How Well Do We Know People In Our Community? – December 2024

By Lyle Griffiths

Born in Whanganui, Mariana McDermott first lived with her mother in the home of her grandmother. After her mother remarried, the family moved to Martinborough, to Hikawera, where her stepfather, Tiki Mahupuku McGregor, built his own home. It was close to the old meeting house, which had been burnt down by a swagger who inadvertently went to sleep with his cigarette still burning.

“My stepfather had an interesting background. He came from the Papawai Marae.

“His mother was Maata Asher (Martha Grace), the close friend of Katherine Mansfield.

“I loved going to Martinborough School,” said Mariana. “The school bus would pick me up from the gate outside our home. The teachers were kind. if you were having problems with a subject they would always help. But we were also accustomed to speaking to our teachers with respect and we were expected to pay attention in class.

“At thirteen I learned to drive a truck and trailer, sitting for my license at 15. My stepfather collected bottles and sometimes he needed help to collect them.

“He was also a jeweller working for Stewart Dawsons. Part of his business work required him to make paua shapes which would then be set into jewellery. I helped to polish the paua, which our family gathered from Tora.

“At Martinborough District High School I played a lot of sport; Basketball, Hockey, and Softball, and represented the Wairarapa in all those sports Unfortunately, my time at Martinborough District High School was cut short when I was 15. I contracted Rheumatic Fever. Dr Budd advised that I should stay home and be out in the fresh air as much as possible to help look after the lungs.

“My stepfather’s solution was to plough a large area on the property and present me with a lot of freesia bulbs. I planted them, and when they flowered, I picked them, put them into bunches and sent them by courier to the Wellington markets.

“When I felt that I had been outside for long enough, I got a job in Martinborough at the Stocking Factory making nylon stockings, where I worked for four years. The Stocking Factory was in the Pain and Kershaw building where Scottie’s Butchery once was.

“From there I moved along Jellicoe St to the Jellicoe St Dairy where they sold not only groceries but lollies, and milkshakes. We worked from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. Morning and afternoon teas were only possible if the store was not busy. Milkshakes had only just been introduced and were highly desired.

“Life was not all work. I sang in a band, and when they were lacking a bass guitar, I took up the challenge. We played at weddings, 21st birthday parties, for dances and for the Hunt Ball. We played in Village halls, Town Halls, and even in woolsheds.

“In between times there was always sport; basketball, hockey and softball and yet another interest – line dancing and finally golf. My cousin Raana McKinlay introduced me to golf and first got me started. I was hooked. 

“I played pennants, played in the Wairarapa team against Wellington and the Lansdowne Trophy team and now 40 years later I am still playing golf. I love the companionship, the fun and laughter, the jokes and repartees.

“What does Martinborough mean for me? Martinborough is home.”