Wairarapa Times-Age (NZ)
Breaking down the Budget
Some Wairarapa community leaders are questioning whether Thursday’s “bread and butter” Budget will do enough for households, schools and services already under pressure. Finance Minister Nicola Willis’s last Budget of the term set aside billions for...
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‘Speed-dating’ for funding
More youth mentors in schools, more trees for the Whakamaru Reserve, and admin support to help electrify the region – those were some of the items on the wishlist of community groups who queued up to speak with potential funders at the third annual...
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Hospital’s capacity crunch
Wairarapa Hospital is one of the most heavily utilised smaller hospitals in the country with “very little room” to deal with seasonal peaks in demand, a new report says. The report by the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association and APEX, the...
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Common ground on water
A meeting of about 90 people heard there is broad bipartisan consensus on the need for a strong approach to ensuring water resilience in Wairarapa. The meeting in Gladstone on Friday evening was hosted by Wairarapa Federated Farmers and addressed by...
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In a field of dreams
A new sports plan for Wairarapa could see greater opportunities for people of different abilities and for those from disadvantaged communities. The work proposed to Masterton District Council would build on a Nuku Ora plan to develop a region-wide...
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Patient’s weary journey
It was a cold and rainy morning, and still early enough to be pitch-black, when Rachel Webber Whalley and I met on the Woodside railway station platform. Rachel is a kidney dialysis patient living in Greytown. There is no hospital haemodialysis unit...
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Cold comfort for ED patients
Patience is running out for some visitors to Wairarapa Hospital’s emergency department who have endured long waits in freezing temperatures. The Wairarapa Times-Age received a copy of a complaint made to Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick asking for “urgent...
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A first-ever Tararua triple
More mountain goat than man, Masterton farmer Brendan Varty is the first to complete an audacious triple crossing of the often treacherous Tararua Range. For most people, the Tararuas are a wilderness of rocky ridges, impenetrable leatherwood scrub...
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Amalgamation ‘backstop’
While councils scramble to meet the Government’s tight deadline for amalgamation plans, there appears to be an open-ended timeframe for forced plans. Wairarapa councils are racing against the clock to come up with proposals to comply with the...
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Locals rate Carterton highly
With one of the lowest rates rises in New Zealand this year and a glowing report card from its residents, Wairarapa’s second biggest town is on a roll. Carterton has been given a stellar review by its community in a recent attitude survey conducted by...
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Olive Press failure hits home
Wairarapa olive growers have had a mixed reaction to the sudden closure of The Olive Press, which managed 14 groves and provided harvesting and processing services across the region. The family-owned company, which had been in business for 27 years,...
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‘Fantastic’ rates rise result
A lower North Island council has agreed on the second-lowest confirmed rates rise of any New Zealand district for next year. Including regional councils, it looks set to be the sixth-lowest overall heading into the 2026-27 financial year. This week,...
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Kim’s Way in funding fight
Five women sleeping rough in Masterton could be out in the cold this winter if the only night refuge that takes them closes. Masterton’s only night refuge for men and women is struggling to find the funds to keep its doors open. One year after...
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Price spikes are building
Rising fuel and freight costs are rippling through Wairarapa’s construction sector, forcing builders and suppliers to rethink pricing and planning. Master Builders member Paul Southey said building companies were absorbing as much cost as possible to...
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Tourism’s funding crunch
Jobs could be on the line as funding cuts loom for a key regional tourism agency. Destination Wairarapa is largely credited with helping put the region on the international tourist map this year, giving it top billing as one of Lonely Planet’s must-do...
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Funding row deepens over school nurses
The head of the organisation delivering Wairarapa’s school-based health service says the public has not been given the full story about proposed cuts to the number of school nurses. Justine Thorpe, Tū Ora Compass Health chief executive, spoke to the...
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Endoscopy suite for hospital
Community and medical leaders have welcomed the health minister’s announcement that a new purpose-built endoscopy suite will be built at Wairarapa Hospital. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the multi-million dollar investment would improve local...
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Wairarapa train use grows
February was another bumpy month for Wairarapa train users, with usage up sharply, but reliability and punctuality remaining poor. Metlink data revealed that Wairarapa rail patronage boardings were up 17% in February this year compared with February...
