Waihinga Centre

Join us on the 10^th December

South Wairarapa District Council and the Waihinga Charitable Trust invite you to join us on 

Monday 10 December at 11am for the official blessing and opening of the Waihinga Centre, followed by refreshments and tours.

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Thank you

Once again Martinborough has shown what a small community can achieve if we put our minds to it, there are hundreds of businesses and individuals to thank.

The Waihinga Charitable Trust, Fundraising Team, Construction Team and Communications team.
South Wairarapa District Council, Mayors, Councillors, Staff and Martinborough Community Board past and present.
The Design Team – Warren and Mahoney, Holmes Consulting and Wraights and Associates.
David Borman – Project Manager.
Riggs Zschokke  – Main Contractor.
All of the building Sub Contractors and suppliers including many who donated materials and services or who held their prices in the face of rising costs.
SGL Group Ltd.
Our Tenants who will be operating out of the Centre including Destination Wairarapa, Plunket, “Knucklebone” by Neighbourhood Coffee, the Library and the Toy Library.

All of our financial donors – over 120 individuals, businesses and service clubs’ in particular our Gold Donors; NZ Lotteries, Eastern and Central Trust, NZ Plunket, Pain Estate, Trust House and Richard Riddiford.
All those who have organised events, donated time and materials or gifted items for the fit out of the centre.

Thank you all.

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Toast Martinborough celebrates another successful event 

Toast Martinborough wine, food and music festival has delivered another day to remember for 8000 happy festival goers.

Toast Martinborough General Manager Anna Nielson said the 2018 event was one of the best in the 27-year history of the festival, with happy revellers enjoying the mix of food, wine and music spread across the nine participating winery sites.

“We were incredibly pleased with how the day unfolded – the weather ended up better than expected, the wine was flowing, wonderful food prepared by some of the best chefs in business was enjoyed, and a fantastic line up of musicians had everyone singing and dancing throughout the day.”

Ms Nielson said there were many highlights from the day including having Palliser and Escarpment back on the Toast circuit, the varied range of wines for people to try, and the quality of the food on offer.

“We were also delighted at the huge response to our Fashion Finds in the Vines competition,” Ms Nielson said. … Continue Reading

WHAREKAKA NEWS

Another busy month has passed by at Wharekaka.Life is certainly never dull at Wharekaka.  We have begun working with the Martinborough Lions Club and Green Jersey Cycles to take residents out on their bikes around the community. Residents are enjoying this and the new way to  see the countryside!!

A lovely afternoon tea was held for long term staff member, Naomi Alloway.  Naomi retired from her position.  We wish her all the best in her retirement.

We are now looking forward to all the activities that come with the Christmas season. Starting off with the Christmas paraded and Carols in the park, look out for Wharekaka.  We hope to defend our trophy received last year at the carol singing. … Continue Reading

Toni Pyl’s War Memories

Part 8

Our visits to Oma in Rotterdam had stopped long ago. There always seemed to be an air raid when we were there and didn’t want to be killed! She thought this was nonsense as she believed that God protected her so her house was safe. There was no doubt that that windows were often broken all around her – but never hers!

In such dangerous times we decided it was better to stay at home and we all slept together in the big bed with a suitcase packed for emergencies.

We lost our Jewish couple when the husband went to post a letter after dark, just before the 8pm curfew and never came back.  It was panic stations, his wife had to go and quick. We cleaned out their room to leave no trace of them and she slept the night in another room till early morning then fled to friends in the neighbourhood. 

It wasn’t until after the War that we heard what had happened. The husband was picked up on the street with a group of others for forced labour but later managed to jump from the train and escape. It was quite a topic of conversation back then – discussing in detail how to jump out of a train without being shot or hurting yourself. 

He was captured again but could prove he was a reserve army officer so the Germans sent him to a POW camp where he had a better time of it than we did because the Red Cross looked after them. His wife also survived and after the War they were very grateful to my parents, giving them generous gifts such as a TV. … Continue Reading