Southern dogs under control, behaving and returned

Of the 3,410 registered dogs living in the district, only 152 were listed in the South Wairarapa District Council’s Dog Control Activities complaints register for the year to July 2024 _ 13 more than the prior year but down 57 on 2021-22. The highest number of complaint offences _ 83 …

Toast to the new Taste Wairarapa

By Joelle Thomson, Wine Writer Taste Wairarapa stepped in where Toast Martinborough left off on the third weekend of November this year. The well-known Toast Martinborough food, wine and music event has run for 30 years and will return in January 2025 in a reincarnated form with Foley Wines as …

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 …

Kitcheners ram-raid brings out community support

A front-end loader assault on a bank ATM which collapsed part of a verandah, ripped open a cafe frontage and wrecked building support beams netted the culprit nothing – but brought a swell of community support for the damaged Kitcheners Cafe business. Within nine hours of the ATM ram-raid on …

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Maori Ward added to election status quo

November 11, 2024 November 2024 Comments Off on Maori Ward added to election status quo

The lack of a clear mandate for change from South Wairarapa residents saw local councillors stick with the status quo for the coming 2025 local body elections. 

There was no support for the proposed two rural wards, no support for eliminating the council’s three community boards – and clearly no appetite for changing the year-old decision to add a Maori Ward to the district’s three 3-member council wards – plus the mayor.

This brings the council to a total of 11 elected members. Another 12 elected members make up the three community boards.

At last week’s council meeting, the report on the review noted: “Feedback from submissions on the initial proposal was broadly not in favour of retaining the initial (change) proposal” – of adding two rural wards and removing the three community boards.  

Following the near-unanimous votes for “no change,” Councillor Colin Olds proposed the council investigate a rural coastal advisory group. It passed without dissent. 

The fly in the representation ointment? Central government’s requirement that the Maori Ward be subject to a referendum at the election. This legal requirement will add at least $20,000 to the election bill despite the local council’s unanimous adoption of the plan for a Maori Ward seat at the council table. 

The local council thus joins 42 other district councils who have adopted Maori Wards – and have decided to retain them. Just two councils backed away from the option, while several pro-ward councils are seeking legal advice about a court challenge to the government over-ride.  

The council also adopted its Maori Standing Committee (MSC) recommendation that the name of the Maori Ward should be Te Karu o Te Ika a Māui – Eye of the Fish of Maui. 

It noted Māori identify South Wairarapa through landmarks and significant sites _ with Te Karu o Te Ika a Māui one of those, and part of the legendary story of Maui fishing up the North Island.

MSC chair Andrea Rutene described the decision as “the gift of a very beautiful name.” Councillor Pip Maynard thanked both Papawai Marae and MSC for “a name which belongs to this district and I really appreciate it (the Maori Ward) has been given a beautiful name.”

The renaming proposal was passed with one dissenting vote.   

The full representation review outcome is open for appeals and objections from 1 November  

to 1 December.

How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

November 11, 2024 November 2024, Regular Features Comments Off on How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

Thomas Röckinger, loving the small village lifestyle of Martinborough.

By Lyle Griffiths

Pforzheim in Southern Germany was where Thomas Röckinger lived with his family, the third of six children – five brothers and one sister.

Thomas attended kindergarten from the age of three until he began school at 6 years.

“What I most enjoyed about school was the practical subject which we had each year.

“The project would cover a 3 – 4 week period. Our first project was to build a house made of wood for a neighbouring playcentre. Parents, the teacher and the students were all involved. It was fun. We were doing something to help others and for a real purpose. The following year the class performed a play on stage.

“And then when I was 14 years, I and three other friends had an internship on a farm in Switzerland. When my mother dropped us off, she was very concerned because it looked like such a hippy establishment. The farming practices were old and traditional. The four of us slept in a barn. It was only 10 degrees and simply freezing but we survived.

“Other internships included a stint at a radio station and working with handicapped students, which I really enjoyed.

“Army training is compulsory in Germany, but you do have an option of either undertaking military training or doing alternative service in Germany or abroad.

“I elected to help in a home for special needs people in Massachusetts, USA for 12 months. I had to fund my own fare. Accommodation, food and a small amount of pocket money was provided.

“In 2012 I applied for a position at Martinborough Vineyard as a vintage cellar hand working in the winery. I had already spent a year training as a viticulturist. … Continue Reading

Bagpipes, goose and snare drums at Inner Wheel

November 11, 2024 November 2024 Comments Off on Bagpipes, goose and snare drums at Inner Wheel

Lexie Monks on goose, Natasha Senior (pipes), Holly Monks (lead snare), Judah and Ash Tanner (snares), Malissa Nielsen (rear).

