Horses, riders plod safely around the streets

A dozen horse-and-rider teams plus a Miniature Pony and handler plodded several kilometers through Martinborough streets _ and round The Square in mid-September _ safe on their trek as local motorists showed courtesy and patience during the demonstration.

Demonstrating what, you ask? That horses and riders in Hi-Viz and helmets can tromp the streets and roads without causing chaos _ or even distruption _ during mid-morning Saturday traffic.

None of the horses showed any concern as motorists slowed, pulled to the roadside and shuttled past the 70-odd metre-long trekking mob as it moved from Shooting Butts Road to central town – and back. 

The only mishap: one buxus shrub in the centre of The Square was missing a few leaves,  grabbed by an eager mount. 

Riders gave clear arm/hand-signals at every turn. No driver appeared flummoxed by the trekkers. … Continue Reading

House Price Factoids

CoreLogic NZ notes South Wairarapa

house prices are still leading the region,

despite median prices “tracking down” 

around 5%, while rising 4% in Masterton. … Continue Reading

How Well Do You Know People in our Community? – October 2024

By Lyle Griffiths

Rebecca Kneale is a very recent addition to town, a Tauranga girl, who has migrated south to Martinborough.

Educated at Otumoetai College, Rebecca left school to experience overseas work and travel. In London she worked for an architectural firm.

“It was a time when scanners were just being introduced. My role was to implement the coding systems and create subcategories for electrical, mechanical and interior designers so they could be accessed by date order and filed for our staff of 30+ to easily access. It was a new learning curve for me, but it was fun, and I really enjoyed it.

“When we returned to New Zealand we continued working in the construction industry, designing, building and selling homes in Auckland. An interlude followed when I became a stay-at-home mother. Having three children under five, life became very busy.

“We were constantly moving. I can’t even tally up the number of houses we lived in,” laughs Rebecca. … Continue Reading

Hua-angarua river-side planting project starts well

Recloaking the banks of the Hua-angarua River with native species has begun with 40 volunteers turning out to put 600 plants into a 150-metre long stretch of formerly willow-infested riparian strip.

South Wairarapa Biodiversity Group teamed up with South Wairarapa District Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and community members to plant the river bank with  groupings of trees, shrubs and grasses _ the first stage of land-and-river flow control near Ponatahi Bridge.

For Biodiversity Group president Jane Lenting, this new project “is something closer to hand which is connected to the (Ruamahanga) River,” while earlier planting projects focussed mainly on the Wairarapa Moana area.

“This Hua-angarua work is on private land each side, but with the (Ponatahi) Bridge there it’s quite an accessible spot, and while you can’t simply wander around, it’s more open to the public than somewhere quite obscure.”

Both SWDC and the John’s Road landowner were keen, while Greater Wellington Regional Council wanted to tie the riparian planting in with its flood protection work, “pretty much to try and stop the Ponatahi Bridge from being flooded, including removing shingle from round the bridge area,” she said. … Continue Reading