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Primary healthcare access on the mend
New data and health sector feedback shows there has been an improvement in primary healthcare access in Wairarapa. Data received by the Wairarapa TimesAge from Te Whatu Ora, in response to an Official Information Act request, reveals that access to...
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The science to stronger hair
Jenny-May’s reinvention Why she’s focused on physical transformation and mental wellbeing. Hair damage is a common struggle. For those of us who love to colour, style, or use heat tools, the battle against split ends, breakage, and dullness can feel...
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Mayors talk amalgamation
Councils north of the Remutakas could be joining forces, according to a just-released statement. The mayors of South Wairarapa, Carterton and Masterton District councils have confirmed that discussions about amalgamation and council structure are...
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Water lifeline for businesses
A raft of businesses, including an award-winning vineyard, have been thrown a short-term water supply lifeline by Masterton District Council. The council unanimously decided at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday to consult on keeping the district’s...
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End of rail woes in sight
The end to years of delayed and cancelled trains, bus replacements and the ongoing frustration experienced by Wairarapa’s rail commuters could be in sight. The planned construction of a new train maintenance depot in Masterton, announced earlier this...
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Residents wary of cold-call gardeners
A Lansdowne resident says she felt uneasy after a strange encounter with someone offering gardening services this week, with others reporting similar experiences. Karen, who did not wish to share her last name, said the incident happened on Monday...
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‘It’s a desperate situation’
In a race against time, users of a key irrigation system in Masterton are warning of an environmental and commercial disaster if a 120-year-old water race closes. The Ōpaki water race is set to close at the end of June, unless Masterton District...
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Farmer kayaks to isolated herd
Wairarapa farmers have been left with an extensive cleanup operation after the recent wet weather. A red heavy rain warning was issued for Wairarapa from Monday through to Wednesday. The event produced rising rivers, surface flooding and landslides,...
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Historic ceremony all go
Weather-related disruption to water supplies in Tīnui will not impact its historically significant Anzac Day commemoration tomorrow. About 500 people are expected to attend the traditional Anzac ceremony in Tīnui, with event organisers confirming all...
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Fuel relief for rural schools
Eight rural Wairarapa schools are among those set to benefit from new government fuel support as cost pressures on education continue to rise. On Monday, the Government announced temporary and targeted fuel support aimed at helping small, rural and...
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Region’s state of emergency
Hundreds were without power in Wairarapa yesterday afternoon and a state of emergency remained in place as rising floodwaters covered roads near Masterton. Flooding had cut off some Wairarapa communities, with many schools closed and people urged to...
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‘Unbelievable loss’: Staples dies suddenly
People across the Wellington region are mourning the sudden death of longstanding local leader and former mayor Adrienne Staples. A statement yesterday morning said staff and elected members of Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and South...
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Legal aid demand climbs
Over the past criminal legal total cost to steadily. Ministry of Justice figures show that in 2015-16, 437 criminal legal aid grants were approved at Masterton District Court at a cost of $619,000. Last year, that bill had ballooned by 179% to just...
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Wairarapa stars aligning
Wairarapa is poised to make the most of its Dark Sky Reserve status as Masterton moves closer to joining South Wairarapa and Carterton under the night blanket. Dark Sky International chairperson Nalayini Brito said New Zealand was “really dark”...
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Speed taking a hefty toll
New data shows that speed played a role in hundreds of crashes across the Wairarapa region over the past decade. The following data was released under the Official Information Act in response to a request for crash and road safety information...
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Lucid’s sweet treat
A Wairarapa chocolate maker has secured a second major win this year at a prestigious awards event. Lucid Chocolatier achieved a five-medal haul at this year’s International Chocolate Awards (ICA) Asia-Pacific, held in Japan last week – one of the...
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Residents rally around trees
The controversial felling of Masterton’s trees has sparked a strong response to the town’s street tree policy. More than 70 submissions – almost 200 pages’ worth – were made on Masterton District Council’s tree policy review, with 16 submitters...
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‘Severe weather coming’
Wairarapa residents are being urged to prepare for Cyclone Vaianu, with those planning to travel this weekend even asked to have alternative accommodation options. While the final path of the cyclone was unclear yesterday afternoon, MetService has...
