All Aboard for Community: Restoring the Masterton Miniature Railway

The Masterton Miniature Train Society has delighted families at Queen Elizabeth Park for more than 50 years, creating cherished memories for generations across the Wairarapa. While the miniature trains are going strong, some of the facilities and sections of the park island track needed a little bit of TLC.

When the time came for the team at Mitre 10 MEGA Masterton to choose their next Helping Hands project, they felt that this much‑loved, time-honoured family attraction represented a meaningful way to give back to the community and keep a local fixture thriving for the many guests that visit from around New Zealand and beyond.

Over five busy days, the Helping Hands crew (made up of Mitre 10 team members, suppliers and local residents) got stuck into the rejuvenation project to give the site the love and attention it deserved. There was no shortage of work to be done. The team rebuilt the trusses on the bridge for additional support, made repairs in the tunnel, painted many signposts, reinstated sections of the fencing, expanded the seating in the train station and made some critical upgrades in the workshop.

It was a real community effort, with truckloads (or perhaps we should say carriageloads) of volunteers joining in. An extra special shout-out to Laser Electrical for their assistance with the workshop, and the local McDonald’s for making sure everyone was fueled up for the job.

The response from the Masterton Miniature Train Society and the wider community has been absolutely awesome. We’re incredibly thrilled that we had the opportunity to contribute to an enduring local icon, one that will now continue to bring joy and excitement to locals and tourists for many years to come. A particular highlight for our team was the unveiling of a plaque on a new station seat in memory of Rex Slight, former owner of Mitre 10 Masterton. The work was completed in his honour, and the project stands as a lasting tribute to his commitment to the community.