What we do to make our region a great place to live, work and play
Ko ā mātou mahi mō Wairarapa me tō tātou rohe hei te 2026/27 | What we have planned for Wairarapa and our region in 2026/27
- Progressing the Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility programme, which will replace the aging trains with new ‘Tūhono trains’ on the Manawatū and Wairarapa lines.
- Expanding our predator control around Wairarapa Moana and the southeast of the Wairarapa.
- Supporting hill country farmers to protect their land and waterways with erosion control and riparian planting.
- Continuing to upgrade our flood protection infrastructure throughout the Ruamāhanga Valley through the Flood Resilience programme.
- Working with farmers to protect waterways and wetlands for future generations.
- Monitoring river flows, groundwater and water quality across the Wairarapa to support water use decisions, environmental health and drought planning.
- Supporting the risk reduction, planning and adaption to a range of hazards including climate risk to help Wellington communities prepare and recover from future emergencies.
Te mahi tahi ki ngā mana whenua | Partnership with mana whenua
Te Pane Matua Taiao works hard at partnering. We value our relationships with mana whenua of the region and show this through creating opportunities to grow all iwi, hāpori and whānau. Trust and understanding across 30 years enable our innovative partnerships to create better environmental outcomes for community benefit.
Rangitāne o Wairarapa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa continue to provide strategic insight, collective decision making, co designed approaches and Tiriti based leadership across their rohe through regular engagement.
This approach relies on strong collaboration with local and neighbouring councils, community groups, landowners, Crown agencies, and our delivery partners. Together, we focus on shared priorities, such as biodiversity restoration, climate adaptation, flood resilience, emergency management, public transport, and harbour management, to ensure projects are grounded in place, partnership, and long‑term outcomes.
Mō āu rēti | About your rates
We’ve reviewed our work to balance delivering essential services with the cost to our ratepayers. As a result, the average proposed rates increase across the region from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 is 9.7%.
The table below shows the average rates for the Wairarapa. Your individual rates may differ due to local factors, so they may not match the regional average or your neighbours’ rates.
For a personalised estimate, visit our rates calculator.
| Wairarapa Average Rates | Average Rates 2026/27 | Average increase per annum | Average increase per week | Increase % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential (incl. GST) Masterton District |
$540.47 | $74.79 | $1.44 | 16.1% |
| Residential (incl. GST) Carterton District |
$617.66 | $76.69 | $1.47 | 14.2% |
| Residential (incl. GST) South Wairarapa District |
$718.31 | $77.64 | $1.49 | 12.1% |
| Business (excl. GST) Masterton District |
$1,921.22 | $247.25 | $4.75 | 14.8% |
| Business (excl. GST) Carterton District |
$1,074.42 | $118.38 | $2.28 | 12.4% |
| Business (excl. GST) South Wairarapa District |
$1,551.29 | $147.52 | $2.84 | 10.5% |
| Rural (excl. GST) Masterton District |
$828.89 | $121.02 | $2.33 | 17.1% |
| Rural (excl. GST) Carterton District |
$897.76 | $113.37 | $2.18 | 14.5% |
| Rural (excl. GST) South Wairarapa District |
$1,049.02 | $119.54 | $2.30 | 12.9% |
| Rural (excl. GST) Tararua District |
$979.68 | $106.77 | $2.05 | 12.2% |
Rates in Wairarapa have increased by more than the regional average, reflecting higher than average growth in property values. This follows from a lower starting base of rates compared with other parts of the region.
Get in touch
- Phone:
- 0800 496 734
- Email:
- info@gw.govt.nz