Spades, shovels, grubbers, wheel barrows – Spring cleaning

Jane Lenting (red pullover) and the Spring Cleaners survey the work ahead.

Piles of mulch several cubic meters in size, gumboots, tools and saplings – some up to four meters high after four years’ growth – make a busy morning for biodiversity supporters.

The Spring cleaning event saw the group grubbing invasive thistles along the edge of the Martinborough golf course where a corner owned by the district council is being replanted in natives.

They also grubbed out grasses, weeds and other pest plants growing round the saplings, at the Todds Road corner area where the most recent planting happened just a year ago.

The “spring maintenance” programme also saw two large heaps of mulch distributed around the young trees – some less than a meter high – at a cool but windless part of the area.

Last year “pest” self-sowing wattles were removed which had infested the area and begun blocking driving lines-of-sight at the corner. 

As shovels and grubbers swung, and mulch was tossed round the young trees, South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group president Jane Lenting said the recloaking with native species is progressing well. 

“We are trying to finish off the mulching” round these new plantings, she said, adding “we have been getting rid of the weeds and mulching for the past year or two. … Continue Reading

Hōkai Tahi opens South Wairarapa clinic

L-R: Rosie Julou (St John’s community engagement coordinator), Sandy de Haas (Hōkai Tahi South Wairarapa support coordinator), and Rebecca Vergunst (Hōkai Tahi service manager).

Hōkai Tahi – women’s health support – has opened a South Wairarapa clinic based out of St John’s premises at 8 Lyon Street, Featherston. 

A Wairarapa-based charity, Hōkai Tahi empowers women and whānau throughout their pregnancy journey or supports them to process grief related to baby loss or termination, and provides a place of peace and hope.

“We hope that this will make our service much more accessible to South Wairarapa residents,”  service manager Rebecca Vergunst said in a statement.

“We are a safe space where shared information is confidential and discussed without judgement. All our services are free and open to anyone, thanks to generous grants and donations,” she said.

The new clinic will be open Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with a drop-in period from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Clients unable to attend on Wednesdays in Featherston are welcome to utilise the service at the Masterton office at a time that suits them – the charity can help with transport or connect via video call, Vergunst noted.

Pregnancy tests, resources, baby loss care packages, or maternity and baby items can be collected during the drop-in period, and a support coordinator will be available for a quick check-in and to book appointments. 

Depending on client’s needs, Hōkai Tahi can provide a range of assistance – including emotional support, community referrals, firewood, frozen meals, baby/maternity gear, and more. 

Some clients’ needs relate to past trauma or mental health struggles, with Hōkai Tahi providing support through a registered counsellor.

If you or someone you know could benefit from Hōkai Tahi’s services, “please reach out through our website,” www.hokaitahi.nz, or by calling 0800 006 277, Vergunst said. “Feel free to get in touch to see how we can help.”

“Hōkai Tahi is an independent charity and does not receive government funding. 

Visit: hokaitahi.nz/donations to see how you can contribute.

Tararua tramping traverse film wins major award

Tararua Traverse tramp pioneer David Capper (now 90+) given “red carpet treatment” at film premiere.

In place of a postponed guest speaker, South Wairarapa Rebus Club used the big TV screen to show the documentary “Tararua S–K: 60 years in the making.” 

In 1963, South Wairarapa Rebus Club member David Capper was one of the first pair of trampers to complete the 80km Tararua Traverse in less than 48 hours — a weekend tramp, Friday evening to Sunday evening. 

The traverse is known in the tramping world as the S–K (Schormann—Kaitoke) Traverse. To avoid private property access difficulties, what used to be the “Schormann roadend” departure point has now been superseded and the traverse starts nearby from the end of Putara Road, west of Eketahuna. However, the trip retains its ‘S-K’ sobriquet. 

The total of the changes in altitude on the traverse, the sum of all the ups and downs, is equivalent to two return trips from base camp to the summit of Mt Everest—not the easiest of weekend strolls! [The height difference, base camp to summit on Everest is 3,468 m.] 

In succeeding years, it has become quite competitive, particularly since Sir Graeme Dingle’s supported 18-hour traverse in 1965!

Recently, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of David Capper’s first 48-hour traverse achievement.

Andy Carruthers from Wellington made the 27-minute documentary, which won the prestigious Best Human Interest Film award at the 2024 Toronto Documentary Feature & Short Film Festival. Since August it has been showing on Air New Zealand’s inflight entertainment. Now over 90 years old, David was a star interviewee in the film, along with 78-year-old Sir Graeme Dingle and others. At our September meeting, in his member’s address, David had talked about his experience both of “doing it in 48 hours, first” and of his unexpected red-carpet treatment at the premiere showing. … Continue Reading

Blue Earth Estate takes major olive oil prize

Mike and Margaret Hanson pick up their award from judge Claudia Guillaume, of Australia.

Te Muna’s Blue Earth Estate Intense blend has won Best Boutique extra virgin olive oil at the New Zealand Olive Oil awards.

It was one of three top awards for Wairarapa olive growers, who combined won 30 medals at the annual national virgin olive oil awards – the largest haul for any region.

“Having previously won Reserve Best in Show twice, it was a delight to take out one of the top prizes this year,” said Margaret Hanson, who owns Blue Earth Estate with husband Mike.

The couple bought bare land at the south end of Te Muna Valley outside of Martinborough 27 years ago and started planting olives. They then got talked into adding a vineyard as well. 

They now produce a range of extra virgin olive oils each year, along with their own wines, Mike Hanson told The Star. 

“It has been quite a journey. Hard work. At times frustrating. But also immensely satisfying to produce premium products we enjoy sharing with our customers.”

Olives New Zealand in a statement said North Island growers “bagged the top awards this year.”

Major awards for the 2024 competition:

● Best in Show – Telegraph Hill Premium Blend, Hawke’s Bay

● Best Boutique – Blue Earth Estate Intense, Wairarapa

● Reserve Best in Show – River Grove Koroneiki, Wairarapa

● Reserve Best Boutique – Leafyridge Olives Picual, Wairarapa

● Best Flavoured Oil – Vernazoni Agrumato, Auckland

Regional breakdown of medal winners: Wairarapa 30 medals, Kāpiti 24, Nelson 8, Canterbury 6, Central Otago and Auckland 4 each, Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty 3 each, Marlborough 2, and Northland and Waiheke Island 1 each.