WWI in the Wairarapa

The Wairarapa has a rich and fascinating WWI history. Why not come and discover it through one of our self-guided tours?

The region was home to three military training camps including the country's biggest, in Featherston. Set up in 1916, the camp was larger than the township itself, and trained some 60,000 soldiers, mounted riflemen and artillerymen. Some 2,500 Wairarapa men were recruited for the war, and hundreds are named on local memorials. 

Follow a personal WWI story, starting in Featherston

• Albert Summers: a bootmaker goes to war
• A nurse and two soldiers: the Wishaw family

Longer self-guided tours

• Take a two-day tour: WWI Wairarapa Wide

Discover more war stories at these one-stop destinations

• Visit Tiny Tinui - site of the world's first Anzac Day service
• Visit Greytown's pretty Soldiers Memorial Park with its 117 lime trees
• Featherston Camp

 All this information was supplied by Neil Frances at the Wairarapa Archives. If you'd like to know anything further please contact david@wairarapanz.com.