New Zealand's Most Beautiful Town - Feilding
Discussions range from litter counts to hypertufa demonstrations at the monthly meetings of Keep Feilding Beautiful. The efforts of the small group of volunteers led by Chairperson, Del Gibb, have achieved New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Town award 14 times.
As a winner of this prestigious award, the township of Feilding certainly lives up to its title of being beautiful. The tidy streets, paved footpaths, planters full with blooming seasonal flowers, colorful murals, and the charming range of late Edwardian and Victorian buildings, all give credit to the town’s award winning status.
Judged on community and civic pride, beautification and eradication of litter, the committee must keep a careful record of their activities over the year, submit a financial statement and answer a series of questions in the formal application to Keep New Zealand Beautiful. Litter eradication has been the main strength for Feilding over other towns, with litter counts done twice yearly at 29 sites, including schools, supermarkets, residential and industrial sites. One school area has had a litter free count for three years.
Prize money for Feilding’s wins has been put to good use, including a camellia walk for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Situated a scenic 19km drive from Palmerston North city, Feilding is a welcoming and vibrant place to visit with no traffic lights, no parking meters, boutique shopping and quality cafes.
Origins of Keep Feilding Beautiful
In 1978 when the then Health Inspector of Manawatu District Council, John Howe sent an invitation to all service groups in the town to a meeting of the Litter Council of New Zealand, of which Feilding was a member, Del Gibb attended as a representative of Girl Guides. She was elected Chair of the committee, which shortly became Keep New Zealand Beautiful.
New Projects
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Always looking to the future, Keep Feilding Beautiful has a number of new projects in mind to add to their year’s activities. To find out more about Keep Feilding Beautiful and to see images of Feilding, order or pick up your copy of, Feilding Our Town - a souvenir publication about Keep Feilding Beautiful published by The Feilding Herald. Copies are available for NZ$1 each. Telephone: +64 6 323 5839 or email editor@feilding-herald.co.nz All proceeds go towards the activities of Keep Feilding Beautiful. |
Highlights for Tourists
Feilding Saleyards Tour
Fridays from 11am. Bookings essential at Feilding & District Information Centre. NZ$5 per person.
The only one of its kind in New Zealand and just 100 metres away from the centre of town, the saleyards tour at Feilding Livestock Centre is the ultimate, authentic New Zealand experience. One of the largest working saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere, with local farmers as guides, the tour is a fascinating insight into the history of selling livestock – one of New Zealand’s oldest traditions dating back to the 1880s.
Feilding Farmers’ Market
Fridays 9am-2pm. Manchester Square, Feilding.
Each Friday from 9am-2pm, artisan food producers sell their locally grown produce to locals and tourists alike. Based on national guidelines, it’s an authentic market selling a range of fresh fruit and vegetables, pate, specialty bread, wine, hummus, pesto and much more. It’s a favourite with tourists who like to gather up ingredients for a gourmet picnic to have in one of the many nearby parks, public gardens and reserves.
Contact Details for Further Information:
Del Gibb, QSM
Chairperson
Keep Feilding Beautiful
Telephone: +64 6 323 7570
For information about the Saleyards tour and/or the farmers’ market:
Feilding & District Information Centre
10 Manchester Square
FEILDING
Telephone: +64 6 323 3318
Email: feilding.promotion@xtra.co.nz
