South Wairarapa District
Encyclopedia
South Wairarapa District is at the south-east tip of the North Island
of New Zealand
.
is the seat of the SWDC and is a nationally important wine
-producing area. The town's central streets form a Union Flag
pattern). Greytown is where Arbour Day
was first celebrated in New Zealand). Featherston
has a museum displaying the world's only Fell Locomotive Railway Engine.
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.
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 Rimutaka Range
, the crest of which forms the western boundary of the district, while the Aorangi Range
lies to the southeast. The southernmost point of the North Island, Cape Palliser
is in the South Wairarapa.
is divided into the Masterton district, the Carterton district, and the South Wairarapa district. For the purposes of regional government, Wairarapa is included in the Wellington region along with Kapiti, Porirua, the Hutt Valley, and Wellington, and governed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
: Some New Zealanders refer to "The Wairarapa", rather than just "Wairarapa", and this usage carries over to the constituent parts of the district. Thus, South Wairarapa is sometimes referred to as The South Wairarapa.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Introduction
South Wairarapa includes three towns and several localities that have a wide range of economic activity, natural features, and visitor attractions, only a few of which are noted here. MartinboroughMartinborough
Martinborough is a town in South Wairarapa, a district in the Wellington region on the North Island of New Zealand. It is 65 kilometres east of Wellington and 35 kilometres south-west of Masterton...
is the seat of the SWDC and is a nationally important wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
-producing area. The town's central streets form a Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
pattern). Greytown is where Arbour Day
Arbor Day
Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.Many...
was first celebrated in New Zealand). Featherston
Featherston, New Zealand
Featherston is a town in the north of the Wellington Region region of New Zealand. It lies in the Wairarapa, just north of the Rimutaka Tunnel, in the South Wairarapa District. The population was 2,340 in the 2006 Census....
has a museum displaying the world's only Fell Locomotive Railway Engine.
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.
Topography
The topography of South Wairarapa includes the floodplainFloodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
of the Ruamahanga River
Ruamahanga River
The Ruamahanga River runs through the southeastern North Island of New Zealand.The river's headwaters are in the Tararua Ranges northwest of Masterton. From there it runs firstly south and then southwest for 130 kilometers before emptying into the Cook Strait. The towns of Masterton and...
and the associated Lake Wairarapa
Lake Wairarapa
Lake Wairarapa is a lake at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand, 50 kilometers east of Wellington. The lake covers an area of 78 km², and is the third largest in the North Island, fractionally smaller than Lake Rotorua...
, as well as the long southern stretch of Palliser Bay
Palliser Bay
Palliser Bay is located at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand, to the southeast of Wellington. It runs for 40 kilometres along the Cook Strait coast from Turakirae Head at the southern end of the Rimutaka Ranges to Cape Palliser, the North Island's southernmost point.Inland from...
. To the west of the plains rise the eastern slopes of the Rimutaka Range
Rimutaka Range
The Rimutaka Range is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand which form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington.The ridge is at its most pronounced in the southern part of the island, where it consists of the Ruahine,...
, the crest of which forms the western boundary of the district, while the Aorangi Range
Aorangi Range
The Aorangi Range in south eastern Wairarapa is the southernmost mountain range in the North Island and extends more than 20 kilometres north from Cape Palliser...
lies to the southeast. The southernmost point of the North Island, Cape Palliser
Cape Palliser
Cape Palliser is a promontory on the southern coast of New Zealand's North Island and the southernmost point of the North Island - it is in fact considerably further south than Nelson or Blenheim in the South Island....
is in the South Wairarapa.
Local and Regional Government
The South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) is the territorial authority responsible for the area. For the purposes of local government, WairarapaWairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
is divided into the Masterton district, the Carterton district, and the South Wairarapa district. For the purposes of regional government, Wairarapa is included in the Wellington region along with Kapiti, Porirua, the Hutt Valley, and Wellington, and governed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Other information
ShibbolethShibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
: Some New Zealanders refer to "The Wairarapa", rather than just "Wairarapa", and this usage carries over to the constituent parts of the district. Thus, South Wairarapa is sometimes referred to as The South Wairarapa.