Te Kopi dismayed by untrue fly-tipping connection

Facts: Te Kopi on the south coast is a small family-owned settlement of 17 mostly baches with just  three permanent residents. The others are weekenders, holiday-makers and, in one case, an Australia-based annual visitor.

Kaumatua/trustee Ross Ward, a descendent of the original Maori family owners, is kaitiaki of the Te Kopi enclave, inherited from great grandfather Hemi Te Miha and in turn from grandmother Katie Isabella Ahipene.  

The Issue: South Wairarapa District Council named the fly-tipping rubbish dumping area five kilometers from the village as “Te Kopi Cliffs.”  … Continue Reading

Tales from an outback midwife

Inner Wheel club’s recent meeting hosted Annie Price, whom they describe as a remarkable woman who talked of her experiences as a midwife in New Zealand and the outback of Australia.

Hailing from London, Annie trained as a Registered Nurse in Napier who went on to specialise  in intensive care work in New Zealand and Australia. On one case, she told how she argued with the “clever doctors” who wanted to ventilate a 90-year-old. Their reason – the registrar needed practice. That was it!  … Continue Reading

Masonic Trust keeps Wharekaka up to scratch

In an update, the Wharekaka Auxiliary advises the Masonic Trust has continued to keep the building in good condition and maintain the existing staff. 

As most people in Martinborough are aware, there is a moratorium on new buildings in the town so nothing can be done until this is lifted and the water and sewerage systems are sorted out.

The Wharekaka building is constantly in use. 

A Mah-Jong group meets weekly on Tuesdays under the auspices of the Auxiliary and makes a contribution to Meals on Wheels.

Chair Pilates for older people on Wednesdays and Bingo for Seniors happens on Mondays. … Continue Reading

SUIP: new rating policy lands heavily – in Greytown

By Martin Freeth 

For all those not in “the know,” SUIP is a new rates regime which has hit some 560 South Wairarapa ratepayers this rating year – with the top impact of the new charge located in Greytown.

Greytown Orchards Retirement Village takes the Crown for biggest single ratepayer in the district thanks to the rating policy on Separately Used and Inhabitable Parts (SUIPs) of a property.

In other words, the second (or more) – separate,  and inhabitable – dwelling/s are rateable.

Property rates data on the SWDC website shows Orchards retirement village to be one rateable property at 67 Reading Street but with 71 separate dwellings – and accordingly, a $326,957 total rates bill for 2024-25.

Until the latest rating revision was implemented, the village was rated as one place/dwelling.

Greytown Orchards stands out among 560 rates accounts identified by SWDC as potentially subject to additional rates under the policy in 2024-25. 

All have at least one additional SUIP (separately used and inhabitable part) at the urban or rural property. … Continue Reading