South Wairarapa District
The South Wairarapa District is a district at the south-east tip of the North Island of New Zealand, governed by the South Wairarapa District Council. The district comprises the southernmost part of the Wairarapa, and is part of the Wellington Region.
Features
The district comprises the floodplain of the Ruamāhanga 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 Remutaka Range, the crest of which forms the western boundary of the district, while the Aorangi Range lies to the south-east. The southernmost point of the North Island, Cape Palliser, is in the South Wairarapa.While it is predominantly rural, the South Wairarapa has three towns. The two largest towns, almost identical in population, are Greytown and Featherston. Greytown is where Arbor Day was first celebrated in New Zealand. The Fell Locomotive Museum in Featherston exhibits the only remaining steam-powered Fell railway locomotive in the world. The third-largest town and the seat of the district council is Martinborough; it is the centre of a nationally important wine-producing area.
It is expected that the number of people living in the district's urban areas will increase due to rising property prices in Wellington proper, and the proximity to transport links.
Demographics
South Wairarapa District covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.South Wairarapa District had a population of 11,811 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 1,236 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 2,283 people since the 2013 census. There were 5,874 males, 5,886 females and 45 people of other genders in 4,953 dwellings. 3.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.5 years. There were 2,037 people aged under 15 years, 1,458 aged 15 to 29, 5,580 aged 30 to 64, and 2,736 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.1% European ; 15.4% Māori; 2.7% Pasifika; 3.5% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori language by 2.7%, Samoan by 0.6% and other languages by 7.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.8%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 27.5% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.6%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 2,031 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 5,013 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,010 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,569 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 4,851 people were employed full-time, 1,554 were part-time, and 186 were unemployed.
| Name | Area | Population | Density | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Greytown Ward | 273.30 | 4,110 | 15.0 | 1,725 | 50.8 years | $43,500 |
| Featherston Ward | 372.13 | 3,654 | 9.8 | 1,515 | 41.9 years | $39,300 |
| Martinborough Ward | 1,732.33 | 4,047 | 2.3 | 1,716 | 48.9 years | $45,400 |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |
| Name | Area | Population | Density | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Tauherenikau | 337.66 | 1,602 | 4.7 | 618 | 47.7 years | $43,800 |
| Kahutara | 458.01 | 1,128 | 2.5 | 441 | 39.7 years | $46,600 |
| Featherston | 3.19 | 2,793 | 875.5 | 1,155 | 41.3 years | $37,900 |
| Greytown | 5.07 | 2,772 | 546.7 | 1,212 | 51.9 years | $42,800 |
| Aorangi Forest | 1,578.96 | 1,641 | 1.0 | 696 | 49.3 years | $46,400 |
| Martinborough | 4.86 | 1,875 | 385.8 | 828 | 52.2 years | $44,100 |
| New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 |