Martinborough Lions have issued a special “thank you” to Mark Taylor (of Taylor and Hawkins) for his no-cost assistance ahead of the April Skyline Challenge event.
“We neglected to thank Mark Taylor from ‘Taylor and Hawkins’ for him using his digger to walk (digger ride) around the course to tidy up the track for the mountain bikers and runners, at no cost.
“This was a very generous gesture! ” the Lions Club belatedly noted.
Mark it in your diary – Saturday 7 September 9:30 a.m. – a community planting morning
on the banks of the well-known fishing river which runs just north of some of Martinborough’s heritage vineyards: the Hua-angarua.
This is a joint project between South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group (SWBG), well-known local farmer James Bruce, Greater Wellington Regional Council and committed community members.
The group has also connected with local Iwi to learn their perspective and gauge their support for the Hua-angarua mahi, support which they have generously provided.
“In doing so we have learnt that the grazing and cropping paddocks north of the planting area used to be the site of a Māori village,” said South Wairarapa Diversity Group committee member Owen Harvey. (More detail attached). … Continue Reading
By Martin Freeth
Many South Wairarapa households are paying substantially more in rates again this year under the impact of both a planned 37% hike in district council spending and a major redesign of the rating
system.
Rates for the first quarter of 2024-25 are due on 20 August – and for higher value households with all council services in Martinborough, Featherston or Greytown, the district council component of their bill is up another 18%-plus on last year.
For some, the increase is much higher – a $1.4 million property is, for example, paying 32% more this year.
On the flipside, in-town households with a lower capital value are paying only 2-6% more than last year and lower value commercial properties in the three towns are, in many cases, enjoying a rates reduction.
These changes all occur in the South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) component of rates bills, before regional council rates are added — they’re changes that together become the SWDC’s declared 14.7% rates increase for 2024-25. That’s the so-called “combined effect” of the annual plan and budget adopted on 26 June.
The year’s 14.7% rise will add to South Wairarapa’s reputation for rates hikes among the highest in New Zealand. In fact, the district’s overall rates have risen solidly since 2020 and this year comes on top of SWDC’s 19.8% hit on ratepayers last year (2023-24). … Continue Reading
South Wairarapa district can be relatively dark in the evening and the community will benefit
significantly from the pedestrian crossing lighting upgrade under way, SWDC said mid-July.
The project will “brighten the way for walkers with the installation of new lights at the 16 pedestrian crossings across the district,” it said in a statement.
The half-million dollar lighting revamp includes 10 Martinborough crossings, with two in Featherston and four in Greytown.
“We are very pleased to be undertaking this work, which will benefit pedestrian safety at night
throughout the district,” said Tim Langley, principal advisor, roading.
“All lights will be compliant with the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve (WDSR), which has been consulted throughout the planning process to ensure the lighting meets the needs of pedestrians and adheres to Dark Sky criteria. … Continue Reading
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