahi Brightwell]], master carver and founder of [[waka ama]] sport in New Zealand
* [[Russell Calvert]], politician
* [[Ted Chamberlain]], plant pathologist
* [[Jemaine Clement]], actor, comedian and musician
* [[Wyatt Creech]], politician
* [[Helen Cowie (doctor)|Helen Cowie]], Doctor
* [[Ian Cross (writer)|Ian Cross]], novelist
* [[Barry Dallas]], medical practitioner and politician
* [[George Davis-Goff]], naval officer
* [[Haddon Donald]], soldier, businessman and politician 
* [[Pat Evison]], actor
* [[John Falloon]], politician
* [[Bill Francis (broadcaster)|Bill Francis]], broadcaster
* [[George Groombridge]], politician
* [[Christopher Hodson (judge)|Christopher Hodson]], judge
* [[Alexander Hogg]], newspaper editor and politician
* [[Thomas W. Horton (RAF officer)|Thomas W. Horton]], RAF officer
* [[Raybon Kan]], writer and stand-up comedian
* [[Ladyhawke (musician)|Ladyhawke]], singer-songwriter
* [[Jack Lewin]], prominent public servant
* Sir [[Brian Lochore]], All Black
* [[Alan MacDiarmid]], Nobel Prize winning chemist
* [[Ron Mark]], soldier and politician
* [[Harold Miller (librarian)|Harold Miller]], librarian
* [[David Nicholson (Australian politician)|David Nicholson]], Australian politician
* [[Susan Parkinson (nutritionist)|Susan Parkinson]], nutritionist
* [[Edwin Perry]], politician
* [[George Petersen (historian)|George Petersen]], historian
* [[Arthur Prior]], logician and philosopher
* [[Ian Prior (doctor)|Ian Prior]], doctor and epidemiologist
* [[Frances Rutherford]], artist
* [[Jesse Ryder]], cricketer
* [[Brad Shields]], rugby player
* [[Aaron Slight]], World Superbike motorcycle racer
* [[Campbell Smith (playwright)|Campbell Smith]], playwright
* [[Harold Smith (New Zealand politician)|Harold Smith]], politician
* [[J. Valentine Smith]], landowner
* [[Olive Rose Sutherland]], teacher
* [[Ivan Sutherland (ethnologist)|Ivan Sutherland]], ethnologist
* [[Selina Sutherland]], nurse, founder of Masterton Hospital
* [[Bill Tolhurst]], politician
* [[Elwyn Welch]], farmer, ornithologist, conservationist and missionary
{{Div col end}}

==Sister cities==
Masterton has sister-city relationships with:
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima]], Japan
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Changchun]], China
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Armidale]], [[New South Wales]], Australia

==See also==
* [[Masterton railway station]]
* [[Renall Street railway station]]
* [[Solway railway station]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Masterton}}
* [http://mstn.govt.nz/ Masterton District Council]
* [http://www.wairarapanz.com/masterton Masterton Tourist Information]

{{Adjacent communities
 | title = Adjacent cities and districts
 | Centre = Masterton
 | N  = [[Tararua District|Tararua]]
 | E  = ''[[Pacific Ocean]]''
 | S  = [[Carterton District|Carterton]]
 | W  = [[Carterton District|Carterton]]
 | NW = [[Horowhenua District|Horowhenua]]
}}
{{Masterton District, New Zealand}}
{{Cities and districts of New Zealand}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Masterton| ]]
[[Category:Masterton District]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Wellington Region]]