Overview
What is the Waingawa Water Storage Project?
The Waingawa Water Storage Project is a major infrastructure initiative led by Carterton District Council to build a 20-hectare water reservoir near Carterton. It aims to improve water resilience, support irrigation, and enable economic growth by supplying water to the Waingawa Industrial Park and surrounding farmland.
When will it be completed?
We expect to complete this project in December 2026, and will keep you updated on progress regularly.
How much will it cost?
The total project cost is budgeted at $25 million — $20 million in loan funding from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund and $5 million in co-funding from Carterton District Council.
Who will benefit once complete?
The Waingawa Water Storage Project will deliver wide-ranging benefits across Carterton and the broader Wairarapa region.
- Local industry: The reservoir will directly support water-intensive businesses at Waingawa Industrial Area, including food processing and manufacturing. Reliable water access will help these industries grow, innovate, and operate more efficiently.
- Agriculture: Surrounding pastoral land will benefit from improved irrigation, enabling higher-value agricultural production and greater resilience to drought. This supports farmers in adapting to climate change and maintaining productivity.
- Economic growth: By securing water supply, the region becomes more attractive to new businesses — particularly those that rely heavily on water. This could lead to increased investment, job creation, and diversification of the local economy.
- Regional development: The project is part of a broader strategy to improve water resilience across Wairarapa. It could serve as a blueprint for future reservoirs and water infrastructure projects, helping to unlock the region’s full economic potential and support sustainable growth.
- Community wellbeing: A more resilient economy and environment contribute to stronger communities, with better employment opportunities and long-term security for residents.
Who is working on it?
We’re committed to using local contractors wherever possible in the delivery of the Waingawa Water Storage Project. This ensures the economic benefits of the project begin flowing into our community from day one — supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and building capability within the region. This is a significant investment in infrastructure, and it’s also an investment in local people and businesses to make it happen.
Local contractors engaged on this project will be listed here once procurement is complete.
If you are interested in being part of this project, please email info@cdc.govt.nz.
What’s next?
Every six weeks, Council holds a Policy and Projects Committee Meeting where updates are provided to Elected Members on all Carterton District Council majoy projects.
These meetings are open to the public to attend either in person, or via Teams video link – dates and times are listed here: Meetings | Carterton District Council
Immediately following these meetings, we’ll update this project page with progress information.
If you have any questions, please send us an email : info@cdc.govt.nz
Project news
Waingawa Water Reservoir Project Secures $20 Million in Funding to Boost Regional Resilience
Land secured for Waingawa Water Storage Project
Read the full release here: Land secured for Waingawa Water Storage Project | Carterton District Council
Timeline
Loan funding secured
On 25 June, 2025, $20million in loan funding was secured through central government’s Kānoa Economic Regional Investment Unit, to deliver the Waingawa Water Storage Project
Project site secured
On 2 October, 2025, 42 hectares of land was purchased on Norfolk Road as the site for the storage dam.
Geotechnical investigation
We officially broke ground on Monday 13 October, with the start of geotechnical investigations. This has so far included drilling of boreholes and digging testing pits for soil sampling. All up we expect to drill five boreholes and 25 test pits across the 43 hectares of land, and this information will be integral to the design and consenting of the dam.
Estimated completion: End of November, 2025
Concept Design
Estimated start date: October 2025
Procurement
Estimated start date: November 2025
Council Decision - Initiation of Phase 2
We estimate this will go to Council for consideration in December, 2025.
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