Blue Earth Estate takes major olive oil prize

Mike and Margaret Hanson pick up their award from judge Claudia Guillaume, of Australia.

Te Muna’s Blue Earth Estate Intense blend has won Best Boutique extra virgin olive oil at the New Zealand Olive Oil awards.

It was one of three top awards for Wairarapa olive growers, who combined won 30 medals at the annual national virgin olive oil awards – the largest haul for any region.

“Having previously won Reserve Best in Show twice, it was a delight to take out one of the top prizes this year,” said Margaret Hanson, who owns Blue Earth Estate with husband Mike.

The couple bought bare land at the south end of Te Muna Valley outside of Martinborough 27 years ago and started planting olives. They then got talked into adding a vineyard as well. 

They now produce a range of extra virgin olive oils each year, along with their own wines, Mike Hanson told The Star. 

“It has been quite a journey. Hard work. At times frustrating. But also immensely satisfying to produce premium products we enjoy sharing with our customers.”

Olives New Zealand in a statement said North Island growers “bagged the top awards this year.”

Major awards for the 2024 competition:

● Best in Show – Telegraph Hill Premium Blend, Hawke’s Bay

● Best Boutique – Blue Earth Estate Intense, Wairarapa

● Reserve Best in Show – River Grove Koroneiki, Wairarapa

● Reserve Best Boutique – Leafyridge Olives Picual, Wairarapa

● Best Flavoured Oil – Vernazoni Agrumato, Auckland

Regional breakdown of medal winners: Wairarapa 30 medals, Kāpiti 24, Nelson 8, Canterbury 6, Central Otago and Auckland 4 each, Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty 3 each, Marlborough 2, and Northland and Waiheke Island 1 each.

Dark Sky group sees national lighting controls protecting heritage

Dark Sky Reserve street light reflects downwards _ not up (Sackville St, Martinborough).

Martinborough’s founding dark sky reserve group had an early lucky break _ streetlights across Wairarapa’s towns were about to be changed in a bulk deal.

Instead, Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency agreed to install “dark sky friendly” lighting _ even though that style was not their initial choice. But as the proposed replacement “didn’t cost any more,” (it saved on electricity) the more dark sky friendly alternative was installed. 

Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve’s international designation followed two-plus years later – the second such international approval in New Zealand.

With a dozen dark sky places across the country, the local dark sky group is now advocating for nationwide regulatory change to ensure national public lighting controls are put into the law to address expanding light pollution. And to protect the future of our pristine skies.

Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve recommends that artificial light at night should be governed by national legislation and environmental standards – just as soil, air and water pollution currently are. Noise pollution is regulated and standards for it are established for enforcement at local council level.

In the absence of a national light pollution regulatory framework, every community has to mount its own efforts to persuade its local council to amend outdoor lighting provisions of the local District Plan. “That is time-consuming, expensive and very inefficient.” … Continue Reading

Martinborough Wine & Food Society

Not yet replete: Society members chow down at Top Pub event.

Top Pub in Greytown was the group’s latest dinner assignation. 

Members had a choice of two starter wines: one was red, the other white. 

The red was Primitivo Quota 29 ’21 Mont Albano (Italy), described as a ‘showstopper with luxurious fruits and spicy back notes.’ 

The white was Butterworth Chardonnay, Martinborough ‘21, described as ‘with scents and flavours of ripe freshly-picked apricots and peaches.’

The starter was Arancini. Mains were a choice of beef cheeks, Mediterranean stuffed chicken or beetroot risotto. 

The pudding was a beautifully made pannacotta with dark fruits.

We all had an enjoyable time. 

If you’d like to join us next time, contact Dave 027 453 0475 or Philippa 021 434 163.

Koha for that Summer wardrobe?

Clothing swap – or koha – a repeat event is on the way. The first effort at St Andrew’s Church Hall? 

“It was quite a fun time with people trying on clothes and a lot of laughter. And some were very delighted with the clothing they scored,” organiser Glenys Hansen told The Star.

“I guess we were worried about how this would go, and more importantly, would there be enough garments for people to check out?

“There was a generous amount of good quality garments (some even had labels still attached) and also a table of children’s clothes.”

For any swap there was no charge, but if a shopper had nothing to exchange, a koha was all that was needed to take the clothing away.

The clothing swap group said it has retained several boxes of the best clothing to repeat the Swap in November _ with the remainder going to the Resource Centre in Masterton.

“So keep 16 November free – coffee and cake provided, and come and try on clothes for your free Summer wardrobe,” she added. 

Clothing Swap St Andrews’ Church Hall Dublin St Saturday 16 November 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.