A Plumber’s Tale: stuck deep in the waste pipe, round the bend

Numb fingers, twisted elbow, stuck shoulder, aching back muscles and trapped in a household waste pipe to the shoulder_ the plumber, after more than 30 minutes lying face hard against a house outer wall, finally managed to use his free hand to “phone a friend.” “I go above and beyond …

Introduced predators decimate coastal and forest birds, wildlife

By Joe Howells My journey into conservation has been a short one, prompted by a lifelong love for our wild South Wairarapa coastline and our native forest remnants, _and having more time on my hands as I move into semi-retirement.  Clive Paton got me involved in the Aorangi Restoration Trust, …

How well do we know people in our community?

By Bruce Congalton Becs Mackie is bubbling over with wonderful ideas for her Ventana Creative Workshops when we meet in her bright, high-ceilinged studio at 7 Kitchener Street. It’s obvious that she has a very creative mind and the walls show off her artistic talent. But she’s never formally studied …

Buyer still sought for Palliser Bay Station

By Martin Freeth South Wairarapa’s Palliser Bay Station is still on the market after failing to sell at tender last November. Bayleys agent Andrew Smith says a high-profile marketing campaign leading into the tender stimulated “phenomenal interest” in this highly notable property – 3,719 ha with extensive areas of flat …

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An invite: join the Long Term Plan process, add to the results – February 2025 

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on An invite: join the Long Term Plan process, add to the results – February 2025 

By Aidan Ellims

Happy New Year to everyone, although we are at the end of January some would ask: where has the summer been? It has certainly been unseasonal, although the weather has played ball for Toast Martinborough, Cruize Martinborough and fingers crossed for Martinborough Fair. 

At the last council meeting of 2024 which occurred in November, we received the petition that Leah Hawkins and Dean Di Bona had promoted calling that rates increases for the upcoming Long Term Plan be capped at 3% in line with inflation. 

It was impressive that over a thousand ratepayers/residents had signed the petition and I commented that it would great if we could have that number of submissions for our next Long Term Plan.  … Continue Reading

Aorangi Forest Park: Dark Heart of Wairarapa’s Dark Sky Reserve

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on Aorangi Forest Park: Dark Heart of Wairarapa’s Dark Sky Reserve

Aorangi Forest Park, long celebrated for its rugged beauty and ecological significance, has

taken on a new role as the “core” of the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, accredited by Dark Sky

International in January 2023. 

This designation positions the park at the centre of the region’s dark sky project _ which will now focus on activities that move to maintain, educate and promote the wonder of our night skies. 

The core zone of the reserve is now recognized as one of the darkest places in New Zealand,

with only eight outdoor light bulbs in total in the core area, all of which are based at DOC huts.  And all now dark sky compliant.  … Continue Reading

Buyer still sought for Palliser Bay Station

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on Buyer still sought for Palliser Bay Station

By Martin Freeth

South Wairarapa’s Palliser Bay Station is still on the market after failing to sell at tender last November.

Bayleys agent Andrew Smith says a high-profile marketing campaign leading into the tender stimulated “phenomenal interest” in this highly notable property – 3,719 ha with extensive areas of flat pasture, hill country, river valley, forestry plantation and native vegetation, all set between Palliser Bay and Aorangi Forest Park.

Mr Smith told the Martinborough Star there has been enquiry from some 75 different groups based around New Zealand, across the Tasman and in the United Kingdom. “Interest has been generated by a significantly well spread marketing campaign, with a lot of intrigue about this unique landscape and opportunity. We haven’t got an outcome yet but I’m certain there will be, given more time.”

Palliser Bay Station has a rateable value of $9.5 million, reflecting its scale and unique seaside location — the property stretches along 7km of coastline – with an array of current and potential land uses and income streams.

It has well-developed sheep and beef breeding and finishing operations on 120 ha flat terraces and on a further 1,500 ha of grazable hill country largely covered in regenerating native vegetation. There are also well over 1,000 ha of mature native forest and shingle riverbeds opened by arrangement with the owners for hunting and honey production. … Continue Reading

Rates Cap Quiz: should SWDC rates be capped _ and what will be lost doing so?

February 21, 2025 February 2025 Comments Off on Rates Cap Quiz: should SWDC rates be capped _ and what will be lost doing so?

More than 1,000 ratepayers/local citizens have called for a cap on annual rates of 3 percent (3%).

In their petition they asked for a thorough review of South Wairarapa District Council’s operations.

The group pointed to expanding council staffing numbers _ both fulltime and casual _ as well as suggesting part of council spending increases reflected poor quality contract tendering and control by its officials. 

The group also called for a line-by-line review of council operations and activity _ a budget process they suspect has never been properly – or fully and systematically – implemented in previous budget rounds.

By adopting a 3 percent rates cap, the petitioners believe a whole new financial discipline will be imposed on council officials – and elected councillors. This discipline will slow the flood of rates hikes which has seen ratepayers paying FOUR times the rate of inflation to cover council costs to the community over the past five years.   … Continue Reading

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Sports

‘Spectacular’ new golf club building opens

Martinborough golfers say it’s hard to believe that just over 12 months ago they were still in the old clubhouse _ “and now we have a spectacular new building.”  “To get where we are today has meant a huge fundraising effort and amazing support from members: we couldn’t have done …

Martinborough golf by a hank – of wool

  We start at the end of the month, when the annual Baabraa Trophy between Martinborough and Eketahuna was fought out on a glorious Sunday in Martinborough. A field of 70 played a stableford round and the average stableford points for the two clubs were calculated. Eketahuna scored an average …

Lady golfers show Rosebowl winning ways

September has been an up and down month weatherwise for golfers, some beautiful early spring days followed by cold and rain. Thankfully for the important days the weather has mostly come to the party. Early in the month the Cotter Rosebowl was successfully defended at Carterton by Martinborough’s team of …

Regular Features

How well do we know people in our community?

By Bruce Congalton Becs Mackie is bubbling over with wonderful ideas for her Ventana Creative …

Martinborough Fire Brigade Report

This month sees the end of an era for the Brigade as Chris Hooson, the …

From the Mayor  – February 2025

By Martin Connelly I wish all readers of The Star a happy New Year.  Last …

From the Mayor

By Martin Connelly Water services have been a political football for some time. We associate …

EVENTS

Wellington Heritage Festival WHEN: October 26 – November 17  WHERE: * Wellington Region – 140 …

How Well Do We Know People in Our Community?

By Lyle Griffiths Pforzheim in Southern Germany was where Thomas Röckinger lived with his family, …

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Could ZERO growth be the answer?   So, Martinborough’s sewage woes continue, and have seriously …

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