Fire and Emergency says powerless over long grass hazard

By Ray Lilley  Long grass is a key feature in incidental fires which have sparked across the dry, dusty, drought-hit Wairarapa since before Christmas. Despite repeated warnings late last year, and a current fire ban, some locals warn that uncut long grass poses a huge fire danger – and the …

Lions help make a wheel difference

A Martinborough Lions Club member learnt recently of a family who might need a bit of assistance. The family consisted of mum, dad and seven children – of whom two are fostered. If that was not challenging enough, one of the children in their care has special needs.  The Lion’s …

How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

Michael Bing talks to Lyle Griffiths Michael was raised in Auckland, attending St Peters College where he loved playing both cricket in the summer months, and rugby in the winter. But there were always connections to Martinborough.  “My father had relatives here, and as children we used to return frequently …

Local accommodation can seek DarkSky recognition

DarkSky, the international body responsible for world-wide dark sky accreditation, is offering accommodation providers the chance to be accredited to their just-launched “DarkSky Approved Lodging Program,” and a listing on their international website.  Accommodation businesses in the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve area _ the Wairarapa region stretching from south of …

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“Wings” has 17 aircraft types in show

November 3, 2023 November 2023 Comments Off on “Wings” has 17 aircraft types in show

Wings over Wairarapa, halted by Cyclone Gabrielle in February, is promising 17 airplane types when the air show blasts into local skies from Hood Aerodrome for three days in late November.

The festival is regarded as one of the best air shows in the country, with what promoters say will be “exhilarating flying” and exciting displays on the ground.

The programme includes the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair, considered the premier navy and marine fighter of World War II, which will be making its first air festival appearance in six years. 

Other highlights include the Avro Anson MK 1, the only flying Anson in the world. A maritime reconnaissance bomber, it was one of the RAF’s most important planes when WWII began.

The crowd favourite Strikemaster also returns – the ex-RNZAF plane which was used for advanced pilot training on the Wings Course. 

The British-built training and light attack aircraft was operated by the RNZAF from 1972 as a lead-in trainer for the A4 Skyhawks.

The RNZAF will also showcase the new P-8A Poseidon which will be in action for the first time, as well as the Black Falcons aero display.

A new aspect of the event will be an expanded STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) programme called Take Flight, for the first time being extended to all secondary school students (years 11-13) from the lower North Island to participate in for free. The three-day programme is designed to promote and inspire people to consider flight and aerospace careers. 

Former Defence Minister Ron Mark, board chair for Wings Over Wairarapa, is thrilled the festival can still deliver an exciting programme. … Continue Reading

How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

November 3, 2023 November 2023, Regular Features Comments Off on How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

Gemma Wilkie loves to dance.

Gemma Wilkie

Gravesend in Northwest Kent was home. 

Gemma grew up in the small suburb of Northfleet. Her mother was a teacher, and her father a maintenance fitter for a Lead and Silver Refinery. We went to local schools, but my passion was dancing. I just loved it.

I began dancing at two and half or three. I learned Ballet, Tap, Modern and Jazz. 

At 18, I elected to undertake a BA Honours Degree in Dance and Related Arts at the University College Chichester. 

I had no idea what I wanted to do but the idea of travel, a tan, and being somewhere exotic was appealing so I got a job with a Package Holiday company. I worked in Ibiza, Cyprus, Corfu, and Lanzarote. My role was to provide entertainment to the holiday makers. There were games such as shuffleboard, darts, pool, water polo. For evening entertainment, we were tasked with creating shows.

While I was having a great time we were paid a pittance. It was time for a change. 

Every year as children we had gone on holiday to Florida. We visited all the film studios. At MGM we had a backstage tour where I found out about Green screens for the first time. They showed us how a scene in “Honey! I Shrunk the Kids” was created. 

My sister and I were placed on a massive bumble bee. We were blown about by a huge wind fan  and were required to scream at certain times. Then they showed us how the green screen was altered to show us zooming through a garden. It was mind blowing. I knew what I wanted to do.

A short editing course was my starting point. Then a one-week special course giving an overview of planning, storyboarding, finding locations, creating a short film, composition, and editing. I was hooked.  … Continue Reading

Travellers vote Wharekauhau best Pacific resort

November 3, 2023 November 2023 Comments Off on Travellers vote Wharekauhau best Pacific resort

Wharekauhau Country Estate in South Wairarapa has been awarded “Best Resort in Australasia and the Pacific,” and 46th among the top 50 resorts on the planet by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2023.

Voted for by over half a million travellers, the awards reflect recognition of the exceptional experience at the get-away oasis by guests themselves.

