Community News

All Aboard the Talking Bus —Martinborough School’s 2026 Production

This term, Martinborough School worked hard to put together our school production, Icons of Aotearoa. What started as an idea from the…

Oct 2026

Community News

Mindful Stitching 

A post on our local community Facebook page caught my eye – it sounded fun, and a great idea. Off I went,…

Oct 2026

Community News

MVFB Monthly Update

There were 15 callouts in September at the time of writing, with more likely by month’s end. These included medical responses, smoke…

Oct 2026

Community News

Extending the Pharmacy

The Ruamahanga Health Trust (RHT) is planning a much-needed extension to the community owned medical centre building to enable the pharmacy to…

Oct 2026

Community News

Exploring in Nature 

Our oldest Tamariki have the privilege each week to head out of the kindergarten to Considine Park. Once there, active exploration kicks…

Oct 2026

Politics

A win for Cape Palliser Road

Mayor Fran Wilde has welcomed news of continued funding for Cape Palliser Road from the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA)…

Oct 2026

Politics

Built to last 

Hurupi Stream Bridge has firmer foundations following repair work in response to damage caused during storms in February this year. Floodwaters during…

Oct 2026

Politics

New te reo Māori games kete

South Wairarapa Libraries had a huge spike in engagement during Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te reo Māori) in September this…

Oct 2026

Politics

Pool time 

Summer is on the way with warmer days and the promise of sunshine for pool goers, who came take their first dip…

Oct 2026

Politics

Regent Street new footpath  

Pedestrians can now enjoy a new footpath on Regent Street, which was completed this year as part of Council’s annual urban footpath…

Oct 2026

Business

Nara Scoops WOP’s Wairarapa Burger Title

Lucy Mutch is head chef for the Martinborough eatery Nara. I sat down with her to celebrate their scooping first prize in…

Oct 2026

Business

Pour & Explore Wrap and What’s Next

Pour & Explore was a real success, bringing locals and visitors together and filling Martinborough’s streets, cellar doors and businesses with energy. …

Oct 2026

Business

Top new wines for your ‘cellar’

Last month’s Martinborough Star wine column was all about the benefits of ageing wine and highlighted the newly released 2021 Blue Earth…

Oct 2026

Business

Quality Mark for Tora Collective’s Wild Crayfish

A tiny Tora team with a big vision has earned national recognition, securing the prestigious Quality Food Mark and a finalist spot…

Sept 2026

Business

Unveiling a Taonga: Three Decades of Ata Rangi Célèbre

A rare three decade vertical tasting of Ata Rangi Célèbre was held in Martinborough on 16 August, bringing together 13 vintages from…

Sept 2026

Arts & Culture

Te Reo o te Wai:The Language of Water in Our Community

Te Reo o te Wai, the language of the water, echoed through our community recently as the Martinborough Music Festival and Ruamāhanga…

Oct 2026

Arts & Culture

Trailer Released for 1970s Rural Kiwi Drama – The Dog Show

The first trailer for New Zealand feature film The Dog Show has been released, offering audiences a glimpse of the heartwarming family drama ahead…

Oct 2026

Arts & Culture

The Star Book Review

‘The Valley’ by Asher Emmanuel I initially ordered two copies of The Valley for the bookshop thinking there might be one or…

Oct 2026

Arts & Culture

Kuripuni School Big Band Debuts at Village Café

By 11am the Village Café was packed — standing room only, half the room clutching flat whites like concert tickets. The usual…

Oct 2026

Arts & Culture

Aratoi

This year’s Friends of Aratoi fundraiser, Little Jewels, promises to be the biggest one since its inception in 2004.  With over 230…

Oct 2026

Environment

Wetlands Kaitiaki Honoured at the Freshwater Champion Awards

Water is the lifeblood that connects places and people. Through our waterways, our whānau has connected deeply not only to our home…

Oct 2026

Environment

Aorangi Restoration Trust Annual General Meeting 

The AGM will be held on Sunday the 4th of October from 4pm to 5 pm at the Ruakokoputuna Hall, at 480…

Oct 2026

Environment

Penguins, Planting and Pirinoa School

It was a fun day out at Ōkorewa Lagoon on the south coast in mid August, as the mahi of nine local…

Sept 2026

Environment

Have you seen this plant?

