South Wairarapa Tramping Club

The ingenious lunch stop on Day 2, near Redcliffe Point.

Banks  Peninsular  Track

4 SWTC members intended to do the Banks Peninsular 3 day tramp, but unfortunately, due to a broken leg, only 3 arrived in Akaroa.  We met our 5 fellow trampers, all from Auckland, outside the Old Post Office, and were driven to our first night’s accommodation, at Onuku.

The BP Track is run by 5 farming families. Our main luggage and food was transported each day, while we tramped with smaller day packs carrying lunch and wet weather gear.

After a comfortable night’s sleep, we woke to a glorious day, with bellbirds singing. We had brilliant views up Akaroa Harbour, and out to the heads to open sea, as we climbed about 500m up through farmland. Over the top ridge, we descended on the seaward side, though a large bush reserve, which  provided a good contrast to the farmland. When we arrived at Flea Bay (probably named for the little native fleas that live on the penguins)  we were delighted to find cold drinks including beer in the fridge for purchase! … Continue Reading

Scholarship Success

Adam butler One of this year’s scholarship winners.

Jazz in Martinborough is sponsoring five up-and-coming secondary school jazz musicians to attend the NZ Jazz Foundation Summer School in Wellington in December.  

“This is the 3rd year we have been able to sponsor students to attend the Summer School,” says college jazz showcase coordinator for Jazz in Martinborough Mary Quayle.  “Fresh Jam – the college workshops and concert – was able to go ahead in September despite level 2 COVID restrictions.  So being able to continue to support the local colleges’ music programmes by enabling the students to get to Wellington next month is very pleasing,” she adds.

Fresh Jam has been running for eight years, incorporating jazz music workshops led by jazz icon Dr Rodger Fox, and a showcase concert for friends and families. It is heavily supported by the music teachers from our local Wairarapa Colleges and Dr Fox gives his time freely.

Each year the NZ Jazz Foundation host a week-long programme of intensive Jazz tuition for secondary students to develop their instrumental skills, improvisation and performance.  “Students pay $250 to attend the School and receive international-level music education,” says Mary. “However, our sponsorship of their fees means that five Wairarapa students are able to attend without having to pay this fee.” … Continue Reading

Regional Council notes

Time to start thinking

Older residents in our region may well remember the massive flooding in June 1947 when a strong southerly gale, lasting three days, brought heavy rain to Wairarapa. Greater Wellington Regional Council records tell us that the Ruamahanga River was raging with enough water to fill one hundred and fifty petrol tankers per second or the Sky Stadium in Wellington every twelve minutes.  All stop banks in the upper lake area over topped and ten thousand acres of farmland were flooded.  Damage was extensive and stock losses in the thousands.

There can be no doubt that this flood and the threat of more like it was the driving force behind one of the biggest and most ambitious flood management projects in the country; The Lower Valley Development Scheme.

Commissioned in 1964 the scheme resulted in a highly modified lower river system whereby the Ruamahanga no longer flowed directly into Lake Wairarapa but was diverted straight into Lake Onoke.  A huge structure called the Geoffrey Blundell Barrage Gates was built on the flow connecting the two lakes and this was used to control the water levels on both lakes. … Continue Reading

Red Cross News

(From the left) Jo McDonald, Humanitarian Development Engagement Manager – Wairarapa; Gemma Williams, Administrator – Wairarapa and Natalia Bellini, Joyce Hogg, and Val Johns – Martinborough Red Cross Group.

Good & Ready

The Good & Ready event held at the Waihinga Centre on 7 November was a huge success.  ,

Along with the team from the Red Cross Masterton Service Centre, our local Martinborough Red Cross Group, the Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office (WREMO) and Neighbourhood Support, the Good and Ready event was designed to raise awareness of disaster preparedness.  

Being aware of a possible disaster means thinking ahead and being ready with a good supply of water, food and medications to get us through the first few days.  It’s also about looking out for our neighbours and visitors providing support where we can.  

A special thank you to our partners – Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) and Neighbourhood Support and the Red Cross with the Disaster Welfare Support Team for helping to make this event a success.  Many thanks also to SWDC for donating a Water Tank as the main prize on the day.   … Continue Reading