Showcasing Martinborough – Inaugural Summer Pix Competition

Showcasing Martinborough – Inaugural Summer Pix Competition
Imagine 240 photos of Martinborough in summertime, capturing the essence of our unique district. This is what Trish Higginson was amazed to receive in the inaugural summer pix competition that she set up and ran during January and February. Trish had noticed the DomPost’s annual competition and thought it would be worth a try as part of her Martinborough Village Facebook page. “I thought I might get 20 entries,” says Trish, “but never expected this”!

Because this was a test run in many ways, Trish explains that the competition evolved as it went along. “The categories were set as the number of entries grew. What started as a simple ‘Martinborough in summertime’ competition become so much bigger”, she says. Trish explains that the prizes evolved with the competition, involving a lot of discussion with businesses, who supported the initiative of promoting and showing what we have to offer in Martinborough. Along the way Trish realised she needed help, so incorporated the assistance of Karina Hailwood, who has joined Trish as a creative director of Martinborough Village. … Continue Reading

Quiz Night Fundraiser

Not all fundraising events are large and lavish affairs with months of organisation and a team of workers behind them. Some are simple and raise modest amounts of money, but are equally valued by those who benefit from them.

One such event took place quietly over last winter, and is set to do so again this year. The Martinborough Hotel Bar and Grill ran a pub quiz with a twist every second Thursday in 2014 between the end of daylight saving in April and its restart in October.

Jerry and Caroline Dolan, who own and run the Bar and Grill, say that “we get lots of requests from the community and we can’t support them all”. So they came up with the idea of introducing an element into their quizzes that would raise money in a low key way for a local cause. Each team entered in the quiz can buy one answer for the sum of $5. Then it is a matter of strategically using that answer to win the quiz. When scoring is very close, as it usually is, that one answer can mean the difference between glory and shame! … Continue Reading

Know your town

The first bridge

Prior to the opening of the original Waihenga bridge in 1873 access across the river was by a ferry boat to W Smith’s Waihinga Station. The bridge crossed to G Waterhouse’s Huangaroa Station and then south onto Lower Valley Road.

The official Party left the Provincial Government Building on a wet Wednesday 29th October 1873 for the opening to be held at Noon on the following day. The party boarding the coach included Messers Bunny, Dransfield, Buchanan, Seed, Buckley, Duncan, Gillion, Plimmer and Fisher. The coach stopped at the Hutt to pick up the Superintendant The Hon T H Fitzherbert and Wellington Mayor G Crawford. A second wagon carried the musicians to play at the function at Otaraia. … Continue Reading

Rugby Club News

The rugby season is fast approaching, boots have been dug out from the back of cupboards, rugby balls pumped up, and the talk is now about rugby over cricket…

Our JAB registration was held recently, with over 30 new registrations our club is looking really strong right through the age groups.
Each player that registered this year received a t-shirt that was specially designed by Dustys & Lulu, you will no doubt be seeing plenty of these around town. It is never too late to register, contact Tracey Tayles 0274635387 or pop into the Martinborough School Office and grab a form. The JAB season starts on the 9 May.

Good numbers have been turning out for the Senior trainings on Tuesday and Thursdays. A pre season game was held against Waikanae, and with a training run at Gladstone, they will be rearing to go when their season starts on the 11 April.

A huge thank you goes to Eastern & Central Community Trust who have granted us $5800 to replace the flooring in the kitchen and bar area. This has meant that things have been all go to get everything up and running before the start of the season. Thank you to Nigel Malneek (Malneek Plumbing), Nigel McCartney (Country Mile), Shane Hartnell, Total Care Flooring Design, and our wonderful volunteers that have been working hard to get this project done as quickly as possible. … Continue Reading