Impulse buyer joins cool Carterton’s boom

Te Rahui Cowan has mixed feelings about the rapid growth of his adopted home town.

‘‘If you find a good surf break, do you tell everyone, or just enjoy it for yourself?’’ the Carterton musician and artist says.

The Wairarapa town was identified by Statistics New Zealand yesterday as the fastest-growing district in the North Island, with a population increase between the last two censuses of 16 per cent, to just over 8000 people.

Mr Cowan, 42, has family connections to the town, and sold real estate there 10 years ago, before shifting to Taranaki.

Four months ago, he was showing an Australian friend, fellow artist Pamela Kean, around old haunts when they noticed a gracious old building and, on impulse, decided to buy it.

Now they are setting up a potted palm tree business at the property.

Ms Kean is still in Australia organising her move, and said she was drawn to the town because it reminded her of the unhurried, relaxed Sydney suburb where she grew up. ‘‘The freedom, the friendliness . . . I felt liked I’d stepped back into my perfect childhood.’’

Mr Cowan said he liked Carterton’s diversity. ‘‘There’s new [housing] developments, but also beautiful old villas . . . there’s vineyards, a swimming pool, antique shops, restaurants, it’s actually quite a cool place.’’

Wairarapa’s beaches were also a drawcard, as was the vibrant music and arts scene, and the easy business culture. ‘‘Carterton people still own their own businesses – you can approach people on the street.’’

Carterton’s boomtown status came as no surprise to Mayor Ron Mark. ‘‘It’s about value for money – people know they can sell a pretty average home in Wellington and get a good home here, and still have money in the bank,’’ he said.

Developers appreciated the council’s quick building consent process, and identified the Event Centre, centrally located train station and close-knit community as other factors in the town’s growth.

‘‘People in Wellington who say Wairarapa is shrinking and dying and can’t support itself can now eat their words.’’

Photo: KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ Surf’s up: Te Rahui Cowan moved to Carterton two months ago after buying a renovated historic building in Holloway St. He thinks the town’s combination of new housing developments and ‘‘beautiful old villas’’ such as his is part of the reason for its...