Years of neglect?

Claims of years of Pain Farm neglect by councillors and officials emerged during the meeting.

One speaker told of the main farm house standing empty and untenanted for six months at a time when Martinborough was beset by an accommodation crisis. 

At other times officials had been slow to advertise for tenants _ losing estate income in the process.

Another spoke about the “disgusting state” of the farm itself, noting fencing, pasture and drainage as all being ignored by officials and lease tenants.

Martinborough Community Board chair Storm Robertson cited 2019 as the year the board formally asked council to provide financial and other records for Pain Farm. Nothing was handed over.

At that time MCB was designated “Governor” of the estate, hence the records request.

In January 2024 council CEO Janice Smith was again asked for the financial records and other documents. Four months later, still no response.

The meeting heard the only recent progress was council formally designating the whole 85-hectare farm for waste water dispersal.