BOOMERANG BAGS –BORROW & BRING BACK – BOOM!

A new project to reduce the number of plastic bags being used and discarded has been launched in Martinborough.

The Martinborough community is being asked to donate fabric to make reusable “Boomerang Bags”. The bags will be available at a number of local businesses. If people forget their own bags, they can easily grab one. The idea is that they borrow and bring it back on a later visit.

The Boomerang Bag idea originated in Australia and after a conversation over coffee and then a lucky chance meeting with the Boomerang founders in Burleigh Heads, Australia, local ladies Carolyn Irwin & Amanda Ritchie knew that they couldn’t not get involved.

“Martinborough community has been very positive and we’ve had over 100 people interested already with more offers of help flooding in – volunteering time, fabric donation; sewing machine loan plus inspiring messages of support from all over the Wairarapa. … Continue Reading

Community Board report

It is safe to say the so called summer has now moved on with the cooler weather now almost upon us.There are few points the Community Board would love your feedback on:
A recent visit to our local pool highlighted some areas for us, we are looking at moving the shade from the playground to the pool to give some much needed shade for people using this facility, we have also recognised the need for seating by the toddler pool area.

It is disappointing that due to health and safety rules the inflatable slide can no longer be used in the pool due to the depth of the pool, we are working on a solution for this issue so that next swim season we can offer something along the lines of the slide for all to use. … Continue Reading

Cooking Corner

Green tomato chutney
This recipe will put the green tomatoes still hanging on the vines to good use.
Ingredients
6 kg green tomatoes
1 large onion
3 kg apples
3 cups vinegar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp cayenne pepper
400 gr brown sugar
Method
Cut up tomatoes, onion and apples finely. Add the other ingredients and boil
together for one to one and half hours. Bottle and seal when cool.

Councillor comments

As this is the first opportunity to write since the elections, I would like to thank those that supported me in seeking another term on council. We have six new councillors on board this term and a new mayor. There has been a very short settling in period and we have all had to hit the ground running. We are very fortunate to have new councillors that are able to bring themselves up to speed in such a short time.

Council is about to start the first stage of irrigating treated waste water to land in Martinborough, possibly by the end of April. This is the beginning of a new era when the sole purpose is to get the majority of South Wairarapa District treated waste water out of the rivers. … Continue Reading