A Plumber’s Tale: stuck deep in the waste pipe, round the bend

Numb fingers, twisted elbow, stuck shoulder, aching back muscles and trapped in a household waste pipe to the shoulder_ the plumber, after more than 30 minutes lying face hard against a house outer wall, finally managed to use his free hand to “phone a friend.” “I go above and beyond …

Introduced predators decimate coastal and forest birds, wildlife

By Joe Howells My journey into conservation has been a short one, prompted by a lifelong love for our wild South Wairarapa coastline and our native forest remnants, _and having more time on my hands as I move into semi-retirement.  Clive Paton got me involved in the Aorangi Restoration Trust, …

How well do we know people in our community?

By Bruce Congalton Becs Mackie is bubbling over with wonderful ideas for her Ventana Creative Workshops when we meet in her bright, high-ceilinged studio at 7 Kitchener Street. It’s obvious that she has a very creative mind and the walls show off her artistic talent. But she’s never formally studied …

Buyer still sought for Palliser Bay Station

By Martin Freeth South Wairarapa’s Palliser Bay Station is still on the market after failing to sell at tender last November. Bayleys agent Andrew Smith says a high-profile marketing campaign leading into the tender stimulated “phenomenal interest” in this highly notable property – 3,719 ha with extensive areas of flat …

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No police progress in Kitchener ram-raid inquiry

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on No police progress in Kitchener ram-raid inquiry

Police are asking for more community help with their inquiries into the Kitcheners Cafe ram-raid of late November.

Detective constable Johnnie Low told The Star that investigators “continue to appeal for information about the ram raid.”

A stolen front-end loader was used by the raid perpetrator to slam into the Kitcheners frontage in a bid to snatch the ANZ Bank’s ATM machine housed in the front corner of the cafe.

CCTV footage showed the loader driven at speed into the front of the building, ripping apart the building’s corner but failing to dislodge the ATM machine _ which was knocked over by the force of the colliding loader bucket.   

Police later confirmed any cash in the machine would have been coloured by liquid dye inside the ATM following the collision, rendering it unusable. … Continue Reading

Public recycling bins a failed experiment, withdrawn

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on Public recycling bins a failed experiment, withdrawn

Misuse of public recycling bins which sees “high levels of contamination” dumped in them in the South’s three main towns means these council bins are being withdrawn and “repurposed.”

South Wairarapa District Council is the latest local body to remove the recycling option and repurpose the bins for general landfill collection because users refuse to follow simple recycling rules. 

Instead, general rubbish is dumped into the recycling bins _ even when a general rubbish bin is close by.

“We have had a large response from the community about the misuse of recycling bins in the three main towns,” officials said in a statement. “The bins are emptied three times a week but one bin (the recycling one) has to be repurposed, due to high levels of contamination” with general rubbish. … Continue Reading

Oldest recent visitor does slow streak through skies

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on Oldest recent visitor does slow streak through skies

Comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) sliced through the skies mid-January, slowly fading on its first visit to the Sun and planets in 180.000 years _ and likely to never visit again. 

“It’s basically starting to disintegrate, so it will fade, but nobody knows how rapidly,” said Otago Musdeum astronomer Ian Griffin. Viewing it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

And that was the case for White Rock Road resident Warren Bolger, who took his camera, walked to his front gate and provided The Star with the result.

It shows a rather faint comet tail as the now headless wonder, Comet Atlas, made it way past earth _ likely to not visit this part of the Universe again as it slowly decays.

Bolger notes: “This photo was taken on the Editor of The Star’s property boundary at direction c.a. 240 deg SW at 10pm last evening (Jan 22).”

Setting up to catch the Noctourism wave

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on Setting up to catch the Noctourism wave

Nocturnal + tourism equals a new and leading trend in world tourism, rated the No. 1 new attraction and reported by the BBC as the coming opportunity. 

It has been named Noctourism.

In a report setting out what industry pundits describe as “the seven travel trends that will shape 2025,” the organisation lists “Noctourism” as the top new tourism option in a key list of seven. … Continue Reading

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Sports

‘Spectacular’ new golf club building opens

Martinborough golfers say it’s hard to believe that just over 12 months ago they were still in the old clubhouse _ “and now we have a spectacular new building.”  “To get where we are today has meant a huge fundraising effort and amazing support from members: we couldn’t have done …

Martinborough golf by a hank – of wool

  We start at the end of the month, when the annual Baabraa Trophy between Martinborough and Eketahuna was fought out on a glorious Sunday in Martinborough. A field of 70 played a stableford round and the average stableford points for the two clubs were calculated. Eketahuna scored an average …

Lady golfers show Rosebowl winning ways

September has been an up and down month weatherwise for golfers, some beautiful early spring days followed by cold and rain. Thankfully for the important days the weather has mostly come to the party. Early in the month the Cotter Rosebowl was successfully defended at Carterton by Martinborough’s team of …

Regular Features

How well do we know people in our community?

By Bruce Congalton Becs Mackie is bubbling over with wonderful ideas for her Ventana Creative …

Martinborough Fire Brigade Report

This month sees the end of an era for the Brigade as Chris Hooson, the …

From the Mayor  – February 2025

By Martin Connelly I wish all readers of The Star a happy New Year.  Last …

From the Mayor

By Martin Connelly Water services have been a political football for some time. We associate …

EVENTS

Wellington Heritage Festival WHEN: October 26 – November 17  WHERE: * Wellington Region – 140 …

How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Pforzheim in Southern Germany was where Thomas Röckinger lived with his family, …

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Could ZERO growth be the answer?   So, Martinborough’s sewage woes continue, and have seriously …

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