Origins in the Wairarapa

The Wairarapa Exchange began in 1991 offering a LETS service (Local Employment & Trading System) to members. Markets were held in members' gardens every month or so and "chits" (cheques) were collected and processed by an administrator using a local computer database.

In 2006 the Wairarapa Exchange joined CES and moved the database on-line, where members can log on and enter their own transactions and maintain their own lists of offerings and wants. CES is a public domain exchange system, meaning that it is run by those who use it to trade and not by any entity with interests separate from the communities in which it operates.

In 2008 the Exchange launched the WAIS Voucher Scheme. These Vouchers enable the whole Wairarapa Community the opportunity to use a community currency.

Our team

Guardian	Membership Support	President
Helen Dew	Catie - Lou Manson	Hayden McGrail