# South Wairarapa District

The South Wairarapa District is a district at the south-east tip of the North Island of New Zealand, governed by the South Wairarapa District Council. The district comprises the southernmost part of the Wairarapa, and is part of the Wellington Region.

## Features

The district comprises the floodplain of the Ruamahanga River and the associated Lake Wairarapa, as well as the long southern stretch of Palliser Bay. To the west of the plains rise the eastern slopes of the Remutaka Range, the crest of which forms the western boundary of the district, while the Aorangi Range lies to the south-east. The southernmost point of the North Island, Cape Palliser, is in the South Wairarapa.
While it is predominantly rural, the South Wairarapa has three towns. The two largest towns, almost identical in population, are Greytown and Featherston. Greytown is where Arbor Day was first celebrated in New Zealand. The Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston has a museum displaying the world's only Fell locomotive. The third-largest town and the seat of the district council is Martinborough; it is the centre of a nationally important wine-producing area.
It is expected that the number of people living in the district's urban areas will increase due to rising property prices in Wellington proper, and the proximity to transport links.

## Demographics

South Wairarapa District covers 2,387.76 km$^2$ (921.92 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 12,050 as of June 2024, with a population density of 5.0 people per km$^2$.
South Wairarapa District had a population of 11,811 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,236 people (11.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,283 people (24.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 5,874 males, 5,886 females and 45 people of other genders in 4,953 dwellings. 3.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 2,037 people (17.2%) aged under 15 years, 1,458 (12.3%) aged 15 to 29, 5,580 (47.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 2,736 (23.2%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.1% European (Pākehā); 15.4% Māori; 2.7% Pasifika; 3.5% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori language by 2.7%, Samoan by 0.6% and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 27.5% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.6%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 2,031 (20.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 5,013 (51.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,010 (20.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,569 people (16.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 4,851 (49.6%) people were employed full-time, 1,554 (15.9%) were part-time, and 186 (1.9%) were unemployed.
Individual wards :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Greytown Ward | 273.30 | 4,110 | 15.0 | 1,725 | 50.8 years | $43,500 |
| Featherston Ward | 372.13 | 3,654 | 9.8 | 1,515 | 41.9 years | $39,300 |
| Martinborough Ward | 1,732.33 | 4,047 | 2.3 | 1,716 | 48.9 years | $45,400 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
Individual statistical areas :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Tauherenikau | 337.66 | 1,602 | 4.7 | 618 | 47.7 years | $43,800 |
| Kahutara | 458.01 | 1,128 | 2.5 | 441 | 39.7 years | $46,600 |
| Featherston | 3.19 | 2,793 | 875.5 | 1,155 | 41.3 years | $37,900 |
| Greytown | 5.07 | 2,772 | 546.7 | 1,212 | 51.9 years | $42,800 |
| Aorangi Forest | 1,578.96 | 1,641 | 1.0 | 696 | 49.3 years | $46,400 |
| Martinborough | 4.86 | 1,875 | 385.8 | 828 | 52.2 years | $44,100 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |

## Transport

Because of South Wairarapa's proximity to the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington, there are close links between the two areas. For example, some people live in South Wairarapa and commute to Wellington each day to work; others live and work in Wellington while spending weekends in South Wairarapa. The Wairarapa Line, part of the Metlink public transport network for the Wellington region, passes through the district (which is served by the two stations of Featherston and Woodside) and provides a faster method of transport into the city than the Remutaka pass road. Metlink buses also provide services to Greytown and Martinborough from the railway stations and Masterton.

## Local and regional government

The South Wairarapa District Council is the territorial authority responsible for the area. The council consists of nine councillors; the current mayor is Martin Connelly. The three towns also have their own community boards.