At its last meeting Inner Wheel Club was very privileged to welcome five members of the Fern and Thistle Pipe Band who spoke and played.

The band made an impressive entry in their Maclean Hunting tartan kilts and were accompanied by Malissa Nielsen, “uniform custodian.”

Her husband’s father, Les Nielsen, was one Wairarapa’s first drummers, so the band is a third-generation family activity, she noted with a twinkle: “I’m great at supporting and breeding players!”

Established in the early 1960s, the band won C-grade Nationals at Timaru in 1965. Since then it has hosted and competed in Masterton National competitions attended by around 50 bands, including some from Australia. 

“These were a big deal… including a street march,” Malissa said, adding street marches are not held in Scotland. The Band is starting to compete again with a renewed philosophy and a “top class learner programme creating a fun place for the whole band family.” 

From 13 members in 2022 numbers have grown to 28, something which continues to create problems of supply and funds for uniforms and instruments. 

The band kits out each player with a uniform, drums and harnesses while the players provide clothes, Gillie Brogues (shoes) and Pipers their own pipes. The cheapest set of pipes costs $1,500.

“Just seeing, let alone hearing, a fully kitted-out band of 28 players is truly impressive:  approximately $100,000 marching past,” she said. While not expecting anything in return for the band playing for Festivals, Christmas Parades, Anzac services and Rest Homes, any koha is very welcome. 

As part of its repertoire the band played Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave, and eaned much applause!

“We joke that these guys are our big problem, however we love that problem and love having them with us in the band. The public are wowed by their ability … most importantly, they are only going to get better,” said Malissa Nielsen.

Another month of night hill closures

November 11, 2024 November 2024 Comments Off on Another month of night hill closures

Another month of five-night-in-a-row Remutaka Hill road closures is ahead as authorities rebuild what is desribed as a severe “downside” slip which undercut the outside lane at one of the road’s narrowest sections.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi began its overnight work on October 7, noting the sight “requires immediate action to stabilise the slip and build a retaining wall to protect the road.”

“Because of the work involved, the equipment needed to do the work and to keep workers and the public safe, the road will have to be closed” at nights for at least nine weeks, it added at the time.

Remutaka Hill road _ the main artery linking Wellington and Wairarapa _ has an average of 7,219 vehicles using the road daily. Of these, some 256 use the road between 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.

The agency noted some 15 concrete piles are being installed to prevent the slip from deteriorating and severely disrupting the road, and will be followed by the construction of  a retaining wall at the slip site.

Closures continue Sunday to Thursday nights, with one lane under Stop/Go traffic control 24/7. 

The agency said consultation had shown that such “block closures” were the best and safest way to carry out repairs and maintenance on the route.

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Sports

Martinborough golf by a hank – of wool

  We start at the end of the month, when the annual Baabraa Trophy between Martinborough and Eketahuna was fought out on a glorious Sunday in Martinborough. A field of 70 played a stableford round and the average stableford points for the two clubs were calculated. Eketahuna scored an average …

Lady golfers show Rosebowl winning ways

September has been an up and down month weatherwise for golfers, some beautiful early spring days followed by cold and rain. Thankfully for the important days the weather has mostly come to the party. Early in the month the Cotter Rosebowl was successfully defended at Carterton by Martinborough’s team of …

Stunning first 4 – 1 win for Marty Women’s FC

By All-knowing Football Reporter It was always going to happen. After a few draws, some losses the newly-formed MWFC won their first game. An impressive and resounding victory. It started with ‘The Fox in the Box,’ the striker who plays in the traditional Number 9 role of marauding the penalty …

Regular Features

From the Mayor

By Martin Connelly Water services have been a political football for some time. We associate …

EVENTS

Wellington Heritage Festival WHEN: October 26 – November 17  WHERE: * Wellington Region – 140 …

How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Pforzheim in Southern Germany was where Thomas Röckinger lived with his family, …

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Could ZERO growth be the answer?   So, Martinborough’s sewage woes continue, and have seriously …

THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

    By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop “Costanza” by Rachel Blackmore This is a …

THE STAR  BOOK  REVIEW  

By Brenda Channer –  Martinborough Bookshop “All the Colours of the Dark” by Chris Whittaker. …

EVENTS – October 2024

Discover Te Muna  WHEN:     Saturday, Sunday, October 19 – 20  TIME:      …

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