South Africa still has problems

Recently released figures show that there were 12,022 murders in South Africa during 2018 –  that is 53 a day. The number of serious sexual assaults was over double that. Sixty two of the murders were carried out on farms  and much was made of the fact the ‘only’ forty six of the victims were white farmers.

Meanwhile the World Bank  revealed that South Africa was the most financially unequal country in the world  with the vast majority of the nation’s wealth still held by  the white minority. 

South Wairarapa Neighbourhood Support 

Neighbourhood Support is a nationwide community-led movement that brings people and neighbourhoods together to create safe, resilient and connected communities.  One of the ways we support our groups is with our National Campaigns.  

This month we are looking at The Joy of Giving – December 1st to 31st 

We want to challenge our members to come together and give generously and from the heart to help those in need this holiday season. With so much going on this time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and forget about those having a di cult time.  … Continue Reading

Successful Martinborough House and Garden Tour 

Fortune was certainly smiling on 23^rd November when the Wharekaka Auxiliary hosted the Martinborough House and Garden tour. 11 stunning properties basked in beautiful sunlight as over 650 excited ticket holders made their way around our lovely town.

The feedback we have received since the event has been wonderful, with everyone praising both the standard and diversity of the houses and gardens and the organisation and smooth running of the day. 

As always, there are people who must be thanked profusely. Firstly the 11 home owners who generously agreed to open their houses and gardens to such scrutiny; they are truly the ones who bore the brunt of the day. Many months of hard work went into making the properties look so stunning. They were: Pauline and Alistair Mcleod, Sue and John Hughes, Dinny Pearce and Jim Brassell, Di and Tom Bunny, Felicity and Arthur Warren, Cath and Marco de Groot, J.C and Roger Gaskell, Charlie and Angela Cresswell, Gay Chadburn and Dave Stewart, Helen and John Meehan, Rosie and Paul Collins. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. … Continue Reading

Technicolour fun

If you are a kid it’s not often that adults tell you to mess up your clothes.   Perhaps that’s why the Colour Run at Considine park last month was such a hit.  You started with a clean white t-shirt and ended up with your own unique rainbow coloured top.

The day was a fundraiser for the new Waihinga Centre playground, especially the water play feature.   Thanks to the hundreds of children and parents who came along enough money was raised to completely finish the project.   

The fun continued at Parehua.  Children played games set up on the lawn while parents could enjoy a relaxing drink.   The night finished with a fireworks display back at the park and a chance to ride on the fire engine. … Continue Reading