South Wairarapa Rebus Club

On Friday 26 September we heard from John Reeve, a Carterton resident, who retired last year from a 40 year career in the NZ Government Service as a regulatory toxicologist and risk assessor. Beginning with the risk assessment of pesticides and veterinary medicines as part of the registration process in New Zealand in 1976, he progressed through a variety of ministry reorganisations, finishing under the Ministry for Primary Industries, responsible for the risk assessment of any human exposures to chemicals and particularly to those chemicals that find their way into food. Most recently he has specialised in the toxicology of natural toxins, such as those produced by plants and marine species.

Toxicology is a broad profession calling for a wide understanding of the life sciences: biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, microbiology etc., although history’s first toxicologists, the archers who poisoned their arrow tips to kill mammoths, might not have understood the complexity of the game they were getting into. For instance, some essential nutrients, such as iodine, are toxic if taken in excess quantities. The New Zealand diet is deficient in iodine but a recommendation to require it to be added to bread was not accepted and instead it is added voluntarily by bakers.   … Continue Reading

South Wairarapa Neighbourhood Support 

Each month Neighbourhood Support New Zealand launches a national campaign where we focus on a theme or topic relevant to the time of year or which ties in with another extensive campaign in the community. The idea behind this is that by having one common mission, our members and supporters can come together at a national-level and focus on a single cause, allowing us to maximise our impact. 

How members and supporters take part is completely up to the individual or group! You may want to simply share our posts on Facebook or organise an event / project that ties in with the theme. These campaigns are not meant to replace the work our organisations already perform, but rather provide another opportunity to raise awareness for important issues and show others what Neighbourhood Support is all about.  … Continue Reading

MARTINBOROUGH RUGBY CLUB

It may not be rugby season but there is still a lot happening.  Firstly congratulations to Tim Priest and Tristan Flutey who have been selected for the NZ Heartland XV and will be travelling to Fiji.

THE PUKEMANU BULLRIDE – returns on Saturday 16 November with the earlier start time of 5pm, finishing at 8pm.  Gates open at 3.30pm, tickets are $15 per Adult & $5 per child under 12.  Bar and food available – NO BYO.  This is our 6th Bull Ride and your chance to check out some of the best Open Bull Riders in New Zealand.  There will also be some brave locals trying their luck on novice bulls. Its not too late to jump on as a sponsor – contact James Bruce 0272772962 for more information.

SOCIAL TOUCH – returns Friday 15 November.  $30 per team, max 12 per team (6 on the field).  Teams must have 3 people on the filed at all times that are either female, aged under 13, or aged 45+.  Contact Rachael to enter your team benview@xtra.co.nz … Continue Reading

Star Field” opens up the Universe

Star Field astronomy centre and observatory complex _ the first major new dark sky viewing facility built near Martinborough _ has opened for night sky business.

Star Field Martinborough founder John Whitby said his aim is to share the local dark sky experience “with the public, other astronomers and budding astronomers.”

“I want to promote astronomy _ and this location (at Ruakokoputuna, 10 minutes from Martinborough Square) was chosen for its great dark skies and its proximity to urban centres,” he told The Martinborough Star.

The complex includes a roll-off roof dome with three Dobsonian computer-controlled telescopes for public viewing, and two separate domes for deep sky viewing, one of which has high-value imaging equipment to capture images of the deep sky in colour. The other is to capture live video images.

“I intend to broadcast those video images (of the Martinborough sky) world-wide through various channel providers (like nightskynetwork.com),” he said. … Continue Reading