My Speech 

Name: Marea Martin

Did you know that we have a mountain of plastic in the Pacific Ocean and over ⅓ of all food produced globally goes to waste. And we could look after our planet a lot better because you should.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. My speech is about food waste and pollution.  Did you know that the world wastes one billion tonnes of food and animals are dying because of our actions.  These are some things that need to change – starting now!

Firstly, if we throw away food and rubbish it will go to a landfill. To change our world we could start with buying reusable things and we could reuse plastic things that we already have like straws and containers.

Secondly, our planet will look ugly if we keep littering.  We could use the rubbish bins and not buy plastic things.

Finally, people who don’t have any food at all, won’t survive.  If you are about to throw something away, think about the people who are hungry.

To conclude, food wastage and pollution is bad for people and the planet.

New man in the CEO chair

Harry Wilson, the new CEO of SWDC is connected to the area already by a curious coincidence.  Earlier in his career, when he worked at the Department of Social Welfare, his boss there was Griff Page.   Some years later Griff himself became Chief Executive of SWCD (retiring in 2009).  Now Harry is sitting in the same seat.

           Harry comes with a broad range of experience.  He’s been at the coalface of social issues, working at IHC in his home town of Whanganui and in the public sector in the Child Protection Policy area of what is now CYFS.  

He gained his environmental credentials at Waikato Regional Council where water quality and land use were a key focus of his work.   He’s particularly proud of work he did on Lake Taupo although the benefits won’t be apparent for many years.    A move to the NZ Transport Agency saw him involved in transportation, roading and associated infrastructure.   He has also worked closely with iwi, in particular Tainui on settlement issues. … Continue Reading

NEW SEASON’S OLIVE OIL TASTINGS – 

Tasting new, freshly-pressed olive oil – Italians refer to it as “Olio Nuovo” – a traditional harvest ritual and celebration to launch the new season’s extra virgin olive oil.

We’re delighted to bring this wonderful custom to Wairarapa with our inaugural series of EVOO tastings aimed at both the fine food industry and olive growers, led by our visiting international oil maker and judge, Pablo Voitzuk.

The main tasting – at the Union Square at 3:00pm on Friday 5th July – is a free, and intended for fine food and beverage industry people, especially Wairarapa businesses; it is not an event for the general public. This is a two hour masterclass for food/wine/olive oil industry people featuring super-fresh oils from New Zealand’s premier olive oil region. … Continue Reading

No tumbleweeds on Ineke’s watch

It’s stating the obvious to say that Martinborough is a very different town now from the one Ineke Pyl first visited in 1972.   What may not be so obvious is how many of the positive changes that have created today’s thriving village owe a debt to Ineke’s vision, energy and drive.

Her first impression of Martinborough, on a weekend visit with her friend Robyn Gunn, wasn’t great –  “All that’s missing is the tumble weed”.  In one of those statements that can come back to haunt you, she declared, “This is the last place on earth I would want to live.”

However fate, in the form of David’s sister Christine, was about to intervene. Ineke was her junior teacher at Green Meadows kindergarten and Christine arranged a blind date with David at a Ball in Napier.   You don’t need to be Einstein to work out what happened next.  Lots of to-ing and fro-ing between Martinborough and Napier and eventually a wedding.  Ineke became Head Teacher at Featherston kindergarten and Martinborough became her home and the canvas on which she worked her magic.

It all began with Ineke going in to bat over the telephone book.  “Why?” she asked, were Martinborough numbers listed as Featherston.  NZ Post proved no match for Ineke ‘s powers of persuasion and ever since the book has been published with a general South Wairarapa section instead. … Continue Reading