Community engagement is the first priority agreed by the Leadership Group to oversee the development of a regional water and irrigation project for the Wairarapa.

Grow Wellington is part of this 10-member Leadership Group which also represents the three Wairarapa district councils, iwi groups, Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust.

 “Conversations with all parts of the community early on are vital to hear perspectives and ideas about water uses and values in Wairarapa. This is the only way we are going to develop a viable and environmentally sustainable project”, says Fran Wilde, Chair of Greater Wellington Regional Council who was elected Chair of the Leadership Group

A series of presentations and meetings will be held with key interest groups to provide initial information and to hear their questions, issues and views.

Along with other regions in New Zealand, Wairarapa faces the challenge of decreasing water availability, climate change and the increased likelihood and frequency of drought. 

Preliminary studies commissioned by the Wairarapa Regional Irrigation Trust indicate great potential for irrigating land that currently does not have access to water for that purpose. Geoff Copps, Primary Sector Manager for Grow Wellington says this raises exciting possibilities for exploring future diverse land uses that could contribute to economic growth and consequential social enhancement in the Wairarapa community.