How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

Michael Bing talks to Lyle Griffiths

Michael was raised in Auckland, attending St Peters College where he loved playing both

cricket in the summer months, and rugby in the winter.

But there were always connections to Martinborough. 

“My father had relatives here, and as children we used to return frequently to help Robert Bing with the fruit and vegetable store and the Fish and Chip shop. 

As children we thought there was little about Martinborough that was enticing. But we did enjoy roller blading down the main street.

When I was about to marry Chloe, a position for a pharmacist opened up in Martinborough.

Chloe flew down, was interviewed, and won the position. Our wedding took place shortly

after, and for our honeymoon we cruised the Baltic sea visiting Russia, and Scandinavia. It

was magical. … Continue Reading

Featherston wrestlers go offshore

Two members of Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club’s senior class have again been asked to join a New Zealand team overseas. 

Wairangi Sargent and Angus Read will take part in the Journeymen Tournament and Training Camp over Easter in New York state. 

Over the week they are there they will be coached by coaches from around the world and compete against wrestlers from Mongolia to Italy and all the wrestling countries in between.

Check out the fundraising on our Facebook page or get in touch if you would like to support. … Continue Reading

Health facts of interest

Ministry of Health nationwide figures show middling and good performances by Wairarapa District Health Board on some key measurements applied to the country’s 20 DHBs. 

1. Emergency Dept stays _ number of patients treated within the key six-hour treatment period:

                                           2022                  2023 

1st:     Tairawhiti                  96%                  95%

13^th:   Wairarapa                  76%                  67%

Bottom: Capital & Coast    51%                  46% … Continue Reading

Key Pain Farm questions need public answers

By Councillor Aidan Ellims

In the last week or so, Pain Estate has been a hot topic of concern around town. This has stemmed from a submission by council staff to the Wairarapa Combined District Plan last year, designating the whole of Pain Estate, all 85 hectares, to be used for waste water disposal.

Some residents will be aware that George Pain’s will in 1932 “devised” certain lands to the

Martinborough Borough Council, upon Trust, to be held on behalf of the inhabitants of Martinborough for the purposes of creating a park and/or sportsground for the children and residents.

In 1966 as Martinborough was not growing and the Borough Council did not want any more parks or sportsgrounds, they sought a ruling from the Supreme Court to vary the will and allow that the income from the trust lands should be used in maintaining and improving the boroughs parks, sports grounds, camping ground, etc.

Fast forward to 2011, when Council obtained a legal opinion as to whether they could use Pain Estate income elsewhere around the South Wairarapa and whether they could use Pain Estate for the disposal of treated waste water to land. … Continue Reading