Condé Nast Traveler noted this year’s awards saw voters favouring “more immersive” experiences in isolated and truly exceptional properties, something general manager Richard Rooney said “perfectly encapsulates the unapologetically authentic” Wharekauhau.

Wharekauhau resort is a property of U.S. billionaire Bill Foley, who owns several New Zealand  wineries, including Te Kairanga in Martinborough and multiple U.S. entertainment, sports and wine properties.

Lodge and cottage suite prices at the retreat start from $2,295 per couple in winter and $3,990 in summer. Foley Villa rates for 1-6 guests starts from $15,495 in winter and $17,250 in summer.

“All rates include breakfast, nightly multi-course dinners and pre-dinner drinks and canapes,” a statement from Foley Entertainment Group notes. 

Rooney adds: “What makes Wharekauhau special is our people and place. Wharekauhau has a unique ability to draw you into the landscape – it’s a magic that is often underestimated until it’s experienced.”

The upscale château property, is known for its accessible isolation – just 90 minutes by road or 10 minutes by helicopter from Wellington.

Sitting at the eastern foothills of the Remutakas on eight kilometres of wild Pacific coastline, Wharekauhau (“place of knowledge” in te reo) gives a taste of Aotearoa’s untouched terrain.

“Nestled in the wildly beautiful Wairarapa region in New Zealand, Wharekauhau Country Estate has put down-to-earth Kiwi hospitality on the map,” Foley Entertainment’s PR agency said in a statement.

Wharekauhau’s list of awards dates back to 1986 when it won the Andrew Harper Winner Grand Award “1000 Places To See Before You Die” accolade accompanied the statement.   … Continue Reading

New Council CEO enters revolving door

November 3, 2023 November 2023 Comments Off on New Council CEO enters revolving door

New SWDC chief executive Mrs Janice Smith.

SWDC in mid-October announced the appointment of Janice Smith, formerly Group Corporate Services Manager at Far North District Council, to fill its vacant post of Chief Executive.

English-born and a trained accountant, Mrs Smith “has a proven track record of leading and managing in changing and challenging environments in senior management positions,” mayor Martin Connelly noted when naming her to fill the post.

Mrs Smith will step through something of a revolving door of CEOs at SWDC.

The last three were:

* Paul Crimp April 2013 – March 2019;

* Harry Wilson July 2019 -May 2023;

* Paul Gardner (Acting) May 2023 – current.

Compare that with the tenure length at Gore District Council, where former CEO Stephen Parry held the position for 22 years before the bruhaha between him and new young mayor Ben Bell erupted.

And now, suddenly, after leaving, Parry has returned in an interim capacity while a new chief executive is found and appointed.

Mrs Smith is due shortly and at, or shortly after, her arrival a meeting of the council’s “CEO Employment Committee” will be held.  … Continue Reading

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Sports

Golf pro-am success _ without clubhouse

By Karen Stephens A record field of 172 players, including 43 professionals from New Zealand and Australia, battled light winds, warm temperatures and even light early-morning fog at Martinborough golf’s 2024 CER Electrical and Holmes Construction pro-am on February 1. At least that was the range of excuses for some …

Featherston wrestlers go offshore

Two members of Featherston Amateur Wrestling Club’s senior class have again been asked to join a New Zealand team overseas.  Wairangi Sargent and Angus Read will take part in the Journeymen Tournament and Training Camp over Easter in New York state.  Over the week they are there they will be …

Martinborough Golf Club has tumbled down

The demolition of the Martinborough Golf Club is complete. In the last days prior to Christmas a fully-insulated pole shed, much like a top end farm outbuilding, was erected to act as both office and temporary clubhouse. New septic tanks, internet connectivity, power, water, and Porticom loos were installed. On …

Regular Features

News from First Church

 Many folk imagine that going to church is a bit of an ordeal, a waste …

FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly In February the local Lions Club invited me for dinner and asked …

Driving Growth and Collaboration: Martinborough Business Assn Committee

The Martinborough Business Association Committee plays an important role in fostering economic growth and collaboration …

How Well Do We Know People in our Community?

Michael Bing talks to Lyle Griffiths Michael was raised in Auckland, attending St Peters College …

BOOK REVIEWS FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS

By Brenda Channer – Martinborough Bookshop “Whether Violent or Natural” by Natasha Calder This debut …

Community Garden News

By Debbie Yates This is definitely the month of thank you. Nga Mihi Nui! We …

EVENTS

Saturday 10 February: 10th annual Citizen Science Kākahi Count at Western Lake Shore Reserve, 18km …

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