Another month of night hill closures

Another month of five-night-in-a-row Remutaka Hill road closures is ahead as authorities rebuild what is desribed as a severe “downside” slip which undercut the outside lane at one of the road’s narrowest sections.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi began its overnight work on October 7, noting the sight “requires immediate action to stabilise the slip and build a retaining wall to protect the road.”

“Because of the work involved, the equipment needed to do the work and to keep workers and the public safe, the road will have to be closed” at nights for at least nine weeks, it added at the time.

Remutaka Hill road _ the main artery linking Wellington and Wairarapa _ has an average of 7,219 vehicles using the road daily. Of these, some 256 use the road between 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.

The agency noted some 15 concrete piles are being installed to prevent the slip from deteriorating and severely disrupting the road, and will be followed by the construction of  a retaining wall at the slip site.

Closures continue Sunday to Thursday nights, with one lane under Stop/Go traffic control 24/7. 

The agency said consultation had shown that such “block closures” were the best and safest way to carry out repairs and maintenance on the route.

130-year-old grande dame of Martinborough

From The Martinborough Star, October 1894:

“The Martinborough Public Library was formally opened on Thursday afternoon [October 18, 1894]; Mr John Martin  [runholder and town founder] presided, and in a happy speech referred to the efforts of the Martinborough people, who had succeeded without extraneous aid, in erecting a handsome and commodious library for the benefit of the district. 

“He afterwards declared the library open. There was a large attendance of the general public, and Mesdames Martin and Quick entertained the company at afternoon tea.”

A list of notable attendees followed, then:

“Mr and Mrs Johnston of the Club Hotel greatly assisted the proceedings.

“The library, which is centrally situated, is very comfortable, being modelled after the style of a club-house and is already completely furnished and well-stocked with books and periodicals.”

The Star notes an evening fund-raising concert and dance followed, adding that “the dance was well attended, and was kept up till the early hours.”

Martinborough Museum now occupies that 1894 library building on The Square.

Martinborough hosts Wairarapa’s first regional park – a plantation forest

Hiwinui, Wairarapa’s first regional park, could be set up and ready for visitors within three years _ just 10 minutes drive from Martinborough and owned by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC).

Hiwinui regional park, sited at the northeast edge of Aorangi Forest Park, is a GWRC plantation forest, leased for 60 years to a forestry company.

Some 770 hectares in area, Hiwinui comprises two-thirds pine forest and 34 percent native forest. The erosion-prone land is zoned primary production and was bought more than 30 years ago and designated for soil conservation and river control. 

 The purchase was part of an initiative to rehabilitate the land and reduce soil erosion into local rivers and streams, thus minimising flood damage to local communities. 

GWRC Wairarapa representative Adrienne Staples told The Star this first local regional park project had taken four years “to get over the line.”

The park was a response to submissions received from Wairarapa residents during the development of Greater Wellington’s Toitū Te Whenua Parks Network Plan, she said. 

“Joe (Howells, Aorangi Restoration Trust) and Max (Stevens, former councillor; Martinborough Lions) were the locals that kicked off this conversation” of the regional park idea, she added.

“Our initial development plans for Hiwinui are to provide a picnic area, toilet facilities and signage to give people access to the stunning views that the forest offers of Wairarapa Moana and the Lower Valley.” … Continue Reading

Luna Estate Pinot Noir wins top Gold Medal

Martinborough’s Luna Estate winery has taken out the Gold and Champion Pinot Noir award at the annual New World wine awards, beating 61 other Pinots in the process.

“Gold & Champion Pinot Noir Luna Estate Pinot Noir 2022” said the formal citation, adding the winning wine has “a fine texture and delicious savoury notes.”

There were a total of 62 entries in the Pinot Noir class, with eight awarded Gold Medals.

The judges’ citation also notes: “This Champion Pinot Noir comes from the well-established Eclipse and Blue Rock vineyards in Martinborough. 

“Winemaker Joel Watson demonstrates his talent with back-to-back vintages in the Top 50. This fine and spicy wine is tremendous value for money. 

“Captivating and savoury, with mushroom, baking spice, cherry, and plum.”

Head winemaker Joel Watson said the recognition went a long way to showcasing Luna Estate as a local brand. 

The winning wine currently is on sale at Thorndon New World in Wellington for $22.99 a bottle.