Sending the bras to needy women – October 2024  

Spring is finally here and the blooms are looking stunning.

Wairarapa Inner Wheel would like to say a huge “thank you” to Shalari from Greytown Boutique Lingerie for all of her bras that she donated. (Were they literally “all of her bras?” _ Ed.)

These bras are washed then sent to Milady in Masterton. From there, they get sent overseas to Tonga, Rarotonga and Samoa. 

Some of the bras are also sent to Women’s Refuge, Teen Unit and Women’s Prison. … Continue Reading

Problems emerge over key rating system changes

Are councillors engaged in “virtue signalling” over the rating systems changes which have seen some rates hiked by more than 100-percent _ unleashing a stream of ratepayer reaction _ though not quite a flood?

Ratepayers hit by SUIP (Separately Used or Inhabitable Part) rating demands for a second (or more) inhabitable property using council services on their land, stumped up about 100 negative responses to the new rating demand. Some 660 properties qualify for the new SUIP charges.

“What we are talking about here is not so much unintended consequences,” said Mayor Martin Connelly, “but seeing the consequences that we actually intended, which is if you have two (inhabitable) buildings on a property that they both have to pay for (council) services they are getting.”

He was responding to Councillor Colin Olds’ comments about “unintended consequences” of the SUIP policy, and that during last year’s rating review “we didn’t drill down on the detail on what some of these consequences would look like. I blame myself and all of us really. We should have actually recognised the impact.” … Continue Reading

PROFILE: Janice Smith – CEO of South Wairarapa District Council

By Joelle Thomson

Janice Smith was born and raised in Melton Mowbray, which is often described as Britain’s rural capital of food but South Wairarapa is now the place she calls home.

What appealed to you about the role of Chief Executive at South Wairarapa District Council?

I wasn’t particularly looking for a change of role but something prompted me to go on Seek one Monday evening. The role closed on the Wednesday. I saw it and thought this could be an ideal move for me and the rest, as they say, is history. I don’t think there was one thing. It just felt right. 

I have been here for a little over six months now and am really enjoying working with the team and getting to know the people of South Wairarapa.

How long have you been involved in local government? My career in local government started in January 1980 in the United Kingdom. I started as a debtors officer and worked my way through to being a Principal Accountant for the Education Department. 

I moved to New Zealand in 2005 and joined the Far North District Council where I stayed for 18 years. I thought that’s where I would stay. There is a distinct difference between local government in the United Kingdom and in New Zealand. It was quite a culture shock when I first arrived and found that councils here are infrastructure managers. … Continue Reading

Trucking through – the Power of Three

By Chris Cassels

The number “3” is often seen as a special or lucky number _ so it was clever of Carol and

Trevor Hawkins to produce three sons: the perfect number to take over the family trucking

business when Trevor retired in 2009. 

Daniel, Jared and Josh, each with different but complimentary skills, have expanded the operation significantly since then. Daniel runs the service workshop, Jared the trucking operations and Josh the business/finance side.

The name, Martinborough Transport, doesn’t begin to describe the scale of their operation though, with more than 30 trucks covering the country from bottom to top. The logistics are complex and to manage this they have added three more depots, one at Waingawa and two in the South Island (Ashburton and Waikaia). There’s a constant search for efficiencies and they’re proud to have massively reduced the fleet’s fuel emissions over the years. … Continue Reading