How well do we know people in our community?

By Bruce Congalton

Becs Mackie is bubbling over with wonderful ideas for her Ventana Creative Workshops when we

meet in her bright, high-ceilinged studio at 7 Kitchener Street. It’s obvious that she has a very

creative mind and the walls show off her artistic talent. But she’s never formally studied art.

“I’ve never been to art school but was interested in art from a very early age. I was always wanting

to make things when I was young,” she said. “When I was ten or eleven a friend of mine lived next door to a woman who was an incredible oil painter. I showed interest in her work and she offered to teach us.

“I remember bringing home my first painting which was of two hibiscus flowers and my parents were blown away by it.” … Continue Reading

Martinborough Fire Brigade Report

This month sees the end of an era for the Brigade as Chris Hooson, the driving force behind our Medical First Response team, retires from the Brigade after nearly 29 years’ service to the community.

Chris began volunteering out at the Tora Brigade in 1996 when Rural Fire was Council-operated, becoming a Deputy Rural Fire Officer, Trainer and Assessor, and a member of the Rural Regional Incident Management Team. 

Chris was working full time for Wellington Free Ambulance (some of you will have seen Chris in his green WFA uniform). He went on to work fulltime for the NZ Fire Service in the Central Communications Centre, become a NZFS Regional First Aid Trainer, educating paid and volunteer fire crews, before returning to Ambulance in the Wairarapa as an Emergency Medical Technician, where he still works for WFA.  … Continue Reading

From the Mayor  – February 2025

By Martin Connelly

I wish all readers of The Star a happy New Year. 

Last year I heard many people utter the phrase “I am trying to survive until 2025.” Those of us that are still here obviously did survive, so let us hope we can now start to “thrive.” 

Last year was a very tough year for many people and businesses. Most of us know people who work in Wellington, who lost their jobs. Throughout the country business liquidations rose by 40% in 2024. Our economy is currently in a recession. 

We are lucky to have many groups in our community who assist those in need. There is the food bank that helps families to feed themselves, people who drive cancer patients to hospital, and a whole range of locals who help others. 

I cannot say “thank you” to all those people often enough, and how fortunate we are to have you in our midst.

Tania and I had a low-key Christmas and New Year. Christmas involved a family gathering nearby,

and the New Year was even more relaxed. I went to two delightful carol services just before Christmas and then went to Christchurch for a family wedding soon after. It was very nice to catch up with our wider families, but it did remind me how much marriage ceremonies have changed over the years.  … Continue Reading

From the Mayor

By Martin Connelly

Water services have been a political football for some time. We associate “Three Waters” with the last Labour government, but it had been started by the John Key government, following the Havelock North deaths and carried on by the next two governments. 

Now that National is back in power “Three Waters” has been replaced by “Local Water Done Well” (LWDW). It can be a bit hard to describe LWDW in simple terms. 

Under recently-passed legislation, local councils have less than a year to develop plans to manage and fund water services, to the point where they are financially sustainable and government-approved.

Although not legally required, it has become obvious that the only way for most councils to ensure financial sustainability, is to set up Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs) to operate those water services. This is because a CCO will be able to borrow money more favourably than a council.

For those not familiar with CCOs, they are entities set up to conduct activities on behalf of councils.

They are governed, managed and operated at arm’s-length from councils through an independent board of directors. 

Our water services are currently managed by a CCO called Wellington Water.

This CCO is owned by the four Wellington Cities and us. The shareholding councils appoint a board of directors who then appoint a CEO.

Our Council has been exploring two different types of CCO to deliver future water services in the South Wairarapa. One would involve four shareholding councils, ourselves, plus Carterton, Masterton and the Tararua Councils. The other CCO we are considering is one that would include all the councils in the Greater Wellington Region plus the Horowhenua District. … Continue Reading