Editorial: Revivals in small towns are always pleasing

Rural areas are tagged as the least deprived in the Herald's deprivation index.

The Herald's deprivation index, which provided a map showing areas in New Zealand of most deprived and least deprived, was a bit sobering in terms of its picture of Wairarapa townships.

For those who haven't looked at the map, I would certainly recommend it a Google search Herald deprivation will bring it up. But essentially, the Wairarapa towns, particularly Masterton and Featherston, are colour-coded as most deprived, while the rural areas are on the high end of least deprived.

It shouldn't be surprising rural areas are tagged as least deprived because they are, essentially, working areas with a minimal population focused on their business of farming.

I mean, its not as if there's an idle youth leaning against fenceposts on the edge of a paddock.

But the business of farming in Wairarapa is pretty good. The map was not intended as a rich-versus-poor comparison, but its hard not to come to conclusions along those lines. Especially when a farm near Masterton sold for $5.6 million this week. The deprivation index also appears to indicate successful and lucrative farming, and a wealthy farming population, does not translate much to the towns supporting them. The flow-down effect of the money isn't really happening.

Towns obviously achieve some revenue from farming, but seemingly have to survive on their own. Contrast that with Wellington, where the economy of a city translates directly to the wealth in the suburbs. High population urban centre's spend money, on basic needs and luxuries. The money moves around.

But, if Wairarapa towns have to look after themselves, theres definitely positives there. Carterton is making a name for itself as a growing commuter town and Featherston is enjoying a bit of a revival in retail, with a supermarket being built and a small flurry of specialist shops.

Maybe we don't have the big spenders of Wellington, but we do have people who want to spend money in Wairarapa. Its pleasing to watch our towns respond to it and create businesses which match that small scale. And its especially pleasing when we see visitors engaging in it as well.