Jason Jackson

Martinborough is an amazing and thriving place with a strong community spirit and backbone. Therefore the need of the community to be addressed, spending has to be done more wisely. We must utilise, upgrade and maintain the resources and facilities we have. We must strive to build on what has been achieved already and  move forward. In moving forward we need to accommodate for the growth of Martinborough and together work with the  Greytown and Featherston Wards. 

And focus on what drives our community/town as far as our industries that support us and get behind these businesses and people. I  would be very proud to represent the Martinborough Ward and be a voice for the people.

Wharekaka Trust Board AGM

The picture shows pupils from Martinborough School who regularly visit Wharekaka receiving their specially knitted slippers which have been produced by our residents, superbly organised by Gail Jacobson. We love having the children visit – thanks to Martinborough School for coming.

The annual general meeting of the Wharekaka Trust will be held at 6.00 pm. on 19^th September 2019 in the Dining Room of the Home. All members of the community are invited. 

The Home is governed by the Wharekaka Trust Board which is in turn appointed by members of the Wharekaka Trust. The Wharekaka Trust is a charitable community trust which works with, and for, the Martinborough community. 

Forty six years ago, the inaugural Trust Board meeting was held on 2 July 1973 to establish a day care centre for elderly people in the Martinborough Maternity Hospital premises in Oxford Street. This first meeting set up, elected and developed the rules and regulations providing the constitution for the Board of Trustees which, with a few amendments, governs Wharekaka today.

The major changes over the years have been the move from a day facility to a residential home, the development of the villas around the perimeter of the home and most recently the move into hospital level care. In the words of the old song, “we’ve come a long way, baby!” … Continue Reading

Under the Martinborough Stars

‘Ophiuchus’ from “The Box of Stars” by Catherine Tennant.

By Becky Bateman

I took a stargazing group recently at Peppers Parehua; it was a stunningly dark night with no moon. “What’s your Star Sign Becky?” was one of the very first questions I got asked when I Introduced myself as their star gazing guide for the night. 

This isn’t the first time.  Normally I get asked about aliens, but most common of all, why Pluto isn’t a planet anymore. It’s been 13 years since Pluto was reclassified as a Dwarf Planet but there is a lot of love for that little ball of ice.

‘Star Signs’ form a belt of 12 constellations around the Earth; you always see at least 6 of these constellations along the ecliptic on any given night. The ecliptic is the path of the Sun, which makes these signs even more important. Historically, these 12 signs can be used as a time piece so depending on where particular signs were, you knew the time of year.

Virgo, the maiden holding an ear of wheat in her hand, rises in the East in Autumn, reminding us to collect in the harvest. Scorpius sets in the West in mid Spring, its tail vertical in the sky from the horizon. Māori know this sign as Te Matau a Maui, and it ‘pulls’ the Milky Way/ the great Waka down towards the horizon ready for Summer or voyaging weather. … Continue Reading

Waihinga Centre

Playground Progress

The playground construction is progressing well and is on schedule and on budget. Thank you to Infinite Landscapes for donating some of the project materials. The weather has been kind and the areas of play can now be identified in the ground works. By the time you read this the concrete pads will have been poured. 

There will be a short period of time, when work moves to the existing play area, when the park is completely inaccessible. We will keep you informed and will be working hard to make sure this time is kept to a minimum. 

The team have talked to the original Martinborough Tree Committee with Kowhai, Flowering Cherry and Ornamental Pear trees to be planted. Our thanks go to M & N Thomas, H Kirk, J & P Kirkup, Down to Earth Gardening Group, Wairarapa Building Society, Kebbell Family, M & S Guscott, J & A Brodie, M & D Hill and J Paterson for your tree donations. We would also love to add some Chinese Elms into the mix if we receive any more tree donations (see our website: waihingacentre.nz for more information). Gardens will be a mix of native grasses, small shrubs and perennials. All of these new trees and gardens will be served by an irrigation system. 

The overflow from the water play hand pump and the drinking fountain will go in to a reed garden which will filter the water and sits over a soak pit. It is exciting to see some of these details coming together. … Continue Reading