Madagascar ragwort has recently been found growing in southern Wairarapa. This invasive pest plant is highly toxic to livestock and can significantly…

Sept 2026

Environment

Aorangi Restoration Trust appoints their Development Lead and seeks new Trustees

The Aorangi Restoration Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Anna Burrows as their Development Lead. Anna brings to the Trust…

July 2026

Sports

A Big Year for our Junior Martinborough Footballers

Martinborough Junior Football has wrapped up another season, celebrating around 90 young players at its annual prizegiving. The club thanked its players,…

Oct 2026

Sports

In the Neighbourhood: Marty Masters Sevens welcomes Wāhine

The In the Neighbourhood Marty Masters Sevens returned to Martinborough on Saturday, 26 September, with 10 men’s teams and — for the…

Oct 2026

Sports

More Than just a Hunting Competition 

How Hunting Supports Local Families and Provides Important Pest Control This year marked the 32nd Pukemanu Big Four hunting challenge, held at…

Sports

Young Muay Thai Athlete Aiming for the Top

Jerry Miller is a very focussed, determined fourteen-year-old whose life centres around Muay Thai. When I asked himhow he got into this…

Sept 2026

Sports

No stopping Martinborough Women’s Football Team

MWFC 4 – Wairarapa United 0. In only their 3rd season Martinborough Women’s FC are showing almost greater achievements than Wellington Phoenix…

Sept 2026

Event News

Round The Vines 2026 – Our school’s biggest fundraiser

Round the Vines is back for 2026, with Martinborough’s much-loved fun run and walk taking place on Saturday 31 October. The event…

Oct 2026

Event News

A Region on Foot: Wairarapa Walking Festival 2026

Walking is one of the most accessible forms of recreation and provides a low-cost opportunity for people to meet others and participate…

Oct 2026

Event News

MOW!!

Martinborough’s Own Wearables Fun Evening was an entertaining event, and it lived up to our expectations! The hall looked amazing especially with…

Oct 2026

Event News

Family fun at the Music Festival

Bring the whānau and some cushions and come along for a magical musical adventure with the Druz’ya Quartet at the Martinborough Music…

Sept 2026

Event News

Virtuoso Violinist Visits Wairarapa 

“Energetic and emotionally vested performances of the highest calibre”. Andrew Sords, from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, will be in New Zealand in October,…

Sept 2026

Club News

South Wairarapa Rebus Club

John Reeve. John, a retired government food safety toxicologist, described for us the hard work and extremely long hours – seven days…

Oct 2026

Club News

U3A Meeting Review: A Frank Conversation About Death

August’s U3A speaker, Trixie Duckett, tackled a subject most of us would rather put off indefinitely: death, and the practical business of…

Oct 2026

Club News

U3A

The Way We Were: New Zealanders in the 1960s and 70s through the lens of John Fields’ camera. Presenter David Langman, art…

Sept 2026

Club News

Rebus Club – Tail wagging the dog?

We were delighted to welcome the president and committee members of the Tauherenikau Friendship Club to our July meeting. President John Reeve…

Sept 2026

Club News

U3A

Tuesday 1 September 10.00am. Heartlands, Jellicoe Street, Martinborough. Everyone welcome. $5.00 or koha. As usual, on the first Tuesday of the month,…

Aug 2026

Health & Wellbeing

Garden Tour fundraiser for Carterton Indoor Community Pool

The Carterton Indoor Community Pool, built by locals nearly 40 years ago, has long provided safe, warm, year round swimming for families,…

Oct 2026

Health & Wellbeing

Parkinson’s Awareness

Parkinson’s Wairarapa has been pretty quiet during the winter months, with only our regular activities (singing, exercises, ping pong and counterpunch) taking…

Sept 2026

Health & Wellbeing

Spring into your Health

This is the first of our new quarterly Health and Wellness section. Spring is here (allegedly) and as the seasons change it’s…

Sept 2026

Health & Wellbeing

Living Positively with Parkinson’s

Legal planning for you and your family. Firstly, Parkinson’s Wairarapa would like to thank all of you who stopped at our table…

Apr 2026

Health & Wellbeing

Age Concern Connect

April is ‘falls prevention month’, so it’s a good time to have a think about how older folk can keep themselves upright,…

Apr 2026

History

The Passing of the Drovers

Droving – the slow, careful movement of livestock along roads or across country – was once a defining part of Wairarapa’s farming…

Oct 2026

History

I bet you didn’t know…

Who said Martinborough was “the place to live”, but never lived here?  When did Māori first settle in the south Wairarapa? Where…

Oct 2026

History

Protective ‘coat’ covers Carkeek Observatory 

Historic Carkeek Observatory in South Featherston is having a weather-proof covering built over it to protect what remains of the 158-year-old star-gazing…

July 2026

History

Anzac Day

The story of this pact relates to the men who were going to the Korean War.  It is written on a plaque…

Jun 2026

History

Martinborough’s Own “Unknown” Soldier

Among the Martinborough Museum’s collection is a Dead Man’s Penny, known officially as The New Zealand Memorial Plaque.   These were given…

May 2026

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