The Power of Paint and Friendship 

When I first met John Lace he was selling poppies outside Kitcheners Dairy. The Martinborough Friday walkers had just finished coffee there and as a bright, chatty, happy group we suggested he join us the next week.

John did but could only walk 100 metres as he was soon out of breath, the result of smoking for 60 years, even though he gave up ten years ago.
 Each week saw John walk a bit further before he had to stop, but enjoying our company he always joined us for coffee when we finished our hour walking about town. Sadly, he was a very unhappy, lonely, depressed man since his wife, Joyce, died five years ago. … Continue Reading

Under The Martinborough Stars

We used to have a special file at Carter Observatory that all the strange, unidentified and mysterious objects used to be filed in. If someone saw something weird, they would phone up the Observatory and give a description of the object.

Unfortunately for all you alien hunters, it turned out that these strange objects were nearly always a much more boring answer: Venus.

Venus has always been a bit of a mystery. It has thick clouds in its atmosphere, so it reflects sunlight incredibly well and is the second brightest object in the sky after the Moon. It can even cast a shadow.

Venus always appears at sunset or sunrise, hovering above the horizon and shimmering, changing colours or twinkling. We look at Venus through our own thick atmosphere, so it gets easily distorted.  

It is often thought as Earth’s twin because it is of similar size, but actually it is very different. It is the hottest planet in the Solar System even though Mercury is closer. The surface is hot enough to melt lead and has the most volcanoes of any planet. … Continue Reading

Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve: Economic Plan wrap up event

There has been healthy interest in the creation of an accredited Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve and the economic potential it has for the region. Wellington-based consultancy JMG has run a number of meetings and events to raise awareness of the project and to discover what this might mean for the Wairarapa economy.  This will feed into an economic plan to define the opportunities arising from the Reserve.

“Having met many people through community meetings and sessions with business associations and businesses, groups, iwi, councils and other interests, we have been privileged to get a greater insight into the plans and aspirations of the community” says JMG’s Managing Director, Bill McDonald.    … Continue Reading

Where were you in 1982 

In 1982 Martinborough turned 100 years old.  Maybe you were living here then, maybe you’d grown up and left, or perhaps you’re someone who has made your home here since.

Whatever the case don’t miss the chance to see the documentary made about the town, its history and its people, at that time. You might even see yourself in it!

For the past few weeks it’s been showing at Circus Cinema as part of the 125^th anniversary celebrations of the old library building that now houses the museum.   It seems that some of you haven’t had the chance to see it yet so an extra screening has been scheduled.  … Continue Reading