Council News

Elections: Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. It was pleasing to see that again South Wairarapa voting turnout was higher than the medium at 55% which is almost the same as in 2016. 

To my fellow Ward Councillors, Pip and Jeppy, it is great to be working with you again for the next three years.

Council meetings: As I write this, on the 30 October, we will all be sworn in, Councillors and Community Board members, at a ceremony in the Waihinga Centre.  I am looking forward to working with our new Mayor, Alex Beijen, my Martinborough Ward Councillors, Pip & Jeppy and my fellow councillors from Featherston & Greytown.  

Our first meeting will be to adopt the Annual Report, this is a summary of the achievements and milestones over the last 12 months.  Once adopted, a copy of this will be available on the SWDC website or can be requested from the Council office.

Celebrating 30 years of SWDC: On 1 November, we celebrate the milestone of the Martinborough, Featherston and Greytown Borough Councils and the Featherston County Council joining together 30 years ago (1989) to become what we know as the South Wairarapa District Council.   … Continue Reading

Did you know

THE ROSE AND FLOWER show is on this Saturday at the Town Hall. Come along and be amazed at the beautiful blooms – and delight in the scents.  

IN THE FIRST six months of this year Life Flight flew rescue flights helping a total of 765 people. There will be a Wairarapa rural horse trek fundraiser for Life Flight over the 29 th November and 1 st December. For details contact Joe Brown Chejoe@xtraco.nz  06 377 7429 or 027 758 1711. 

THE AVERAGE City/District Council personal cost is $1, 364 per household. Westland council has the dubious honour of being New Zealand’s most expensive at $3, 643 per household. While at only  $724 South Wairarapa is in New Zealand’s lowest five.  A pat on the back for SWDC. 

‘A BOOKSHOP is one of the only pieces of evidence  we have that people are still thinking’ –Jerry Seinfield … Continue Reading

A LITTLE MORE from the MUSE …

It’s almost certain that the vast majority of my readers will be familiar with the nagging and sometimes panic-inducing feeling of being short of time. There’s even a word for it these days – time-poor; although in my case, time-absolutely-skint might be more apt. Full of confidence, we set ourselves a collection of tasks which are affectionately titled ‘Things To Do’. These may be in order of importance and priority, but trying to follow that sequence demands strong flesh as well as that willing spirit. I, for one, seem to be doomed to fail. And setting time limits doesn’t help.

Here’s a poem I jotted down one day – probably procrastinating at the time! … Continue Reading

Do Male and Female Brains Differ?

It’s a myth.

It has long been thought that male and female brains are different.

‘Men are from Mars and women are from Venus’ is the kind of pop psychology that grew out of the belief that because ‘men have bigger brains’ they were better able to think and process. It is true than on average, the brain of an average man weighs around 140 grams (5 ounces) heavier than the brain of an average female. 

Research shows, however, that irrespective of gender, the bigger a person is, the bigger the brain will be. It is body size that determines brain size. There is no evidence to suggest, however, that bigger brains are ‘better and more able’ brains.

MRI reveals the truth

With the advent of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scans, we know that human brains are plastic, capable of growing, changing and being moulded in many different ways.

A 2015 study led by Daphna Joel at Tel Aviv University examined the brains of more than 100 brain structures in over 1400 brain scans and found that it was impossible to divide these neatly into female-typical and male-typical brains. Each brain had a mosaic of different characteristics. … Continue Reading