Coming slowly to a Remutaka Summit near you

By Ray Lilley Is it a bird, is it a plane? It’s a Billboard statement to travellers that they are entering a globally-acknowledged Dark Sky Reserve – one of only 21 such high-quality star-gazing environments operating worldwide.  Another 200 lower-ranked dark sky “places” across the globe have also been recognised …

Determined Pain Farm public meeting wants answers

By Ray Lilley More than five years after the Martinborough Community Board (MCB) asked South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) to see “the books” (financial records) for the 85-hectare Pain Farm Estate south of the town _ only the board members have changed. Despite repeated requests to SWDC, they have seen …

How Well Do We Know People In Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Sue Sullivan is a well-known identity in our community. Where else are you greeted by “Hello Darling,” giving an immediate uplift to your day? And the Havana coffee is now a basic necessity of life.  Bruce and Sue both lived in Martinborough when the children were small, …

Wairarapa Moana – the long path to its return

Dishonesty, theft, treachery. Three little-used words in the history of colonisation in New Zealand. Those words don’t appear in the official documents which, in late 2021, set out the end to Crown ownership of Wairarapa Moana _ Lake Wairarapa, and its return to  local Iwi ownership. They do, however, underpin …

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EVENTS

May 7, 2024 May 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on EVENTS

Pain Farm Estate Future

Public Meeting hosted by:

Martinborough Community Board 

Date: Wednesday 15 May 

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Place: Waihinga Centre Town Hall

Remutaka Hill Closures by NZTA

State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill

5 NIGHTS 19 – 24 May

5 NIGHTS 26 – 31 May

5 NIGHTS 16 – 21 June

Martinborough Community Noticeboard

Appears for first time. See The Star.

Hosted by Martinborough Lions.

Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival 

Friday 10 May – Sunday 12 May

39 Book-and-author-themed events.

Karukatea means “the clear and observant eye.” 

The word also captures the concept of “people seeking knowledge and clarity.”

NZTRIO

Triptych 1 – Unquiet Dream

Martinborough Waihinga Centre

Date: Thursday 23 May 

Time: 7:00 p.m.

From the Acting Mayor

May 7, 2024 May 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on From the Acting Mayor

By Melissa Sadler-Futter

It’s great to be able to connect with you through The Star as your Acting Mayor again this month, during Martin’s continued leave of absence. 

If we haven’t had the opportunity to meet yet, “hi, I am Melissa”, I am normally the Deputy Mayor and I live in Featherston with my family. I’m here to address any questions or concerns you may have. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me at melissa.sadlerfutter@swdc.govt.nz.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet and chat with a number of you during April at community workshops, the Hinekura Road opening, community meetings in Ngawi and Tora/Tuturumui as well as councillor drop-in sessions bright and early at Kitcheners. It is these opportunities for conversation with the community that make the work of councillors more accessible, meaningful and informed. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and feedback with us.

This month I am keen to focus on one important topic – consultation for the Enhanced Annual Plan that is currently open until May 5. 

We are inviting our community to provide feedback to the proposals which are included in the document. You do not need to be a local government expert or to have taken part in council consultation before, you simply need to care about your community and I know we all do!

I know councils spend a lot of time talking about plans – Combined District Plan, Spatial Plan, Long Term Plan, Annual Plan and now an Enhanced Annual Plan but what is it all about and what does it really mean?  … Continue Reading

Letters:

May 7, 2024 May 2024 Comments Off on Letters:

Vineyard gas guns 

Dear Ed:

We moved here two years and the bird guns were going off as we viewed the house. 

We have no problem with the noise as it is part of living in the country our other permanent neighbours feel the same as us.

I find Hilton Doherty’s reaction extreme to say the least as he too would have known about the guns when he purchased his property.

It is like people who buy next to a bar then complain about the noise or those who bought by Western Springs raceway and complain.

I’m sure the guns do annoy him and also sure if they were being used outside the best practice rules the SWDC would do something.

Paul Sara, Ferry Road.

Dear Ed,

I read with amusement the front page article about bird scarers. It was certainly a fine effort at an April Fools. Congratulations.

We also live rurally, not far from a wool shed. It is quite shocking the country and farm noises we have to put up with. The generator is one thing, I can just about cope with being woken up early 2 days on the trot, twice a year, but the shearers radio really does spoil my afternoon snooze.

When it comes to weaning of the sheep and cattle I have to walk around with my ear muffs on. I’ve suggested putting the animals on tranquilizers,

Oh, and lets not forget the barking dogs, the mooing cows, the bleating lambs and the low- flying top dresser airplane that does low level fly buys (sic) once a year. It is so low that for one day a year I have to wear clothes in my garden, and make love at midnight. A dreadful hardship.

The travails of living in the countryside and having to put up with the normal and expected noises of our very good neighbours earning a living are not difficult, especially when we are always told when the farm sounds will change. It gives us the opportunity to go away, but we don’t want to, we live in a working environment and it’s wonderful.

Congratulations on a great wheeze!

Richard Le Mare

Editor replies:

Richard, hi. You saw through the jape! Oh, making love at midnight should always be on the calendar – or sofa.

Martinborough Community Noticeboard

May 7, 2024 May 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on Martinborough Community Noticeboard

This new Noticeboard is to list Martinborough community groups and activities. The goal: provide a location where people can find what is happening and participate. This project is part of Martinborough Lion’s Club contribution to progressing Martinborough. If you’d like your group or activity added, please contact: AshleyMudford.Lions@gmail.com

Martinborough Community Groups

Bingo for Seniors

Description: A chance to enjoy others’ company over a cup of tea and games of Bingo.

Location: Wharekaka Hub, 20 Oxford Street

When: Monday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Contact: Matt: 022 5686 352

Information: Gold coin donation to cover costs

Board Game Club

Description: For those who love board games, cardboard squares and dice

Location: Yet to be established

When: Yet to be agreed

Contact: Sergio

Information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/martyboardgaming/

… Continue Reading

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Sports

Martinborough WFC: First-ever home game

The all-important stats: Result: Irrelevant, but Martinborough Women scored at least 2 good goals. Enjoyment factor: as a spectator 10/10 Enjoyment Factor: as a player: 11/10 Effort and commitment: off the scale. Possession: Marty 58%; the opponents in Green: at times a bit less Shots on target: 3; goals 2. …

Martinborough Golf

By Karen Stephens An annual favourite, the Beef & Burgundy Ambrose held on Friday 10 May, saw a great turnout in favourable conditions (thank goodness it wasn’t the previous day when winter arrived with full force!)  Top honours went to the team of Michael Bing, Shane Colton, Tiawharangi Aranui, and …

Golf clubhouse fundraising builds up

An amazing fundraising day for the new clubhouse was held on April 19 when 34 teams took to the course in an ambrose tournament. The winners on the day with net 54.87 were Taylor Dewis, Robbie Robinson, Tom de Groen and Liam Richardson.  The longest drive for men went to …

Regular Features

From The Mayor

By Martin Connelly Firstly, can I thank the Deputy Mayor for keeping this column going …

EVENTS

Matariki Rising from 29 June Nine stars herald the New Year Remutaka Hill Closures by …

How Well Do We Know People In Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Sue Sullivan is a well-known identity in our community. Where else are …

FIRE BRIGADE REPORT – Call-out milestone: SIX each week

Martinborough’s Volunteer Fire Brigade crews reached the 150 call-out milestone in May. That’s an average …

Matariki and family key to Aratoi winter exhibits

This season, Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History has a group of exhibitions that …

THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

By Brenda Channer – Martinborough BookShop “Why Do Horses Run?” There is a maxim among …

Country Dog City Dog

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