Marton is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is situated 35 kilometres southeast of Wanganui and 40 kilometres northwest of Palmerston North. It has a population of 4752 (2001 census).

The biggest town in the Rangitikei district, it was founded in 1866, at which time it was known by the name of Tutaenui. In 1869, the anniversary of Captain James Cook's charting of New Zealand, the town's name was changed to that of his home town in Yorkshire.

Marton has always been a service town for the fertile farming region of the Manawatu Plains. Butter, wool, and flour have been among its agricultural products. The arrival of the railway in 1878 led to rapid growth in the area, which soon added industries such as engineering, sawmilling, and textile production to its economy.

External link

Marton on the web (http://www.marton.co.nz/index.htm)