FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly

As you will know the Council recently changed some of its rating formulas so that a section with two or more houses pays additional rates for each extra house. This has resulted in several vigorous

challenges on social media. One claimed that the change is “an attempt to claw back money that

they (the Council) are not getting from new builds because there are no new sewage connections.”

This is not the case, and I will explain why.

When deciding rates, the Council decides how much money it needs. It then divides that sum amongst each rating unit to calculate the rates for each property. If we expand the number of rating units (in this case to include second and third houses) all that happens is that each rating unit pays slightly less in rates, but the sum total remains the same.

But, and more importantly, new builds have continued in the district despite the sewage problems. From January last year, until August this year our district has consented $110 million of construction, Masterton has consented $105 million and Carterton $45.9 million.

This year there have been 104 new dwellings built onsite, 36 dwellings have been relocated; and

about 290 existing buildings have had major renovations, or other work that requires consents.

Each month I write to all new families who have purchased properties in the district, welcoming

them to the South Wairarapa. Since January this year I have written 199 letters of welcome. As I

have said often, the South Wairarapa is a popular and attractive place for people to come to, either

to live or to invest in.

Congratulations to the Martinborough Community Board. At the Local Government New Zealand

Annual Conference, last month, your Community Board won one of three prestigious awards at the

2024 Community Boards Dinner and Awards. These awards showcase community board excellence.

Our board’s award was the Partnering with Councils Award for its work promoting a Community

Emergency Hub and hosting a series of resilience-focused events that brought locals together.

Judges said this work exemplified out-of-the-box thinking, creating a model for collaborative

emergency preparedness. Well done to all board members and a particular “thank you” from me to

board member Angela Brown.

Another happening on the calendar that will bring people together, and showcase the village, is the

annual Round the Vines event. Round the Vines was born back in 1995 by a group of parents from

the primary school. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength. Entrants now come from all

over the greater Wellington region. It’s a real community event as it depends on approximately 100 volunteers to ensure everything goes smoothly. Over the years, the funds from this event have paid

for a new senior playground at the school, and more recently the new sports turf. The next project is

to resurface the school courts.

You can enter at https://www.roundthevines.org.nz/ You have choices; you can run or walk over

either 10kms or 21kms. The race, or walk, starts at the Square and goes past Devotus, the McLeod

Vineyard, along Omarere Rd, past Ata Rangi, Margrains, Martinborough Vineyard, Peppers, Nga

Waka, Palliser to the Clouston Vineyard, before returning to the Square.

There will be lots of fun along the way and when you get back to the Square, the festive fun carries

on with music, food trucks and lunch. I look forward to seeing many of you there.