Mayor’s Comment for June

Last week your Council was delivered a bombshell.  We were informed that the Martinborough wastewater plant had reached capacity and that we should no longer allow additional connections to it.  As many of us know, this plant does not comply with its consent conditions.  We are now told that additional connections risk making that non-compliance even more serious.

This decision does not affect existing homes or existing construction projects that have a wastewater connection already approved.  But it does affect people who are planning to build soon.  This means that it also affects builders, developers, and people who supply the construction industry.  … Continue Reading

FIRE BRIGADE REPORT 

APRIL 2023

Chief Fire Officer Jake Hawkins

The Brigade continues another steady month, with several serious motor vehicle accidents around our region along with our regular Medical First Response calls.

We had an excellent training opportunity with Ngawi, Lake Ferry and our lower Wairarapa Rescue Tender from Greytown, down at Ngawi with a simulated vehicle accident with a car off the road. It provided an exciting opportunity for newer members of all the Brigades to get their hands dirty, try out the equipment, sharpen skills and for some their first experiences in patient care during an extrication. Big thanks to Ngawi Brigade for organising and hosting this. … Continue Reading

Wairarapa Inner Wheel Club

Brae’s Brae’s and more Brae’s.

Here we go another New Year for Inner Wheel Wairarapa. Our year has started off busy with our committee and some of our members spending the day at Martinborough Fire Station providing food and most importantly cold drinks to members of Rotary who were working very hard keeping the Fair running smoothly.

We have also been busy washing Brae’s which were donated to us. They have been sorted and washed ready to be delivered to different charities and to the Pacific Islands. These Brae’s are always gratefully received.

Our first Members dinner for the year will be held at the Offering on Wednesday 15th February. Will Be great to catch up with everyone after the Christmas break.

New members are always welcome. For further information phone 022 6533 510

By Maureen Mortensen

UNDER THE MARTINBOROUGH STARS

If you are a resident of South Wairarapa, by now you have most likely heard of a dark sky reserve. If you haven’t, congratulations, you’re now living in one. If you are just visiting, maybe you’ll enjoy our magnificent views of the night sky while you’re here. There aren’t many reserves like ours throughout the world, and we’ve got world class wine too. A beverage possibly consumed in bulk by the ancients while drawing up the constellations we know today.  

So what is a dark sky reserve and who says we’re in one? Well, the International Dark-Sky Association has officially designated South Wairarapa a reserve, one of several categories of dark sky places.  “Reserves consist of a dark “core” zone surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core”. Our core is Aorangi Forest Park. Conveniently, that population periphery is not completely surrounding the core. There’s a whole lot of ocean to the south and east of this core region, making it difficult for any would-be towns to get a foothold which might lead to light pollution. Thanks Ocean.  … Continue Reading