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District Council Notes

March 15, 2019 March 2019 Comments Off on District Council Notes

Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.  These lines from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge could well have been applied to Martinborough over the past 3 weeks and emphasise how critical water is for us. The fact that Martinborough was on a ‘boil water’ notice was far from ideal but it does highlight that the systems are in place to deal with the situation when something does go wrong.  It also shows that the spotlight is on small councils to step up and invest further in ensuring potable water supplies are as safe as they possibly can be.  The government is expecting them to have a belt and braces approach and have said in no uncertain terms that they will legislate to achieve this. This leaves SWDC with the conundrum of how it supplies a secure and treated supply from a system that when set up, was also expected to supply water for irrigation to vineyards.  This requires investment, not just in plant and pipes but also in a broader knowledge base to supplement the expertise it already has in-house. SWDC is not alone in its dilemma as all council water supplies, large and small, are under the spotlight following on from the Havelock North contamination in August 2016.  

One model that the government is interested in is one that already exists on the other side of the Remutaka’s – Wellington Water.  This organisation was established in September 2014 as a result of a merger between Capacity Infrastructure Services and Greater Wellington Regional Council’s bulk water supply group.  It is owned by the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils and Greater Wellington Regional Council. The councils are all equal shareholders. … Continue Reading

Don Pasquale – G. Donizetti: 

March 15, 2019 March 2019 Comments Off on Don Pasquale – G. Donizetti: 

Martinborough Town Hall, February 9th, 2019

Producer: Georgia Jamieson Emms. Director: Jacqueline Coats. Accompanist: Bruce Greenfield

Wanderlust Opera was founded by Featherston soprano, Georgia Jamieson Emms, to realise her dream of creating a company to take “…fun, affordable, accessible opera performed in English” to smaller centres for their enjoyment. Passionate about opera, it is also a vehicle for Georgia to grow new audiences for the genre. 

Don Pasquale is an opera comedy (opera buffa). Broadly, it tells the story of a foolish old bachelor (Stuart Coats) who has romantic aspirations to take a young woman, Norina, (Georgia Jamieson Emms) as his wife. Thrown into the mix is Pasquale’s nephew, Ernesto (Barbara Paterson) who is also in love with Norina. Dr Malatesta, (Craig Beardsworth) a wily manipulator, sorts out this imbroglio to Norina’s and Ernesto’s advantage, leaving Don Pasquale as alone at the end as he was at the beginning of the opera. Amidst all this silliness is Donizetti’s sublime, melodic score – beautiful arias, ensemble and orchestra (Bruce Greenfield-piano). The performers gave polished performances as they sung, acted and danced their way through the opera. Jacqueline Coats sets were attractive and deceptively simple. … Continue Reading

Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 Law Changes

March 15, 2019 March 2019 Comments Off on Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 Law Changes

Employment New Zealand advise us : this Act introduced a number of Employment changes that aim to improve fairness in the workplace and deliver decent work conditions and fair wages / it restores protection for employees , especially vulnerable employees and strengthens the role of collective bargaining in the workplace / it rolls out the law back to how it was as recently as 2015 .

The Act passed with most changes taking effect either 12.12.18 or 06.05.19.

Changes effective December 12th 2018 : … Continue Reading

$10,000 goal well surpassed 

March 15, 2019 March 2019 Comments Off on $10,000 goal well surpassed 

A great night was had by all at the P&K ‘Quiz for Life’ at the Village Cafe on the 23rd of February.

The P&K team had set an ambitious goal of raising $10,000 for Relay for Life, with funds going to The Wairarapa Cancer Society.

Over $4,000 had already been raised through sausage sizzles and raffles but it was decided that a quiz night would be a great way of hitting the target. Dustys and Lulu kindly designed a poster, tickets were advertised and within just two weeks all of the 13 quiz tables available were sold out!

Originally the plan was to hold the evening at The Martinborough Rugby Club, but due to an unforeseen licensing issue we found ourselves without a venue just 2 weeks out from the Quiz, a huge thank you must go to Bruce and Chris from the Village Cafe who came to our rescue and happily provided their wonderful space at very short notice. … Continue Reading

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Sports

Golf pro-am success _ without clubhouse

By Karen Stephens A record field of 172 players, including 43 professionals from New Zealand and Australia, battled light winds, warm temperatures and even light early-morning fog at Martinborough golf’s 2024 CER Electrical and Holmes Construction pro-am on February 1. At least that was the range of excuses for some …

Featherston wrestlers go offshore

Two members of Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club’s senior class have again been asked to join a New Zealand team overseas.  Wairangi Sargent and Angus Read will take part in the Journeymen Tournament and Training Camp over Easter in New York state.  Over the week they are there they will be …

Martinborough Golf Club has tumbled down

The demolition of the Martinborough Golf Club is complete. In the last days prior to Christmas a fully-insulated pole shed, much like a top end farm outbuilding, was erected to act as both office and temporary clubhouse. New septic tanks, internet connectivity, power, water, and Porticom loos were installed. On …

Regular Features

News from First Church

 Many folk imagine that going to church is a bit of an ordeal, a waste …

FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly In February the local Lions Club invited me for dinner and asked …

Driving Growth and Collaboration: Martinborough Business Assn Committee

The Martinborough Business Association Committee plays an important role in fostering economic growth and collaboration …

How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

Michael Bing talks to Lyle Griffiths Michael was raised in Auckland, attending St Peters College …

BOOK REVIEWS FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS

By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop “Whether Violent or Natural” by Natasha Calder This debut …

Community Garden News

By Debbie Yates This is definitely the month of thank you. Nga Mihi Nui! We …

EVENTS

Saturday 10 February: 10th annual Citizen Science Kākahi Count at Western Lake Shore Reserve, 18km …

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