Regional Council notes

Value our rivers

Wairarapa rivers are popular places in the summer.  All our main waterways have places where traditionally people have been able to access the water either for a swim, to fish or just enjoy the scenery.  Some are quiet nooks on private land and others immensely popular public access spots teaming with people on a hot day.

We’ve always taken our rivers for granted and it’s come as a bit of a shock to many that the water quality in several of them is not in great shape, especially in this warmer weather.

There is a variety of reasons for this and it is pointless finger-pointing over it.  Whether it is discharge from urban waste water, agricultural run-off or heavy metals from stormwater off our roads, all historically ended up in our water ways and have contributed to the decline over the years.   … Continue Reading

Tenancy Law Changes

Landlords and tenants need to understand the recent changes to tenancy law and how this will affect them.

All landlords including boarding house landlords, must comply with various legal obligations as governed by the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill.

The changes are taking effect at three key dates :

• Phase 1:  12 August 2020
• Phase 2: 11 February 2021
• Phase 3: by 11 August 2021

Let’s look at Phase 1 for now . . . . 

Transitional and emergency housing will be exempt from the Act where the housing is either funded (wholly or partly) by a government department or provided under the Special Needs Grants Programme.

Rent can only be increased once every 12 months which is a change from once every six months. … Continue Reading

Historical bike tour of Martinborough

To help celebrate 140-year anniversary of the founding of Martinborough, Green Jersey Explorer Tours is hosting another historical bike tour around the town, on the morning of Sunday 21^st March. This time based on the history of the Martinborough township. 

Town Historian Mate Higginson, will take us on a historical excursion, starting from the Green Jersey Shed at 16 Kitchener Street at 10.30 am, visiting and discussing sites of significance over the next two hours, culminating with lunch at the Village Café about 1pm. … Continue Reading

LIVING WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Wairarapa Word presents a session with Tom Doig, editor of Living with the Climate Crisis – Voices from Aotearoa (Bridget William Books, 2020) – a timely event with the recent release of the Climate Change Commission’s recommendations to the government.

Tom Doig has authored three non-fiction books: Hazelwood (Penguin Random House, 2020), The Coal Face (Penguin, 2015) and Mörön to Mörön: Two men, two bikes, one Mongolian misadventure (Allen & Unwin, 2013). He has a PhD in Literary Journalism and teaches creative writing at Massey University, Palmerston North.

Carterton District Council is supporting this event, and environmentalist and Masterton District Councillor Chris Peterson will moderate. There will be ample time for discussion, and the book will be available for purchase. … Continue Reading