South Wairarapa – you’re invited!

On Sunday, October 25^th, Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre will open its doors to the community and welcome attendees to their third annual Community Open Day. The wildlife centre at Mount Bruce is just a 55-minute drive north of Martinborough along State Highway 2.

Everyone in the community is invited to attend and the centre especially wanted to extend a warm welcome to the residents of the South Wairarapa. … Continue Reading

SOUTH WAIRARAPA REBUS CLUB: 30th Anniversary

South Wairarapa Rebus Club, drawing its membership from the retired community in Greytown, Carterton, Featherston, Martinborough and surrounds, celebrated its 30^th Anniversary with a midday luncheon at Parehua Restaurant in Martinborough. A high point of the celebration was the presentation of a certificate acknowledging this 30 year history by Lynn McLeod, deputy chair of Rebus NZ, to Alisoun Werry, a foundation member who is still active in SW Rebus club affairs. Alisoun is the widow of the club’s first president, Peter Werry, who was elected to the office in July 1990.  … Continue Reading

South Wairarapa Tramping Club

Early last century Albert Winzenberg was Masterton’s leading photographer, with a studio in Queen Street. His output was prolific, and he took some of it from the 729 metre hill near the end of Mt Holdsworth Road that now bears his name. Winzenberg Hill commands panoramic views of the eastern Tararuas and Wairarapa valley.

When Winzenberg arrived in Wairarapa the hill was covered in dense bush, but during the exceptionally dry summer of 1907-08 a fire in the Waingawa valley got away and swept over the ridge to the Atiwhakatu. Settler Hans Thomsen lost his house, which was insured. … Continue Reading

“Tell your stories”

As  guest speaker at First Church’s Mid-winter Monster Book Fair opening  night, Ted Preston challenged his listeners to “tell your stories”.    He explained why this was so important and offered ideas for getting started.  The message really hit home for many in the audience,  so here are some extracts from that speech for those who missed it.

“We all have our own tales, which we’ve been telling all our lives.  

• to friends in the pub, at dinner, over coffee, on holiday
• to family one-on-one and at get-togethers like weddings, visits and funerals
• even to strangers via CV’s. applications, pepeha and various formal documents.

However we are not good at recording these stories.  So why should we? … Continue Reading