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

 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

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

Driving Growth and Collaboration: Martinborough Business Assn Committee

The Martinborough Business Association Committee plays an important role in fostering economic growth and collaboration within the local business community. 

With a mission to support and promote the interests of businesses in Martinborough, the committee works to create a vibrant and thriving business environment through leveraging tourism and visitors generally.

The association is a member of Destination Wairarapa, the regional tourism organisation. Our current chair has a seat on that Board. We ensure that our destination is promoted to domestic and international tourists. At the local level we promote member businesses through our website and social media platforms. STAY and PLAY is our mantra as we aim to get tourists to stay longer and spend more. … Continue Reading