Turnout will rule local election vote on Maori wards

It took South Wairarapa councillors just 10 minutes to confirm their support for a Maori ward seat at the district’s council table. 

The unanimous approval came more than two decades after the body agreed to establish a Maori Standing Committee, to help ensure the local tangata whenua voice was heard.

Then central government intervened. The result is that 42 district councils across the motu will hold referenda on their Maori ward seats during the October local body elections _ a move that will costs ratepayers an estimated $2 million. Here, an estimated $20,000.

The district councils’ response to pursue costly local referenda was seen as strong opposition to the government’s action from both councils and Maori communities.  … Continue Reading

Year of big decisions, so play a part: Community Board

Decisions, Decisions …

We have an extremely busy year ahead with numerous BIG decisions to be made – even if

you have never previously been involved with local government, make 2025 the year to participate.

The 2024-2035 Long Term Plan (LTP) is open for consultation during February and March.

This document sets our future rates and determines priorities for council spending – it is important everyone takes this opportunity to provide input. If you have never engaged in a consultation process and want to know more about how to get involved, speak to the Community Board or your councillors – it is important to have your say. … Continue Reading

News From First Church

For some enthusiasts hellbent on self-improvement, a new year offers the opportunity of new year resolutions. These usually take the form of tasks which can be achieved with a little self-discipline – things like not kicking the cat, eating less cholesterol – reducing items like dairy products, or, horror of horrors in a viticultural area like Martinborough _ laying off the wine. 

The first thing your GP asks of locals at the Medical Centre is: – “So how many do you have every day?” to which the answer is “a couple,” to which the next question is, “glasses or bottles?”

There are of course more serious topics to be tackled as a new year gets underway. … Continue Reading

No police progress in Kitchener ram-raid inquiry

Police are asking for more community help with their inquiries into the Kitcheners Cafe ram-raid of late November.

Detective constable Johnnie Low told The Star that investigators “continue to appeal for information about the ram raid.”

A stolen front-end loader was used by the raid perpetrator to slam into the Kitcheners frontage in a bid to snatch the ANZ Bank’s ATM machine housed in the front corner of the cafe.

CCTV footage showed the loader driven at speed into the front of the building, ripping apart the building’s corner but failing to dislodge the ATM machine _ which was knocked over by the force of the colliding loader bucket.   

Police later confirmed any cash in the machine would have been coloured by liquid dye inside the ATM following the collision, rendering it unusable. … Continue Reading