Anybody at Rebus up for “Taking the Jump?”

“Taking the Jump,” a European approach to local action to control climate change based on behavioural science, has been outlined to South Wairarapa Rebus Club by Chris Peterson, climate activist and former Masterton councillor. 

Most people by now understand that global and local climates are changing rather more quickly than many expected, Rebus member, David Woodhams reported from the club’s July meeting. 

We are experiencing the rapidly increasing rate of change that is inherent in exponential progression, with positive feedback from year to year.

Realistically, by far the greater part of what is required to counteract this must happen at international, national and local government level, largely outside our immediate and personal control. 

But Chris Peterson said it has been an issue on the global, national and local “to do” list for the last 20 years, and someone, somewhere, somehow should be doing something about it!

A New Zealand study last year, by global market research company Ipsos, revealed 72% of Kiwis stated that if individuals don’t act now, they will be failing future generations. 

This aligns with local sentiment, particularly in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, but many of us feel powerless and confused about what we can do at a local and personal level. Where do we start? … Continue Reading

Did they do well? How we rate the SWDC

The council, its members and services have been put under the public’s scrutiny _ and the results, unlike a beauty contest, are not outstanding. 

This annual event is not widely distributed normally, and to date only part of the data has been publicly released. But conclusions can be drawn with even partial data.

So here we have the SWDC’s annual “Residents’ Survey,” which has gauged the perceptions and attitudes of 600 locals towards various council services and facilities.

First, council leadership.

Satisfaction with the accessibility of the mayor and councillors, with their advocacy and leadership, increased from 2022 (24% and 13% respectively) to 35% and 27% in 2023.

Satisfaction with the council overall was 27% in 2023, versus 18% the prior year. 

Dissatisfaction levels were not stated in the report provided to councillors and the public.

Still. in 2023, 32% of respondents agreed that their district is going in the right direction, with 27% somewhat agreeing and 5% strongly agreeing. That’s 11% higher than last year’s result of 21%. 

Perceptions of the Council’s performance, transparency, financial management, and quality of services also rose. 

The percentage of locals who rated the council’s leadership and performance as good or excellent increased from 14% in 2022 to 22% in 2023. No data on what the other 78% thought was immediately available.

The rating of the Council as being open and transparent increased from 11% in 2022 to 20% in 2023. Again, no dissatisfaction levels were available. … Continue Reading

Sprouts, rhubarb save Community Garden

As many will know, the location of the Community Garden is on the damper side of Martinborough. 

This winter has provided us with the greatest challenge in our six years of operation. We have had several weeks where at least a third of the garden has been under water, and frankly, too treacherous for us to do any significant work. 

Over these weeks we have, alas, been unable to deliver fresh veggies to the Community Larder.

However, on the bright side, we had the best ever crop of brussel sprouts , and three weeks on the trot were able to deliver baskets full of them to the Larder. Rhubarb has been the only other staple over this time.

On those days when we have braved the garden, we have planted brassicas, leaks, cavello nero and fennel which, thanks to our raised planters, they have not only survived, but thrived… just need a little warmth and a FEW DRY DAYS!

We have also developed a new composting system, with the advice and good guidance of one of our newer gardeners: using our old contained compost, amalgamating it with a lot of semi decaying matter from our earth pile, and plenty of cardboard and newspaper and covering it all with weed matting and a few tyres .This is all open to the elements and contained by a few stakes and woven string. I have seen the end result in her garden and will report if ours is anything near as good.

We have also relocated some of our large planting beds to maximise sun!!!! This means that we will use the tyres just for protection in certain areas of the garden, and for bee attracting flowers if and when summer arrives.

True to say the garden does look like a bit of a bomb site at the moment. 

If you are keen to join us and make the “Community Garden Great Again” drop by on a Wednesday morning, from 10 a.m. (51 Oxford St). We’d love to see you.

Inside the song – and songsters

Get inside the mind of the singer-songwriter. Listen to the ideas inside the lyrics. Enjoy live music!

Young artists to veterans. Trip hop to folk noir. Acid jazz to country. Indie rock to waiata. All with a Wairarapa connection.

The singer-songwriter concert INSIDE THE SONG happens just once – Saturday September 30, at 6pm. Doors open 5.30.

The night will open with Keepa Smith who specializes in Polynesian entertainment. He will sing and discuss waiata by the songwriting and kapa haka legend, Tommy Taurima (Rongomaiwahine, Kahungunu) who passed in 2019. “Uncle Tommy” Taurima’s music is traditionally Māori waiata based on myths and legends with complex harmony structures.

Flying Nun artist Vera Ellen won Best Alternative Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards and was nominated for the Taite Prize. Recently in South Wairarapa as the inaugural Singer-Songwriter-in-Residence with New Zealand Pacific Studio, she is working on her fourth album. Asked to describe her music in five words, Vera says, “Vulnerable, rough around the edges.”

Pianist and singer-songwriter Meg Hunter has opened for Hinemoana Baker and Reb Fountain | Dave Khan, and has won awards at Talent Wairarapa and Smokefree Rockquest. Meg says, “My style is alternative/indie/pop similar to Lorde, BENEE, Billie Eilish, with jazz and soul influences.” … Continue Reading