Under The Martinborough Stars

Photo courtesy Warren Cameron.

Some people see a face, a man, while others a woman holding a tree. I see a rabbit with long ears and a fluffy tail. I am of course talking about the Moon. This episode is all about our nearest celestial neighbour, one which without it, the earth would be a very different place indeed.

The Moon is our constant companion. We forget sometimes how important and vital the Moon is to our life on Earth. We sometimes take the Moon for granted but it can still surprise us. When the Apollo astronauts brought back moon rocks from their mission, scientists were intrigued to find that the rocks were very similar to the rocks found on Earth.

To understand where the Moon came from and why the rocks are similar, we need to go back in time about 4.5 billion years.

Back then, the Earth had just formed, it was a ball of molten rock, hot and squishy. Rocks were constantly flying around the solar system then, much more than today. A huge rock, around the same size of Mars called Theia came smashing into the Earth. This rock collided with our planet and chunks of the molten earth flew out, eventually sticking together and forming a large rock. This rock eventually became the Moon. … Continue Reading

Regional Council notes

It’s hard not to reflect on the year just gone through Covid tinted lenses.  While New Zealand may have fared better than some countries up until now, it has proved impossible to keep the virus out and we are now facing the same challenges as others worldwide.  Covid has impacted on us all in everything we do.

2021 started with relative freedom for most but restrictions at the border posed problems for those that rely on foreign staff, both permanent and seasonal.

Local Government was no exception in feeling the labour pinch.  For Greater Wellington Regional Council this not only manifested itself in the much-publicised shortage of bus drivers but also in field work like planting and pest control.  Partnering with Iwi to build capability and provide a sense of place for young people will help address the shortage but for now there are no quick answers. … Continue Reading

Recycling days

Wednesday 8 th  Dec Wheelie bin

Wednesday 15 th Dec Glass

Wednesday 22th Dec. Wheelie bin

Wednesday 29 th Dec Glass 

News from First Church

As another unusual and eventful year for us all draws to a close we can look back and see many highlights amidst the difficulties and ups and downs of coping with Covid-19, and ensuring everyone keeps safe and connected.

The many friends and supporters of First Church will have many pleasant memories of our 150^th celebration over Queen’s Birthday weekend in June. It was a truly memorable three days – a tribute to our organisers, giving us all a great feeling of the warmth and continuing support for our church in the community, and a freshening of hope for the future.

We managed to hold our annual Book Fair in October, and squeezed in a Kirk Fair in November – we acknowledge the enthusiasm and hard work of those who led the teams who ran these successful events. 

We are in good heart, and in spite of the problems of gathering (signing in, masks, and spacing) good numbers continue to enjoy coming together, adapting to required safety procedures. We are very thankful for all we have been able to achieve this year.

At the time of writing decisions are being made on how we will respond to the latest Traffic Light system and requirement to present vaccine certificates. … Continue Reading