Cape Palliser Road is no longer a Special Purpose Road 

It has been coming as part of a plan created some years ago, but the end to full funding for the coast road at Cape Palliser has arrived. It was given full funding “due to its high tourism value and high maintenance costs, with minimal local rate income”.  

Currently 100% funded as one of several Special Purpose Road’s around NZ, it is going to be pared back to 85-90% funding (we think) of the 4 “problem areas” (Te Kopi, Johnson’s Hill, Whatarangi and Turner’s Bay. The remainder of the road from the Lake Ferry turnoff to the end of the road will be funded using the Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) of 51%, which will apply to all the roads across the South Wairarapa that are not state highways. This means Waka Kotahi provides 51% of road funding, and not 100%, to the remainder of the Cape Palliser Road.  … Continue Reading

Martinborough RSA

ANZAC morning 25^th April and prior to Dawn, members of Martinborough Returned Services Assn, Defence Service Personnel and Returned Servicemen and women, Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade members, Rev May Croft, Councillors, Scouts, Martinborough School and Kuranui College students and Martinborough residents assembled outside Pain & Kershaw’s.  The Parade, led by the Wairarapa Pipe Band and under Parade Marshall, Daniel Hawkins marched to the Cenotaph for our ANZAC Service at 6am. … Continue Reading

News From First Church

Tribute to Mike Beckett

It was with great sadness that we heard that Mike had passed away.  We remember him with great fondness and acknowledge the kindness he has always shown to First Church over many years.  Mike always painted our Kirk Fair and Book Fair wooden signs, painting out and repainting the many changes of dates.  The Book Fair and Kirk Fair flyers were inserted in the relevant issues of the Star.  Mike would bring the Star to the Church hall; the team would madly insert the flyers and Mike would bundle the Stars into the delivery numbers and off he would go. We always received reminders a week before the Star was due to be published to prevent holding up the paper. The column would have to be ready on the deadline (or just after)!!  It is these acts of kindness and community spirit that were Mike to a ‘T’.  To Anne and family our condolences on your loss. RIP Mike you will be sorely missed. … Continue Reading

Connection – A personal touch to business and life.

We, like many, would like firstly to acknowledge the passing of Mike Beckett. The monthly email interactions between myself and Mike when it was to me to get our article in will be missed. It is also a graphic reminder of the speed at which time passes us!!!!  It was a little thing, quite silly really, but created a great connection. Our thoughts go to Mike’s family and the Team at The Star where he was an integral part.

It is “connection” that is one of our drivers as an Association. There are two elements to this, … Continue Reading