THE adage of "if it's not broke, don't fix it" doesn't apply to the growth of a community, which has to "fix" things, or at least evolve, in order to function.
But having said that, people frequently lament about "lack of growth" and worry that their small localities aren't keeping up with the big players and the bigger opportunities.
I think the newsflash here is that growth depends mostly around population, their needs and their desires, and so it has to be said that small towns will not change much. It would be fair that in Wairarapa some towns have declined in several decades, due to population drift, a natural concept which is centuries old.
Wairarapa is often touted as the "playground of Wellington" because of its complete contrast in weather and lifestyle, plus the wineries and olives groves. Tourism is great. Tourist money from Wellington - or beyond - is money in our pockets and spurs economic growth. But it's a surface feeling, a cupboard love.
If I had to venture my opinion on what Wairarapa needs to be a bit more of a "player", the most obvious is it should be more attractive as a "commuter belt" locality. This is undeniable. Since we're not about to get a car tunnel through the Rimutakas any time soon, that means a really good train service, plus more trains at weekends. An hour's commute is easy. It's a pleasant way to travel. Wellington is running out of commuter belt land. The number of areas to subdivide is now limited to two or three small farms between Johnsonville and Tawa, or you're going to have to go to Kapiti.
