Location


Carterton is a small town in the Wellington region of New Zealand and the seat of the Carterton District. It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa in New Zealand's North Island. It is located 14 km southwest of Masterton and 9 km north of Greytown.

The Matador Motel is situated at the Northern entrance to the town of Carterton, in the Wairarapa, on State Highway 2. Like the name the exterior design has a typically Spanish theme, and interestingly it is currently operated by an Irishman which no doubt makes for a grand combination of character and style.

The town's population at the 2006 census was 4,122, with a further 2,976 living in the surrounding rural district.

Founded in 1857, the town was originally known as Three Mile Bush, and served as housing for workers building the road between Wellington and Masterton. It was later renamed after Charles Rooking Carter.

The town describes itself as New Zealand's daffodil capital. Carterton was the birthplace of Sir Bob Charles, the first left-handed golfer to win a Major, the British Open in 1963. The Carterton District Library is the oldest purpose-built library that is still used as a library, in New Zealand.

 


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