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How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

May 7, 2024 May 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths

Gavin McLellan was raised in Scotland in Bishopton, just west of Glasgow. His father was a GP, his mother was a nursing Sister. Gavin is the youngest of five and the only boy! He is married to Keryn Banks and came to live in Martinborough in 2020.

“My father advised me against becoming a doctor, and so I had no idea what profession I wished to pursue. I was interested in lots of things: Astronomy, Art and Architecture. After some meandering at university, finally I graduated in Land Economics from the University of Paisley and then qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1996 – so my interest in Architecture was rewarded in a different way.

The arrival of the Millennium changed my way of thinking, partly a faith-based epiphany. I wasn’t comfortable with ethics in the property industry and making rich people richer. Global poverty had become a critical issue. 

“I participated in the huge protests organised by Jubilee 2000 going to G7 summits in Birmingham and Cologne. These called on the World Bank and governments to deliver debt cancellation to the poorest and most indebted nations.

In 1999 I moved from volunteer activist to full time work for Tearfund, an International Development Charity. They provided funding in over 60 poor countries for partner projects such as creating better water sources, food security, and sponsoring children. I had the chance to lead some supporter tours to Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. … Continue Reading

Hinekura Road reopening highlight of April

May 7, 2024 May 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on Hinekura Road reopening highlight of April

By Councillor Aidan Ellims

It has been a busy month so far with the highlight being the re-opening of the Hinekura Road. On Thursday, 18 April, Hinekura residents, Brownell Contractors, council staff and elected members all celebrated this event out at the hall. 

Residents acknowledged the work and hours the contractors had put into getting the road  reopened which occurred under budget and within the timeframe set in the tender. We also learnt that the NZ Transport Agency funded 71 percent of the rebuild, which is a great result for ratepayers.

Councillors acknowledged the huge impact the closure had had on the residents of Hinekura which resulted in families renting houses in Martinborough for 3 months so that children could continue attending school, alongside the impact and extra costs on businesses; ie farming, fishing and tourism, as well as the welfare/wellbeing issues bought on by the extended isolation from their Martinborough community. We are all hoping that this solution and the work that has been completed lasts for a long time now.

Over the last month, council has been consulting on the Enhanced Annual Plan and I hope as many folks as possible have provided a submission on the three questions we have asked in the consultation document. If this copy of The Martinborough Star is published before 5 May and you haven’t submitted, please do so. This is your opportunity to have an imput into council decisions for the coming year. … Continue Reading

News from First Church

March 12, 2024 March 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on News from First Church

 Many folk imagine that going to church is a bit of an ordeal, a waste of time, or at best a

stuffy affair marked by archaic mumbo jumbo. 

One attendance at First Church would dispel these misconceptions. 

To start with, the environment is informal with no sign of incense or solemn chanting. 

Instead, for those who arrive in their Sunday best (jeans and open neck shirt) twenty minutes before the service starts, the first urgent priority is a cup of tea bolstered by a truly impressive array of scones and home baking. The talk then is less about Genesis or Delilah and more about the cricket or Navratilova. Its lively and truly congenial. … Continue Reading

FROM THE MAYOR

March 12, 2024 March 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly

In February the local Lions Club invited me for dinner and asked me to speak for a short time on the

“State of the District” among other things.

It was a lovely evening with many laughs and a lot of camaraderie. If there are newcomers to the

district who would like to join a service club that combines socialising with being good citizens, I

suggest you make contact with the club.

I thought I would share the main points of our discussion, sStarting with my leading observation that the district is doing very well. 

A recent story in the Wellington newspaper “The Post”, revealed that Wellington house prices have risen 64% over the last 10 years. 

But in the South Wairarapa that rise has been 123%.  … Continue Reading

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Sports

Martinborough golf by a hank – of wool

  We start at the end of the month, when the annual Baabraa Trophy between Martinborough and Eketahuna was fought out on a glorious Sunday in Martinborough. A field of 70 played a stableford round and the average stableford points for the two clubs were calculated. Eketahuna scored an average …

Lady golfers show Rosebowl winning ways

September has been an up and down month weatherwise for golfers, some beautiful early spring days followed by cold and rain. Thankfully for the important days the weather has mostly come to the party. Early in the month the Cotter Rosebowl was successfully defended at Carterton by Martinborough’s team of …

Stunning first 4 – 1 win for Marty Women’s FC

By All-knowing Football Reporter It was always going to happen. After a few draws, some losses the newly-formed MWFC won their first game. An impressive and resounding victory. It started with ‘The Fox in the Box,’ the striker who plays in the traditional Number 9 role of marauding the penalty …

Regular Features

From the Mayor

By Martin Connelly Water services have been a political football for some time. We associate …

EVENTS

Wellington Heritage Festival WHEN: October 26 – November 17  WHERE: * Wellington Region – 140 …

How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Pforzheim in Southern Germany was where Thomas Röckinger lived with his family, …

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Could ZERO growth be the answer?   So, Martinborough’s sewage woes continue, and have seriously …

THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

    By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop “Costanza” by Rachel Blackmore This is a …

THE STAR  BOOK  REVIEW  

By Brenda Channer –  Martinborough Bookshop “All the Colours of the Dark” by Chris Whittaker. …

EVENTS – October 2024

Discover Te Muna  WHEN:     Saturday, Sunday, October 19 – 20  TIME:      …

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