Coming slowly to a Remutaka Summit near you

By Ray Lilley Is it a bird, is it a plane? It’s a Billboard statement to travellers that they are entering a globally-acknowledged Dark Sky Reserve – one of only 21 such high-quality star-gazing environments operating worldwide.  Another 200 lower-ranked dark sky “places” across the globe have also been recognised …

Determined Pain Farm public meeting wants answers

By Ray Lilley More than five years after the Martinborough Community Board (MCB) asked South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) to see “the books” (financial records) for the 85-hectare Pain Farm Estate south of the town _ only the board members have changed. Despite repeated requests to SWDC, they have seen …

How Well Do We Know People In Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Sue Sullivan is a well-known identity in our community. Where else are you greeted by “Hello Darling,” giving an immediate uplift to your day? And the Havana coffee is now a basic necessity of life.  Bruce and Sue both lived in Martinborough when the children were small, …

Wairarapa Moana – the long path to its return

Dishonesty, theft, treachery. Three little-used words in the history of colonisation in New Zealand. Those words don’t appear in the official documents which, in late 2021, set out the end to Crown ownership of Wairarapa Moana _ Lake Wairarapa, and its return to  local Iwi ownership. They do, however, underpin …

Recent Articles:

ArrowFM offers outlets on its platform

March 12, 2024 March 2024 Comments Off on ArrowFM offers outlets on its platform

Are you a media junkie? Want to learn more about podcasting and broadcast media? Do you have a message to share? 

If you represent a community support service, practise sustainable farming, are a member of the disability community or want to celebrate cultures and enthusiasms, you can share all this with Wairarapa and the world thanks to our podcasting and live broadcasting platforms on this local community access radio station. Join ArrowFM for an exciting workshop to empower you with the skills and knowledge you need to reach your audiences.

Arrow FM presents CREATING MEDIA, a dynamic workshop exploring the diverse technologies available to content creators in today’s media landscape. And because we’re all about the people and the message, CREATING MEDIA will help you with content creation and presentation. … Continue Reading

Aratoi: There’s still “beauty in life”

March 12, 2024 March 2024 Comments Off on Aratoi: There’s still “beauty in life”

We live in a constant state of crisis. Fires rip through forests, flood waters erode coastlines,

wars tear cities to the ground, pandemics take lives, inequality divides us, and it is easy to

feel that we exist in a time of ruin.

However, it is important to also see the beauty in life and enjoy the small things. This season

at Aratoi we ask you to think about the big issues we face, but also enjoy the sunnier side of

life; discover beautiful architectural buildings, wonder over photographs from a bygone age

and enjoy eclectic joyful creations. … Continue Reading

A Ruamahanga field full of Sunflowers

March 12, 2024 March 2024 Comments Off on A Ruamahanga field full of Sunflowers

By Lyle Griffiths 

Students from Kahutara School piled on to the Green Cycle bus to visit Ruamahunga Farm. 

It was a day for the children to discover a field full of sunflowers, to learn about the seasonal growing cycle and to harvest some of the flowers to take back to school. The sale of these flowers for $2.00 each, will go towards restoration projects.

Sitting in a circle in the midst of the field they heard a tale of the sunflower. 

There was once an Indian prince who never washed and smelled appalling. Finally, he took a bath and was horrified by the brown mud that came off his feet. He issued an edict that all mud should be covered. But the coverage of the soil prevented anything from growing. Enter the sunflower Queen who uncovers the soil and plants sunflowers, creating a field of delight. … Continue Reading

A letter to George Pain (1846 – 1937)

March 12, 2024 March 2024 Comments Off on A letter to George Pain (1846 – 1937)

Kia Ora,

On behalf of the people of Martinborough we offer our heartfelt gratitude for your many contributions to Martinborough, including generously gifting the Pain Farm Estate. 

You continue to be fondly remembered and appreciated.

Pain and Kershaw celebrated 150 years of operation last year. They are the longest-serving whānau owned business in New Zealand and we’re sure you would be as proud of them and the new store, as we all are (and yes, your name is still proudly displayed).

Your collection of tāonga acquired throughout your life and travels up and down the East Coast of Aotearoa, was donated to the Wellington Council and has recently been the inspiration of a whole exhibition – Te Ohonga, The Awakening (on display at Wellington Museum, until April 1 2024).  … Continue Reading

FEATURED BUSINESSES

No post found

Sports

Martinborough WFC: First-ever home game

The all-important stats: Result: Irrelevant, but Martinborough Women scored at least 2 good goals. Enjoyment factor: as a spectator 10/10 Enjoyment Factor: as a player: 11/10 Effort and commitment: off the scale. Possession: Marty 58%; the opponents in Green: at times a bit less Shots on target: 3; goals 2. …

Martinborough Golf

By Karen Stephens An annual favourite, the Beef & Burgundy Ambrose held on Friday 10 May, saw a great turnout in favourable conditions (thank goodness it wasn’t the previous day when winter arrived with full force!)  Top honours went to the team of Michael Bing, Shane Colton, Tiawharangi Aranui, and …

Golf clubhouse fundraising builds up

An amazing fundraising day for the new clubhouse was held on April 19 when 34 teams took to the course in an ambrose tournament. The winners on the day with net 54.87 were Taylor Dewis, Robbie Robinson, Tom de Groen and Liam Richardson.  The longest drive for men went to …

Regular Features

From The Mayor

By Martin Connelly Firstly, can I thank the Deputy Mayor for keeping this column going …

EVENTS

Matariki Rising from 29 June Nine stars herald the New Year Remutaka Hill Closures by …

How Well Do We Know People In Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Sue Sullivan is a well-known identity in our community. Where else are …

FIRE BRIGADE REPORT – Call-out milestone: SIX each week

Martinborough’s Volunteer Fire Brigade crews reached the 150 call-out milestone in May. That’s an average …

Matariki and family key to Aratoi winter exhibits

This season, Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History has a group of exhibitions that …

THE STAR BOOK REVIEW

By Brenda Channer – Martinborough BookShop “Why Do Horses Run?” There is a maxim among …

Country Dog City Dog

Recent Comments