Rob Taylor South Wairarapa Deputy Mayor

13/03/2026

Booktown 2026 has officially commenced, marked by a successful launch event at the Featherston Anzac Hall. The programme promises to be immensely exciting, spanning the weekend of 8-10 May. For further information and to explore the event schedule, please visit booktown.org.nz for more info.

06/03/2026

Martinborough Wastewater Treatment Project. Public engagement has commenced for the proposed construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Martinborough. The council has recently acquired land north of Pain Farm, intended for land irrigation with treated wastewater. Existing resource consent requirements mandate a shift from discharging into the Ruamahanga River to a land-based discharge by 2030.

Further information on the project, including details on public engagement opportunities, can be found on the project website:
https://swdc.govt.nz/martinborough-wastewater-treatment-plant-stage-2-improvements/.

Upon completion, the project will not only enhance the capacity of Martinborough's existing treatment plant but also yield significant environmental benefits by eliminating the current discharge into the river.

The project South Wairarapa District Council recently purchased land north of Pain Farm for the intended purpose of irrigating treated wastewater from the Martinborough Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWWTP) to land. This is because it is an obligation…

24/02/2026

Featherston Incident. 83rd Anniversary. Today, iwi, Mayor, Councillors, local MPs, RSA reps, and others uniteded with the Japanese Ambassador at the beautiful Featherston Peace Garden to pay tribute and lay wreaths in remembrance of the lives lost. In a world fraught with turmoil, it's poignantly apt to recall the past's timeless lessons and reflect. ‘Behold the summer grass. All that remains of the Dreams of Warriors’.

20/02/2026

*Please note - expression s of interest have been extended to 9 March*

South Wairarapa District Council is on the lookout for community members to help shape access and safety in Martinborough.

The newly established Martinborough Access Reference Group (MARG) needs volunteers from the Martinborough ward who are passionate and have experience or knowledge across these areas:

🏡 Urban design
🚧 Roading and bridges
🍷 The Martinborough economy, including retail, wine, tourism and events
🚚 Industries requiring heavy transport and transport routes
🚴 Traffic, pedestrian and cyclist behaviour and safety
🌱 Community, environmental or planning perspectives
💡 Any other knowledge considered relevant

Here’s the details:
• Expressions of interest are now open and close 9 March (original date 2 March)
• MARG will provide advice and recommendations on important roading, walking and cycling access related issues affecting Martinborough, with a particular focus on safety, accessibility, and the impacts of visitor and freight traffic in and around Martinborough.
• The group will meet as required between March and August 2026, with its work feeding into Council’s Long-Term Plan.

Deputy Mayor Rob Taylor says you don’t need to be a technical expert to apply.

“We’re looking for people who care about Martinborough and want to contribute constructively to its future. If this format proves successful, we’ll look to establish reference groups for our other wards to support their local issues.”

👉 To find out more or apply, visit swdc.govt.nz/martinborough-access-reference-group/

15/02/2026

Hope everyone is keeping safe. Those of you on Antenno will have seen the update on the Waihenga Bridge going into Martinborough.

The river is rapidly rising as the water makes its way down the catchment from the Tararua ranges. It may exceed 4.5m this afternoon which will mean it will close.

The Lower Valley Bridge will also need to close at the same time due to safety concerns, meaning that access to Martinborough will be via Hinekura and Longbush Roads.

14/02/2026

Lovely day today with friends picking sunflowers at the Ruamahunga Farm Foundation. They will be open on Sunday. A great cause to support.

06/02/2026

Yesterday, councillors toured the South Wairarapa to see firsthand a range of infrastructure challenges, including roads and bridges, which are critical to our local economy and access to our towns.

Our rural roads are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to extreme weather events, slow slips, and heavy vehicle use. Council continues to work through how best to keep these roads open and accessible within current budget constraints.

Several of the region’s most critical bridges are fragile and require increasing levels of maintenance just to remain operational. This challenge is made worse by debris and shingle build up placing pressure on bridge foundations. As a result, additional restrictions are being applied to some bridges to ensure they can be used safely.

The Waihenga Bridge on SH53, which provides access in and out of Martinborough, is 115 years old and well past its intended lifespan. NZTA’s current preference is to keep the bridge operating for a further 20–30 years rather than replace it. Compounding this issue, the Lower Valley Bridge, which has been the alternative route when the Waihenga Bridge closes, may also need to be closed during flood events to ensure public safety. Councillors were pleased to learn that local MP Mike Butterick has recently visited the Valley Bridge. Central government has a critical role to play, particularly in regard to those bridges along SH2 and SH53 , and the South Coast Road out to Cape Palliser.

Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) also plays an important role, and Councillors were advised of several regulatory, environmental, and other constraints imposed by GWRC that affect both costs and the speed at which remedial work can be carried out. While there are no easy solutions, Council will continue to work with central government and GWRC to come up with a workable approach to address our important infrastructure needs.

01/02/2026

A great opportunity to assist with economic development in our region.

South Wairarapa District Council wants to hear your ideas to develop and build the economy with the support of a new Economic Development Fund, which opens for applications on Tuesday…

23/01/2026

It's pleasing to witness measures being taken to rectify the situation behind Considine park, an area where the Martinborough community has invested considerable effort in replanting. Some before and after shots.

21/11/2025

Building resilient communities is key. Attending yesterday's exercise with Wairarapa Mayors, Deputy Mayors, and CEs was insightful, as we tested our readiness for a 3-metre tsunami impacting coastal regions. My main takeaway is that empowering communities to develop their own emergency plans is crucial, especially since communication and infrastructure systems may be compromised.

29/10/2025

Congratulations to the newly sworn-in South Wairarapa Council! Today marks a fresh chapter for our district. The tasks ahead are big: fixing our infrastructure, growing our economy, strengthening our communities, protecting our environment, and planning for a thriving, sustainable future.

15/10/2025

New Council met with council officers for the first time today. Looking forward to getting down to business once we are sworn in next week.