“Help us stop the spread of pest plants before they come a problem

The Greater Wellington Biosecurity team needs your help to prevent the spread of moth plant, woolly nightshade and blue passionflower, which are becoming more established in the Wairarapa area. The damage caused by these three pest plants ranges from smothering and replacing native species, forming large masses, invading productive land to harming humans through poisonous seeds. 

These plants are still in relatively low numbers in the Wellington Region. Our specialists can help to identify and manage other potential pest plant species that identified in the Regional Pest Management Plan.

If you think you’ve seen one of these plants, contact Greater Wellington on 0800 496 734, email pest.plants@gw.govt.nz or visit www.gw.govt.nz/pest-plants/”

This month’s pest, the moth plant … Continue Reading

Letter from Melbourne

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”Dickens was right. We are now living a tale of two cities, of two parts of the country.
One place where COVID is closing in, while the rest of the country cautiously pushes open its doors.

It feels rather frightening to be here in Melbourne. The red line on the graph goes up and up — 270 new infections one day, then 238, then 317, and then yesterday 428 Victorians newly infected with a virus that has taken control of so much of our lives that other experiences seem like an alternate reality. .

Records don’t matter anymore. Each day is a new record figure — I don’t notice. … Continue Reading

Know your town 

Early settlers 

William Smith family 

William Smith arrived on the  ship ‘Arab’ with his parents in 1841. His father, David, purchased land at Silverstream  where he built an eight roomed  dwelling for his family, wife Isobella and four children. There he ran a dairy farm  and bred draught horses.

Youngest son William purchased a block of land at Waihinga in 1867 . He built a homestead between Waihinga village and the Māori village Kaupekahinga. The road of the time forked in front of the Smith property to go on to W Bidwill’s property and the River Ferry and Inn. So W Smith was very central in those early times. … Continue Reading

Library News

“A library in the middle of a community is a cross between an emergency exit, a life-raft and a festival.  They are cathedrals of the mind; hospitals of the soul; theme parks of the imagination.  On a cold rainy island, they are the only sheltered public spaces where you are not a consumer, but a citizen instead.” – Caitlin Moran, author.

If you’ve been into the Martinborough Library recently, you may have seen the little teacup on the front counter; we are growing some grape hyacinths.  The Waihinga Centre environment is obviously conducive to good growing conditions, as they are sprouting fast!  Customers have enjoyed watching their progress and some have been coming in solely to see where they’re at!  It’s lovely to have a little bit of spring so close by.

Our Matariki children’s activities throughout July were wildly popular; we made things including stargazers, orbs, recycled-material stars, and origami star boxes.  We hosted a twinkly night-time story & craft session, which was a lot of fun. … Continue Reading