Arts & Culture – “It is what humanises us” – Paula Barnett

Martinborough resident, Paula Barnett, is passionate about arts and culture “it is the earliest expression of ideas without words, all embracing and very personal. It is an intrinsic part of our make- up”. Paula loves classical music.

With the Election only 3 weeks away at the time of writing, it is interesting to read the Arts and Culture Policies of the various Parties. Labour, National, New Zealand First, Act and the other minor parties do not have policies available. The Green Party has a comprehensive policy also seeing arts and culture as an intrinsic part of our society. They “recognise the value of community arts and community arts organisations through continued Creative Communities funding”. … Continue Reading

BANKS PHASING OUT CHEQUE USE:

In New Zealand there is a big change coming for some bank customers –  those who use cheques for payment or obtaining cash.

All the mainstream banks have publicised that cheque use has “fallen off a cliff”  and that is accelerating. It is probably fair to say that younger generations have never used a cheque account/book but for the older generations, it has been common practice. 

The first mainstream bank to go “cheque free“ was Kiwibank on February 28^th 2020, their rationale being that digital banking options are “easier, faster and cheaper” for customers.  … Continue Reading

A kindness film in the making.

If you wandered through Martinborough Square on the weekend of 26/27 September, you may have wondered just what was going on.

Milk, a short film about kindness, was written in lockdown by Martinborough resident Celia Jaspers, one of the directors of Hyundai Country Calendar and House Hunters International.  With a fitting theme in today’s world, Celia’s vision for Milk was finally realised over the weekend as she directed the cast and crew on location in Martinborough. … Continue Reading

Cooking corner

Baked kumera

Ingredients

4 medium Kumera 

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 garlic clove, finely grated 

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup nonfat Greek-style yogurt

1 spring onion , white and green parts chopped … Continue Reading