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

South Wairarapa Rebus Club

Those attending our last meeting were entertained and informed by Guest Speaker, Dale Williams ONZM JP, Deputy Mayor of Carterton and Chairman of the Youth 2 Work Wairarapa Team. Dale is a trade-certified motor cycle engineer and brings a personal trade- and business-oriented mindset to the provision of jobs for young people. His story is well told in the U-tube record of his TEDx talk, “Small town big change”.

After an apprenticeship as a motor cycle engineer, at 23, he built his early career in Otorohanga with a motorcycle dealership, which grew, over a period of almost 20 years, into a small chain of dealerships across the Waikato King Country, employing predominantly young people and training numbers of apprentices. 

After three terms as a community counsellor, in 2004 he was elected mayor, a position he retained for 9 years. At that time, Otorohanga was a small town, population 2700, suffering from high unemployment, youth crime and vandalism. The ideas for a specific support strategy for youth came to him during his first crisis as mayor when two local teenagers took their own lives. In a subsequent public meeting young people told him: “Otorohanga sucks!” It was a place to get away from.  … Continue Reading

Recycling days

Wednesday 8th March Glass

Wednesday 15 th March Wheelie bin

Wednesday 22nd March Glass

Wednesday 29nd March Wheelie bin 

NEWS FROM FIRST CHURCH

Our Sunday services have almost become a “drop in” café, as visitors to town join us in our hall for a relaxed and friendly time of worship with morning tea.  It is always very interesting to meet new people, hear where they’re from and what brings them to Martinborough.

Sometimes there are family connections, and fascinating stories are told.  In First Church’s 150 plus years, it has played a part in the lives of many people and families who grew up in and around Martinborough through weddings, baptisms, Sunday School, Bible Class and all the social life that revolves around a parish church which is so much a part of the history of the town.

The First Church Country stall had a very successful day in February, and we are looking forward to the second Fair Day on Saturday 4^th March – sunshine please, but whatever the weather we will be there. … Continue Reading