Performing arts lessons hit the local stage

Starlight Performing Arts has offered drama lessons to children from the South Wairarapa since the beginning of Term 1. 

Jody McCartney, the director, has over 25 years’ experience onstage specializing in musical theatre and has taught singing and drama in Wellington and London.

“We wanted to offer something fun and different to the youth in our community, to bring the kids together to connect with each other while having fun,” she said. 

“We really wanted to work in the amazing Waihinga Centre theatre as it’s such a beautiful space.” “On Mondays and Tuesday afternoons the theatre certainly comes alive when 35 eager and enthusiastic performers from the ages of 5 to 14 bustle in ready to learn, make friends and have a great time!”

Starlight Performing Arts caters to three different groups, each having their own 60 minute lesson. Our “Rising Stars” are 5 to 7-year-olds, “Shooting Stars” are for 7 to 10-year-olds and our “All-Stars” group is for 10 to 14-year-olds. 

The students are mainly from Martinborough School, but also some from Greytown, Carterton and Masterton Intermediate School.

Jody said the group has covered a lot in Term One, including vocal technique, character development, improvisation, as well as a stage combat session! 

“The fact we get to use the beautiful space adds so much to the experience and the children just love getting up on the stage and sharing what they have learnt in their lesson.”

Next term, Starlight Performing Arts are adding additional classes including a children’s singing and dancing “Glee Club” and some adult group singing classes. 

“All of these classes will culminate in a showcase performance at the end of this year, creating a fun event that will bring our community together to enjoy,” she added.

If you or your child is interested in joining, please contact Jody at:  www.starligthperformingartsnz.co.nz

Martinborough fire season still controlled

Fire brigade medical responders hand over to LifeFlight at Lake Ferry. 

The FIRE SEASON has moved to RESTRICTED, meaning a permit is required for most fires both rural and in town. 

There is still a lot of dry vegetation about so please be careful even when you have a permit. For details: www.checkitsalright.nz. 

The brigade are actively looking for both some new firefighters and some medical responders, especially during daytime hours when we lose people to the “Big Smoke” and out of town for work. We are very adaptable around your availability, and if you can help daytimes we can pretty much cover the evening and nights.

Benefits to you, your family or employer, are the opportunity to develop a range of valuable skills, perhaps increase your physical fitness and the opportunity to work with a great bunch of people, who are often the first point of call in an emergency in your community. 

Not only that: we will fully equip you and train you for free!

Grab one of Martinborough’s firefighters for a chat if you see them around town (they might even buy you a coffee), or pop in on a Tuesday night when we are training.

We are at over 110 call-outs already this year, the majority being for our specialist Medical Response Unit, so we are definitely on target to beat last year’s 350 call total.

As the cooler autumn nights approach, we are all thinking about lighting our fires and relaxing in their glow, so make sure your chimney receives an annual sweep/clean, and always dispose of hot ashes in a metal container away from any flammable materials, like the outside decks.

Be careful on the roads as conditions change and please wear a seat belt.

Skyline Challenge “roaring” success for Lions

Peace, space and views of Martinborough’s countryside that are quintessential Skyline Challenge.

After last year’s cyclonic washout, this year’s Lions’ Club Skyline Challenge was a “roaring” success, with around 250 participants turning up to mountain bike ride, run and walk over the challenging hills north of town to enjoy the fabulous views and perfect weather conditions.

“It was such a disappointment last year when, in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, we had to cancel at the last minute due to flooding,” said Skyline spokesperson, Lee Quayle. 

“This year though, we had a flood of a different kind with around two thirds of the entries coming in the last couple of weeks,” he added.

A large portion of entries are from families and included children and youngsters entering their first event. Entries came from as far afield as Hawkes Bay, Palmertson North and Wellington. “Most of them came from our totally supportive local community,” Lee said.

The Skyline Challenge is a major fundraiser for Martinborough Lions each year. This year’s charity is again the Martinborough Pump Track Project, due to get started later in 2024. 

Proceeds from this year’s event means the Club is able to meet their commitment to the pump track project. … Continue Reading

Wairarapa Moana scene of UN Special Rapporteur visit

It went under the radar locally.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Cali-Tzay, visited Wairarapa early April to hear directly from the Moana’s customary owners about the Crown’s actions that stopped the the Waitangi Tribunal returning Iwi lands taken in 1949.

Kingi Smiler, Chair of Wairarapa Moana Incorporation, noted it was the first visit by a UN Special Rapporteur to Wairarapa Moana.

“The Special Rapporteur visited our Wairarapa Lakes and was told the story of their gifting to the Crown in 1896 in return for land reserves in the Wairarapa, and the trail of broken promises by the Crown that followed,” Smiler said in a statement afterwards.

The site visit was followed by a hui at Masterton’s Te Rangimarie Marae, with descendants of the customary Māori owners of Wairarapa Moana:  Rangitāne o Wairarapa, Ngai Tūmapūhia-a-rangi hapū, Pouākani hapū and Mangatu.

“Our whānau … told the Special Rapporteur that the Crown’s actions in stopping the Waitangi Tribunal return our Pouākani lands was a breach of our human rights, and the Treaty of Waitangi, and (has had a) significant impact on our whanau over the last 160 years.”

“This is not an issue which will simply fade over time. We remain resolute in our pursuit of our lands, for justice and for redress,” he said. … Continue Reading