On Wednesday, government announced investment in water resilience for the Wairarapa, with a reservoir to be built near the Waingawa Industrial Park in Wairarapa.
Stuart Taylor, the WEDS Work Programme Steering Group Chair, welcomed the investment in a media statement and highlighted WEDS as a key part of the wider water resilience ecosystem in Wairarapa.
Read full media statement here:
“Water is a key input for many businesses in the Wairarapa economy — particularly in the primary industry and manufacturing sectors. With conditions becoming warmer and drier, ensuring water accessibility and security are critical to driving economic growth,” says Stuart Taylor, WellingtonNZ’s General Manager, Business and Innovation.
“This investment will not only enhance resilience but also unlock productivity potential – particularly around the Waingawa Industrial Park.”
Taylor highlights that today’s central government announcement is strategically aligned with efforts from the broader water resilience ‘ecosystem’, with local councils, mana whenua and other stakeholders already stepping up to address long-term challenges.
Key contributors include Wairarapa Water Resilience Strategy, WEDS (Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy), and the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee’s Regional Economic Development Plan (REDP) – all of which prioritise water access and security in the Wairarapa.
Today’s investment announcement is a natural next step, building on previous initiatives like the Waingawa Water Security Project and the Water Education Summer Series to encourage farmers to look at options for managing water on farms.
