Toast eaten by Foley Wines

U.S.-based Foley Wines has taken over Toast Martinborough, ingesting the long-running festival into its growing portfolio of wine, food and hospitality activities across New Zealand. 

After a cash-raising effort by the Toast Martinborough board failed to raise enough capital to cover the shortfall from the 2023 Toast Martinborough event, Foley stepped in. 

Its offer “to buy out shareholders and provide the necessary funds to settle outstanding debts with suppliers” was accepted by Toast’s board.  

Foley Wines described the 30-year-old annual festival as “iconic” when it announced the take over. … Continue Reading

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 Waingawa to the southern coast _ all have the chance to apply for dark sky provider status.

DarkSky said the programme is “encouraging hospitality companies to actively participate in safeguarding the night from the damaging effects of light pollution, while providing their guests with an awe-inspiring experience under pristine dark skies.”

Approved visitor accommodation includes camp grounds, hotels and resorts, retreat centres, ecotourism properties and astrotourism lodges situated in dark sky locations. 

As astrotourism grows in the Wairarapa reserve’s area, points of difference in accommodation offerings _ like dark sky accreditation _ will be seen as attractive options for dark sky tourists. … Continue Reading

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 of the “poor scoring” out on the course.

There were certainly challenges to holding the event this year with the clubhouse having been demolished the previous month. But thanks to an army of volunteers and very generous sponsors everything went off without a hitch and the prize-giving and dinner were held under the oak trees synonymous with the Martinborough course.

The winning professional was Nick Coxon with a score of 63. The team prize went to John and Sarah Monaghan and Bindy McLeod who will be enjoying their prize: a round of golf at Cape

Kidnappers as well as accommodation in Havelock North.

Club opening day was held on Sunday 11 February with a large field even though the weather looked pretty dodgy and summer had definitely taken a break.  … Continue Reading

FROM THE MAYOR

By Martin Connelly

In February the local Lions Club invited me for dinner and asked me to speak for a short time on the

“State of the District” among other things.

It was a lovely evening with many laughs and a lot of camaraderie. If there are newcomers to the

district who would like to join a service club that combines socialising with being good citizens, I

suggest you make contact with the club.

I thought I would share the main points of our discussion, sStarting with my leading observation that the district is doing very well. 

A recent story in the Wellington newspaper “The Post”, revealed that Wellington house prices have risen 64% over the last 10 years. 

But in the South Wairarapa that rise has been 123%.  … Continue Reading