A Plumber’s Tale: stuck deep in the waste pipe, round the bend

Numb fingers, twisted elbow, stuck shoulder, aching back muscles and trapped in a household waste pipe to the shoulder_ the plumber, after more than 30 minutes lying face hard against a house outer wall, finally managed to use his free hand to “phone a friend.” “I go above and beyond …

Introduced predators decimate coastal and forest birds, wildlife

By Joe Howells My journey into conservation has been a short one, prompted by a lifelong love for our wild South Wairarapa coastline and our native forest remnants, _and having more time on my hands as I move into semi-retirement.  Clive Paton got me involved in the Aorangi Restoration Trust, …

How well do we know people in our community?

By Bruce Congalton Becs Mackie is bubbling over with wonderful ideas for her Ventana Creative Workshops when we meet in her bright, high-ceilinged studio at 7 Kitchener Street. It’s obvious that she has a very creative mind and the walls show off her artistic talent. But she’s never formally studied …

Buyer still sought for Palliser Bay Station

By Martin Freeth South Wairarapa’s Palliser Bay Station is still on the market after failing to sell at tender last November. Bayleys agent Andrew Smith says a high-profile marketing campaign leading into the tender stimulated “phenomenal interest” in this highly notable property – 3,719 ha with extensive areas of flat …

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Sunflower fundraiser for wetland restoration, riverside walkway

February 21, 2025 February 2025 No Comments

Ruamahanga Farm on Martinborough’s outskirts has nine hectares of “huge yellow sunflower blooms” on offer during a mid-February Sunflower Festival to help raise funds for its wetland replanting and planned riverside walk.

Ruamahanga Farm Foundation member Jane Riddiford said the guided weekend walks will traverse a “restoring wetland” and “the development of a public walkway by the river.”

As well as the Inaugural Sunflower Festival, visitors will also be able “to see how a traditional stock and crop farm is transitioning into a regenerative farming venture.”

Along with the huge sunflower blooms goes what she calls “a colourful understory of other beneficial species.” … Continue Reading

A Plumber’s Tale: stuck deep in the waste pipe, round the bend

February 21, 2025 February 2025 No Comments

Numb fingers, twisted elbow, stuck shoulder, aching back muscles and trapped in a household waste pipe to the shoulder_ the plumber, after more than 30 minutes lying face hard against a house outer wall, finally managed to use his free hand to “phone a friend.”

“I go above and beyond (should that be below and past the bendy bit?) for my customers,” Mark Sutcliffe joked as he told of a Martinborough wastepipe clearing job that went horribly wrong.

Three days after his release from the 100mm plastic waste pipe’s grip, his arm was still severely bruised, though massage had dulled the back pains. Blood flow to his fingers was back in order.

As Mark tells it, an elderly couple had a blocked waste drain where a fat burger had stalled the liquid flow. … Continue Reading

Swimming pools open hours “amended”

February 21, 2025 February 2025 No Comments

Council has amended the opening hours at Martinborough and Featherston swimming pools for the rest of summer to give commuters more flexibility for a swim after a long journey home.

The move comes as some local rivers were found to have high toxic algae levels making them unsafe.

“We’ve listened to our community and adjusted the hours at Featherston and Martinborough

swimming pools following some concern about pool hours when they opened in November,” SWDC chief executive Janice Smith said. … Continue Reading

Tennis Club sports latest Automated External Defibrillator

February 21, 2025 February 2025 No Comments

Martinborough Lawn Tennis Club (MLTC) is having an AED (Automated External Defibrillator – aka heart restarter) – installed just inside the gate at the corner of Naples Street and Regent Street. This will be for the use of anyone playing tennis and of course for the use of the Martinborough community.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are truly amazing. Anyone can experience an unexpected

cardiac arrest, even the fittest of athletes, irrespective of age.

AEDs are now such, that with minimal knowledge or training, if the instructions are followed anyone can use them and so significantly improve the chances of survival. … Continue Reading

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Sports

‘Spectacular’ new golf club building opens

Martinborough golfers say it’s hard to believe that just over 12 months ago they were still in the old clubhouse _ “and now we have a spectacular new building.”  “To get where we are today has meant a huge fundraising effort and amazing support from members: we couldn’t have done …

Martinborough golf by a hank – of wool

  We start at the end of the month, when the annual Baabraa Trophy between Martinborough and Eketahuna was fought out on a glorious Sunday in Martinborough. A field of 70 played a stableford round and the average stableford points for the two clubs were calculated. Eketahuna scored an average …

Lady golfers show Rosebowl winning ways

September has been an up and down month weatherwise for golfers, some beautiful early spring days followed by cold and rain. Thankfully for the important days the weather has mostly come to the party. Early in the month the Cotter Rosebowl was successfully defended at Carterton by Martinborough’s team of …

Regular Features

How well do we know people in our community?

By Bruce Congalton Becs Mackie is bubbling over with wonderful ideas for her Ventana Creative …

Martinborough Fire Brigade Report

This month sees the end of an era for the Brigade as Chris Hooson, the …

From the Mayor  – February 2025

By Martin Connelly I wish all readers of The Star a happy New Year.  Last …

From the Mayor

By Martin Connelly Water services have been a political football for some time. We associate …

EVENTS

Wellington Heritage Festival WHEN: October 26 – November 17  WHERE: * Wellington Region – 140 …

How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Pforzheim in Southern Germany was where Thomas Röckinger lived with his family, …

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Could ZERO growth be the answer?   So, Martinborough’s sewage woes continue, and have seriously …

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