Messines Bookshop: Military History

06/06/2026

On this day, 7 June, in 1917, the Battle of Messines commenced.

Although it came with great loss, it was one of the most successful battles of WW1 .

Many NZ troops fought and lost their lives, but it was the start of a great bond between Messines and New Zealand. A bond that has grown over the years, and one that is typified by Featherston's own unique bond with Messines.

At 10.00 am today Featherston Memorial RSA / The Last Post Restaurant & Bar will be holding a service to commemorate the battle, and the unique bond we have.

Please do come and join us at the RSA, non-members are most welcome, and a light morning tea will be served afterwards.

Lest We Forget.

30/05/2026

We just squeaked this May newsletter in 😅

Hi all, hope you're well and enjoying the long King’s Birthday weekend. A few updates from us, then on to the books…..

30/05/2026

🚨 Fresh stock alert! 🚨

New books from a local book sale and the shelves are looking better than ever.

Browse the latest additions online at messinesbooks.com or visit us in-store.

28/05/2026

Closed today as we are at the Red Cross Book Sale in Palmerston North. Our first time at this book sale and we are hoping that this will result in some desirable new stock! After a coffee and scone we’ll join the queue. ☕️

09/05/2026

What a start to Booktown weekend it was yesterday! So wonderful to meet book enthusiasts and especially military history enthusiasts like the young Arlo.

Open today till late. See you there.

07/05/2026

💫 This weekend is shaping up nicely 👌

We are open all weekend for your browsing pleasure.

Friday 11-3
Saturday and Sunday 10-4.30

Online as ever 24/7

📚 Books, books, books! And more books!

Booklovers are spoiled for choice this weekend with a veritable feast of booksellers including Featherston’s eight bookstores:
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺𝘀
𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽: 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
𝗠𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗻
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘁
𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲
𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀 & 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Stallholders in the Bookseller Marquee in front of Anzac Hall:
𝗛𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘆'𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀
𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘂 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
𝗧𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀

The Self-publishers & booksellers market in the BNZ Bank Building at 65 Fox Street:
𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗷𝗶𝗰
𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱
𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝘀
𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝘁𝗱
𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀
𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻

There will also be books for sale at a pop-up table outside Loco on the main drag and secondhand books at the Fell Mini Engine shed next to the Squircle. Happy book hunting!

04/05/2026

Proud to be sponsoring this event at Booktown this weekend. Mr Messines will be in attendance and we’ll have the bookshop open after the event for your browsing pleasure.

25/04/2026

23/04/2026

Open today 11-3, and again tonight from 5-8 for the Global Book Crawl!
Chicken and Frog bookstore
Loco Coffee and Books Featherston
For the Love of BOOKS
Mr Feather's Den - Oddities & Delights
Featherston Booktown

20/04/2026

Looking for your ANZAC weekend read? Come visit us.