In George Pain, Martinborough has a great deal to be thankful for. He would be easily seen as an entrepreneur in today’s world and that only stands to admire his foresight and vision. Martinborough with a specific focus to be on the children of the area, notably Pain Estate.
It is appropriate that we are now entering into a number of events that involve just what George Pain did for Martinborough.
One is a planned exhibition of some 35 Maori artifacts/taonga which George collected and we believe likely are from the Wairarapa region.
The George Pain Taonga/Maori Artifacts Collection is due to open on October 11 and will run through until 25 January 2026 at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History.
There are certain requirements for the exhibition and its content but we are hopeful of something being put together for our local Martinborough Museum.
The Pain Estate Grants are coming up and we have funds for appropriate and qualifying applications. MCB will soon be advertising this and dates for grant hearings.
The grants are specifically for Martinborough and the details to guide applicants will be listed on line and on the SWDC website. If you have projects that qualify, please prepare your applications and if you need guidance or assistance putting your application together, please contact either staff at the SWDC office or ask members of the Martinborough Community Board (MCB) for assistance.
We look forward to receiving a good range of projects the funding will assist with.
Martinborough residents have a keen interest in the Pain Estate and what it means for the town. There have been concerns with regards to the Estate, its lands and assets and MCB has been involved in trying to get this wonderful community asset put into a more appropriate Trust situation. The process to get this accepted has taken time, with specific legal advice being sought by council relating to the Trust and the responsibilities of the Trustee. In keeping with community opinion, the MCB believes the Estate should be in the hands of an independent Trust or Trustees, as this would allow this valuable asset to be managed on its own merits and without potential conflicts over access and management.
There have recently been submissions made to the Combined Wairarapa District Plan, with specific attention being given to the Land Designation. The MCB has supported these submissions and we now await the findings of the hearings. There were two significant submissions made with a focus on the gift made by George Pain: what was his intent, and what is the legal standing of the Estate, according to the Deed.
All of these events will bring George Pain back into focus for our community. We trust residents of Martinborough will take the time to familiarise themselves with this great community benefactor and the ongoing benefits he and his estate continue to deliver.
FOR THOSE PLANNING A GRANT APPLICATION: MCB WILL HOLD AN OPEN MEETING AT THE WAIHINGA CENTRE ON 14 JUNE, 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS.
