Fire and Emergency says powerless over long grass hazard

By Ray Lilley  Long grass is a key feature in incidental fires which have sparked across the dry, dusty, drought-hit Wairarapa since before Christmas. Despite repeated warnings late last year, and a current fire ban, some locals warn that uncut long grass poses a huge fire danger – and the …

Lions help make a wheel difference

A Martinborough Lions Club member learnt recently of a family who might need a bit of assistance. The family consisted of mum, dad and seven children – of whom two are fostered. If that was not challenging enough, one of the children in their care has special needs.  The Lion’s …

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 …

Local accommodation can seek DarkSky recognition

DarkSky, the international body responsible for world-wide dark sky accreditation, is offering accommodation providers the chance to be accredited to their just-launched “DarkSky Approved Lodging Program,” and a listing on their international website.  Accommodation businesses in the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve area _ the Wairarapa region stretching from south of …

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Apples and pears – from the trees

March 12, 2024 March 2024 No Comments

Greytown’s Molewood Orchard has just opened its gates for Pick Your Own: apples and _ for the first time _ pears.

Last year was the first the family-run orchard opened to the public, which greeted the initiative with huge enthusiasm, as people travelled from throughout the Wairarapa and much further afield to pick fresh, sun-warmed fruit from the trees.

The Cooke family, who returned to managing Molewood Orchard in 2022, is delighted to be

preparing for another pick-your-own season and to build on the success of last year with a number of initiatives.

This season the orchard is offering pick-your-own pears as well as apples.  … Continue Reading

ArrowFM offers outlets on its platform

March 12, 2024 March 2024 No Comments

Are you a media junkie? Want to learn more about podcasting and broadcast media? Do you have a message to share? 

If you represent a community support service, practise sustainable farming, are a member of the disability community or want to celebrate cultures and enthusiasms, you can share all this with Wairarapa and the world thanks to our podcasting and live broadcasting platforms on this local community access radio station. Join ArrowFM for an exciting workshop to empower you with the skills and knowledge you need to reach your audiences.

Arrow FM presents CREATING MEDIA, a dynamic workshop exploring the diverse technologies available to content creators in today’s media landscape. And because we’re all about the people and the message, CREATING MEDIA will help you with content creation and presentation. … Continue Reading

Aratoi: There’s still “beauty in life”

March 12, 2024 March 2024 No Comments

We live in a constant state of crisis. Fires rip through forests, flood waters erode coastlines,

wars tear cities to the ground, pandemics take lives, inequality divides us, and it is easy to

feel that we exist in a time of ruin.

However, it is important to also see the beauty in life and enjoy the small things. This season

at Aratoi we ask you to think about the big issues we face, but also enjoy the sunnier side of

life; discover beautiful architectural buildings, wonder over photographs from a bygone age

and enjoy eclectic joyful creations. … Continue Reading

A Ruamahanga field full of Sunflowers

March 12, 2024 March 2024 No Comments

By Lyle Griffiths 

Students from Kahutara School piled on to the Green Cycle bus to visit Ruamahunga Farm. 

It was a day for the children to discover a field full of sunflowers, to learn about the seasonal growing cycle and to harvest some of the flowers to take back to school. The sale of these flowers for $2.00 each, will go towards restoration projects.

Sitting in a circle in the midst of the field they heard a tale of the sunflower. 

There was once an Indian prince who never washed and smelled appalling. Finally, he took a bath and was horrified by the brown mud that came off his feet. He issued an edict that all mud should be covered. But the coverage of the soil prevented anything from growing. Enter the sunflower Queen who uncovers the soil and plants sunflowers, creating a field of delight. … Continue Reading

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Sports

Golf pro-am success _ without clubhouse

By Karen Stephens A record field of 172 players, including 43 professionals from New Zealand and Australia, battled light winds, warm temperatures and even light early-morning fog at Martinborough golf’s 2024 CER Electrical and Holmes Construction pro-am on February 1. At least that was the range of excuses for some …

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 …

Martinborough Golf Club has tumbled down

The demolition of the Martinborough Golf Club is complete. In the last days prior to Christmas a fully-insulated pole shed, much like a top end farm outbuilding, was erected to act as both office and temporary clubhouse. New septic tanks, internet connectivity, power, water, and Porticom loos were installed. On …

Regular Features

News from First Church

 Many folk imagine that going to church is a bit of an ordeal, a waste …

FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly In February the local Lions Club invited me for dinner and asked …

Driving Growth and Collaboration: Martinborough Business Assn Committee

The Martinborough Business Association Committee plays an important role in fostering economic growth and collaboration …

How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

Michael Bing talks to Lyle Griffiths Michael was raised in Auckland, attending St Peters College …

BOOK REVIEWS FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS

By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop “Whether Violent or Natural” by Natasha Calder This debut …

Community Garden News

By Debbie Yates This is definitely the month of thank you. Nga Mihi Nui! We …

EVENTS

Saturday 10 February: 10th annual Citizen Science Kākahi Count at Western Lake Shore Reserve, 18km …

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