The A Team

Around fifteen people deliver the Martinborough Star as their contribution to the community. Most have been braving the elements and wandering dogs for going on for nine years.

These good people are the critical cog in the process, a newspaper, no matter how good, is nothing until it is delivered.

As a way of acknowledge their great work each month the Star will invite one of the delivery team to be interviewed by Rachel McCahon. Each month a name will be drawn at random – note; some of the team have opted not to be interviewed. … Continue Reading

The extraordinary travels of a 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost now visiting Martinborough

Some Martinborough residents who were at the Martinborough Brewery just before Christmas when John and Rae Kennedy pulled in to sample the local craft beer will be familiar with their magnificent 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The car created much interest and several were lucky enough to be taken for a drive by John. The Kennedys are ex-pat New Zealanders who reside in England. They come to their Martinborough home for most of the summer. The Wairarapa is an ideal place to live for vintage car enthusiasts being home to veteran, vintage and classic car clubs.

Seeing the film, Genevieve, about a beautiful old car taking part in the London to Brighton veteran car rally aroused the young John Kennedy’s interest in vintage cars. Shortly after, Genevieve was sold to a New Zealander. John, brought up on a Waikato dairy farm, saw the car in a display of historic vehicles at an A&P Show. A passion for vintage cars was ignited.
Following several serendipitous encounters, John became the owner of his car in the 1980s. It participated in the 1913 Austrian Alpine Contest driven by Mr James Radley, the first owner who also built the touring coachwork on the car. … Continue Reading

Variety is the spice of life

Us humans sure are creatures of habit. We often do the same things on a daily basis, which can be comforting but can also put us in a rut. When it comes to food, many of us eat similar things every day (the same cereal for breakfast each morning, or cook the same recipes for dinner each week). And while we may be choosing healthy options, if we narrow our food choices too much it is unlikely we will get the full range of nutrients we need for optimal health.
Increasing the number of different foods you eat over a few days or a week, will help ensure you are getting a good mix of essential vitamins and minerals so you can feel your best. To help you do this, you could:

Each week try mixing things up by buying a new fruit/vegetable/grain/nut that you haven’t used in your cooking before and incorporate it in a new recipe.
Aim for a rainbow of vegetable colours on your dinner plate, not only greens! Think beetroot, tomatoes, yellow capsicum, red cabbage, cauliflower and carrots.
Spend some time planning your meals for the week ahead – this can take the stress out of knowing what to cook at 5pm each day as well as helping ensure your diet is balanced and nutritious.
Tea Retreats offer delicious and simply monthly meal plans for those in a cooking rut – lots of tasty and nourishing meal and snack ideas (complete with recipes) with your health in mind. The individualised plans are developed to tempt your tastebuds and provide your body with a balanced approach to nutrition. … Continue Reading

Martinborough produce on show

Martinborough was represented among the Wellington region’s top food and beverage suppliers exhibiting at the Wellington On a Plate Supplier Showcase held at the Michael Fowler Centre. Chefs and retail buyers were treated to the latest and greatest gourmet goods products including artisan cheese, cured meats, fresh produce, wine and specialty liqueurs.

New Martinborough goats cheese producer, The Drunken Nanny, exhibited at the showcase for the first time. Along with Atarangi Vineyard with Pete Monk on hand to discuss the wines and Nalini Baruch with her Lot Eight Olive Oil

“The Visa Wellington On a Plate festival is a highly-anticipated event for locals and visitors, and is a delicious celebration of Wellington’s amazing produce, culinary creativity and hospitality excellence. It was great to see restaurants and suppliers discussing new collaborative ideas at the showcase. I can’t wait to taste what they come up with this year.”
Michal Haines, General Manager of Farro Fresh Food, said the showcase was a fantastic opportunity to speak to new producers and those already supplying their Auckland stores. “We wish Auckland held something like this to help small producers grow into successful businesses.”