Featherston Heritage Museum | Te Whare Taonga ki Tuku Iho o Pae tū mokai

Volunteer | Kaitūao

Be Part of the Story. Our museum is built on people power. Would you like to be part of preserving and sharing our heritage?

We welcome new volunteers to join our passionate team. Whether you have a few hours a month or can help regularly, your contribution matters.

We’d love to hear from you. No prior experience needed—just a love of history and willingness to help

Donate | Koha

Protect Our Taonga and Keep Our Museum Accessible for Everyone.

Our museum is more than just a building — it’s a place where stories are kept alive, where taonga are cared for, and where our community can connect with the past. By donating or volunteering, you’re helping ensure that our heritage remains open, welcoming, and accessible to all.

Whether you give your time or offer a financial contribution, your support makes it possible for us to share Featherston’s unique history with future generations.

Together, we can honour the past and inspire the future.

Heritage Rescue

Discover how the Featherston Heritage Museum was revitalised through the Heritage Rescue television programme. This video showcases the importance of preserving our past and the dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly to protect our region’s history.

visit nzonscreen

See Featherston | Toro mai ki Paetūmōkai

Japanese Memorial Garden

A few minutes north, the Sakura Garden/Japanese Memorial Garden lies on the former camp grounds next to State Highway 2. This peaceful roadside garden features cherry blossom trees and symbolic elements of reconciliation between New Zealand and Japan. It marks a place of remembrance and healing, visited by dignitaries and maintained by volunteers.

Camp Sculpture

The Featherston Camp Sculpture stands as a striking reminder of the town’s military and cultural history. Located beside State Highway 2 at the southern entrance to Featherston, the sculpture was designed by New Zealand artist Paul Dibble and unveiled in 2018. It commemorates the World War I training camp that once stood on the site, and the tragic events of 1943.

Chor-Farmer

A Harmony of History and Remembrance | He Rangiata o te Hītori me te Maumahara

A Choir from Japan, a History in New Zealand

The Chor Farmer Choir, based at the prestigious University of Tokyo, is one of Japan’s leading male voice choirs. Renowned for their precision, emotional depth, and cultural diplomacy through music, they have forged a powerful connection with Featherston, a small town in the Wairarapa with deep ties to Japan through the events of World War II.

A Musical Bridge Across History
The 1943 incident, in which 48 prisoners and a guard died, left deep scars, but also laid the foundation for future reconciliation. In the decades since, Featherston has become a symbol of remembrance, peace, and mutual understanding between New Zealand and Japan. The visits of the Chor Farmer Choir reflect and deepen this journey.

Visits to Featherston: A Deep Connection
The choir has travelled to Featherston several times to perform and pay their respects, often choosing venues like the historic Anzac Hall and the Featherston Memorial Garden. These performances are not only musically moving but culturally and emotionally profound.

Vicki’s Martinborough Choir

Each visit reinforces the bond between our two nations and underscores the role of music as a unifying language. The continued friendship between the Chor Farmer Choir and the people of Featherston is a powerful reminder that from the depths of conflict, understanding and connection can grow. The choir’s visits are a cherished part of the town’s modern story and a celebration of healing through art.