South Wairarapa District Council has adopted its 2025/26 Annual Report and Summary Annual Report, which provides an overview of the organisation’s performance, finances and activities over the past financial year. 

The Annual Report is one of the Council’s key accountability documents. It is an overview of what was achieved during the year, how ratepayer funds were spent, and how Council performed against the commitments made to the community. The Annual Report, including all financial statement, is independently audited by Audit NZ and helps ensure transparency about Council’s activities, challenges and progress over the past 12 months. 

While the Annual Report received an Unqualified (“clean”) audit opinion from our auditors, indicating that the financial statements were presented fairly in all material respect, it also received two emphasis of matter paragraphs, this is standard across all councils Audit NZ work with. These matters draws attention to future changes and potential uncertainties that result in change going forward surrounding Water entity transition and local government reform. 

Snapshot of Council projects from 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026

• Completed the Tauwharenīkau Pipeline project to secure resilience for Featherston’s water supply.
• Refurbished Lake Ferry playground.
• Completed Phase 1 of the Featherston pipe renewals, laying 2.2km of new drinking water infrastructure.
• Distributed $180k to local events and projects to drive economic development across the district via the Economic Development Fund.
• Opened Te Papa O Moroa (Wheels Park) in Greytown.
• Worked towards the establishment of Waitī Waters, the water services organisation that will deliver three waters for South Wairarapa, Tararua, Carterton and Masterton Districts from 1 July 2027.
• Secured land in Martinborough for the irrigation of wastewater to land to improve environmental outcomes and comply with resource consent conditions.
• Established the Rural and Coastal Advisory Group to bring rural and coastal perspectives into Council decision making.
• Commenced the build of a protective structure around the historic Carkeek Observatory in Featherston.
• Resurfaced Otauira Reserve driveway and entrance.
• Established Emergency Management Wairarapa in partnership with Carterton and Masterton District Councils.

The final 2025/26 Annual Report will be published on the Council website within one month of adoption.