While visiting the district about 10 years ago, Saunders was looking for a place to record an album and ended up making a lasting connection to the area.
"I met a woman in the main street of Greytown and said 'You don't know of a hall out here do you, to record in?' and it turned out she ran the repertory," he said.
"It had a piano in it, and I recorded an album called Magnetic South in there, not knowing that three years later I'd be living two doors down."
Saunders sees similarities between the place he grew up in and where he lives now.
"I'd been living in Wellington for years, touring a lot, and my sister lived out here. I visited her and it reminded me of where we grew up at Lincoln, Canterbury, a lot, so I sort of felt a connection with it."
However, when asked what differences Saunders noticed about Wairarapa and cities he has lived in, he said "the trees".
The surrounding nature is a huge plus for Saunders, who says he could "lose a few days out here, no problem".
He still keeps a house in Wellington, but spends most of his time at his Greytown home.
"It's a good place to be, where you're still in touch with nature and the land, but you're not out of touch with a good city."
Featherson painter Megan Campbell feels the same about the distance between the city and the country. She said most of her friends were in Wellington but she loves being able to retreat in the small towns.
"I really like not having that constant city stimulus, but still being able to access it," she said. "What I think is great about Featherston is I like places that are undiscovered. I always have. I like the fact that you can get to Wellington within 55 minutes. My major links are in Wellington - my friends and things."
A peaceful place to pursue her art is what drew Campbell to Wairarapa.
After owning a cafe in Wellington, and a career in mental health nursing, she and her partner at the time were interested in the arts when they came to the district. "We found a cottage in Greytown, and then we really dedicated our life to art," she said.
Campbell went to boarding school in the Wairarapa, but she said it didn't play a large role in the city-to-country move.
"I went to school here, but I wouldn't say that was a big connection. It meant that I knew about the Wairarapa, about the lovely summers and great memories of swimming in the river and gardens. The good walks in winter."
Much like Saunders, nature is important in Campbell's artistic lifestyle. "Nature is of major importance to me. Yes, you can access nature in the city in lovely ways but here, all I need to do is walk out there and I'm in the country, in the paddocks,"
Campbell said the move she and Saunders had made may be becoming a lot more popular with other artists and young families.
"I know of three young couples who have recently moved over here from Wellington, and it will be good the more that happens," she said.
Mena Antonio, of Toi Wairarapa, said the closeness of Wellington to Wairarapa helped movers settle to the area.
"The proximity to Wellington makes for a natural segue to Wairarapa living," she said.
Antonio said last month's Kokomai Festival was proof of the range of talented artists living in the region.
"The latest Pecha Kucha event I curated during the festival testifies to the interesting, diverse and talented people residing here" she said.
She said artists are not only coming from Wellington but from other parts of the world. "Musicians, film makers, photographers and designers come from Wellington but also from abroad."
