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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Scientist wine pioneer reveals Martinborough’s secrets

November 3, 2023 November 2023 Comments Off on Scientist wine pioneer reveals Martinborough’s secrets

By Joelle Thomson – Wine writer

A horticultural soil map, Lower Hutt wine tasting group and dry German Riesling are the stuff of legend for this region’s earliest wine pioneers, one of whom revealed his trade secrets at a talk to a wine group in Martinborough earlier this year.

That person is Derek Milne, a retired soil scientist who spoke self-deprecatingly about his journey into wine in Martinborough at Cambridge Road Winery. 

The talk was packed out by winemakers and viticulturists, all eager to learn more from the man whose wine journey began at a tasting group in a rented house in Lower Hutt with fellow scientist Dr Neil McCallum (founder of Dry River Wines) and a group including Danny Schuster, the first person to make a gold medal awarded Pinot Noir in the Canterbury region.

The group met regularly, tasting and drinking many of the great wines of the world which were more affordable then. These included Bordeaux reds and high quality European aromatic wines, such as Gewurztraminer and dry Riesling, which both Milne and McCallum had fallen for when in Europe.

The now legendary soil map was not drawn specifically for wine but its stony ground planted the seeds in Milne’s mind about this region’s potential suitability for viticulture and winemaking, due to his growing interest in wine. It also led him to compare sand, silt and clay soils and he explained  that drier soils are generally more favourable for grape growing.

“You can control moisture in soils by adding water but usually you cannot remove water, so the key is to find less moisture retentive soils in the first place. The original map showed images of stony soils with barely any moisture retention potential in this area, but it also showed the dreaded Wharekaka soils, which are clay rich and dense.  … Continue Reading

Tranzit well advanced in Electrifying bus journey

November 3, 2023 November 2023 Comments Off on Tranzit well advanced in Electrifying bus journey

Tranzit Turning a diesel fossil-burner double-decker bus into an EV was a Southern Hemisphere first.

South Wairarapa Rebus Club News

Turning diesel fossil-burner double-decker buses into EVs is one trick which Masterton-based Transzit mastered with the launch of its 100 percent battery-powered bus.

This successful prototype, a Southern Hemisphere first, now carries passengers in Wellington, and in the coming months Tranzit’s second “Repower” conversion will be finished. 

Tranzit’s 42 electric buses in Wellington have 3 million km under their tyres, saving 1.8 million litres of diesel and reducing CO2 emissions by 4,900 tonnes.

Over the next 12 months Tranzit will introduce 42 e-buses into Palmerston North’s new and expanded bus network, in partnership with Horizons Regional Council, helping it become NZ’s first city to have a 100% e-bus fleet. In addition, more e-buses will be introduced into Auckland and regional New Zealand, and more “Repower” buses are in the pipeline.  

These facts emerged at a recent meeting of South Wairarapa Rebus Club when Paul Snelgrove, managing director of The Transit Group gave a talk entitled “Tranzit: Our Repower Bus Journey.” … Continue Reading

National Nude Gardening Day unnoticed?

November 3, 2023 November 2023 Comments Off on National Nude Gardening Day unnoticed?

Saturday, October 21 was NNGD, but there are no reports that it was observed in either the urban or rural gardens of Martinborough and the South.

Wine Release Days are marked with considerable fervour, but not deshabille _ as in “the paintings of Venus all shared the same state of deshabille.”

Toast sees some, mainly younger celebrants, get some of their kit off in the heat of the day. 

The Christmas Parade sees a jolly, plump person full adorned in appropriate gear, despite the heat.

The annual hamburger challenge Burger Wellington sees all chefs correctly attired, even in the heat of the kitchen.

Daffodil Day is prim and proper across all daffodil fields. 

As is Lavender Harvest Day.

NNGD however, “is a global phenomenon” according to the nationwide Federation of Naturalists _ not just the preserve of “hardened nudists.”

Getting out in the sun, as nature intended, is reported “to be very liberating and empowering. It promotes body positivity and a renewed appreciation of the environment” (particularly hedges) said spokeswoman Alice de Wet. “We invite everyone to try it.”

So, mark the calendar: October 21, 2024.

SWDC planning and environment group manager Russell O’Leary (no pun intended) was quoted as saying there “is no bylaw covering public nudity in South Wairarapa” _ and no designated naturist areas. Really?

New sites at 30th Toast Martinborough

November 3, 2023 November 2023 Comments Off on New sites at 30th Toast Martinborough

By Joelle Thomson

Toast Martinborough turns 30 this year and goes back to its roots with two new sites joining the established big names.

The new sites are both collaborations and will be within walking distance of the other wineries, making it easy for festival goers to get to all of the Toast sites.

“Big Sky Wines is excited to be sharing a site on New York Street with its friends from Escarpment Vineyard and Stad_Ko,” says Katherine Jacobs, who co-owns Big Sky with Jeremy Corban.

Their site is called Boundary Block and will also serve brews from Martinborough Brewery, Garage Project and Almighty non-alcoholics with food from Social Chef, Mao & Co dumplings and noodles, and Jawl’s Kitchen.

The three wineries on Boundary Block will offer a wide range of wines to Toast patrons, including bubbles and rosé as well as Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and quirky natural wines, such as skin fermented Sauvignon Blanc, among others.

The other new collaboration at this year’s Toast is called Hunting Giants, a name that gives away the two identity of the two wineries involved. This collaboration between On Giant’s Shoulders and Huntress wines will serve food from Tora Collective and Saint Sebastian.

The Huntress founder and winemaker, Jannine Rickards, says Hunting Giants will be one of the smallest sites at this year’s Toast Martinborough with a wide range of wines, including On Giant’s Shoulders Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, alongside Huntress Amber Waihonga Pinot Gris (made, incidentally using grapes grown on the original On Giant’s Shoulders vineyard), Kuratea chilled red and Waikoa white blend. Both wineries will serve older vintages of Pinot Noir at the indoor cellar door.

Other wineries taking part in this year’s Toast include Ata Rangi, Luna, Moy Hall, Palliser, Runholder and Tirohana Estate.

More information: toastmartinborough.co.nz

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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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