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    Public Gardens

    Kowhai Park has been one of Feilding's key recreational areas for over 100 years. The land came into council ownership in 1906 when the Feilding Borough Council purchased nine-and-a-half acres from the Feilding A & P Association. In 1908 the Feilding Cricket Club set about laying a cricket field and in 1913 the reserve was officially renamed Kowhai Park. Over the years additional land was purchased and added to the original 3.85ha (9 1/2 acres) site. Today the park is 10.2ha in size.

    The Mason Family Rose Garden

    Just inside the main gate, on the right-hand side of the drive, is the Mason Family Rose Garden with 150 beautiful rose bushes, it adds a lot of colour to Kowhai Park. In 2019 the garden was given its current name in honour of the Mason Family who were well-known horticulturalists from Feilding and supplied roses across the world until they closed the family business in 1999. Also at the front of the rose garden is a large oak planted as a memorial to mark the end of WWI. A plaque at the base of the tree records the event.

    Camellia Walk and Nature Trail

    In September 1991, the Kowhai Park Camellia Walk was opened by the Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Catherine Tizard. An evergreen shrub, the Camellia boasts more than 2,500 named varieties. Each specimen in the walk has been donated. As well as the Camellia walk there are also a number of significant native trees. Some of these are:

    • Matai - This is a forest tree reaching up to 30 metres high with a tall straight trunk. The wood is very slow growing making it hard, strong and long-lasting. Matai trees can live for more than 1,000 years.
    • Totara - The Totara grows to around 30 metres high. Like the Matai, the Totara can live to over 1,000 years old and because it is also slow growing, the red coloured wood is very hard.
    • Kahikatea - Able to reach a height of 50 metres the Kahikatea is New Zealands tallest tree. Some have been recorded as over 60 metres tall.

    Location

    Kowhai Park is situated on South Street towards Feilding’s southern urban boundary - Google Map.