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No vineyard without water
An award-winning Wairarapa vineyard is among a raft of commercial operations that could be on the line if a key lower North Island water race is closed. Former Wairarapa electorate MP Alastair Scott is the owner of Matahiwi Estate. The well-known...
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Speeding offences surge
Wairarapa drivers have become more heavy-footed, with speeding offences up by more than 30% during the past decade, generating millions of dollars in fines. Based on police data obtained through an Official Information Act request, more than 69,000...
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Millions put on the books
Attracting about 10,000 people and adding millions to the local economy, a bookish South Wairarapa event is proving more resilient than ever. Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival released analysis this week showing the annual event generated more...
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Homeless hit hard by a change of rules
Some of Wairarapa’s most vulnerable will soon lose their home base as new parking restrictions come into force. Masterton District Council’s new parking limits mean a small community of homeless people living in a parking lot by a popular lake would...
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Three years for firing pistol
The man who fired a homemade gun in Masterton’s Work and Income office last May has been sentenced to three years in prison. Fabian Fahey, 26, who has gang associations, appeared before Judge Stephen Harrop in Masterton District Court for sentencing...
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Report finds faults that led to fatality
A scathing report by the Health and Disability Commissioner has revealed “severe departures” from the standard of care at Wairarapa Hospital, where a series of systemic failures and clinical errors led to the death of a 54-year-old cancer patient. The...
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Council’s wastewater move
South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) has spent more than $3.5 million buying farmland for a new proposed site to treat Martinborough’s wastewater. The new site, located 5 kilometres south of town, is north of Pain Farm land the council had wanted...
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Fuel price shock drives real change
Less car use, more public transport use and surging electric vehicle ownership are some indications of what could become transformational change as Kiwi consumers grapple with a fuel “price shock”. The changes were described by Wairarapa Automobile...
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Fishing industry on alert
The region’s fishing industry is bracing for cost shocks related to the US-Israel war with Iran as the conflict enters its fourth week. Fishing was a key driver of Wairarapa’s economic growth between 2024 and 2025, alongside agriculture and forestry,...
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School nurses facing cut
Wairarapa principals are “shocked and concerned” by a proposed 60% reduction in school-based nurses, saying it will harm student health and impact attendance. Tū Ora Compass Health, which is funded by Health New Zealand to deliver the School Based...
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The car versus train: Commuters speak out
Rising fuel prices and costly commutes over the hill are hitting Wairarapa motorists hard, while unreliable train services continue to put off passengers. With 91 octane now topping $3.20 per litre, a 200-kilometre round trip from Masterton to...
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‘Not acting in good faith’
A Wairarapa council received a legal knockback when it tried to discharge wastewater onto land held in trust for the community, a report has disclosed. South Wairarapa District Council’s previous decision to discharge wastewater onto Pain Farm, held...
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Keen to get back on board
The Government has signalled it could provide further support for a regional air service from Wairarapa’s central airport. Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson was at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton yesterday morning to mark the completion of its...
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Retailers grit their teeth
Businesses in Masterton’s Queen St are doing their best to work with each other and the council to deal with the impact of significant infrastructure work along their street. Pavements remain open for foot traffic, but parking options have changed as...
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Farmers keep eye on costs
As the Middle East conflict extends into its third week, rising fuel prices, looming fertiliser shortages and potential transport problems are causing uncertainty for the rural sector. Federated Farmers Wairarapa president Robert Hickson said the...
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Even more pain at the pump
Commuters are reconsidering travel habits to save at the pump as Wairarapa’s stations follow the nationwide trend, with 91 octane now topping $3 per litre. A report from fuel comparison site Gaspy said this week that New Zealand could see some of the...
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‘We’re not going anywhere’
For Nicholas Lodge, who grew up in Wairarapa, and his family, the ultra-modern city of Dubai on the United Arab Emirates’ coast has been home for more than 20 years. When I first spoke to Lodge, Operation Epic Fury, the United States-Israeli joint...
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Cricketer goes into bat
Wairarapa cricketing great Ross Taylor is leading a campaign to bring much-needed dialysis services to Wairarapa. March is Kidney Awareness Month, and Taylor is all too aware of the toll renal disease can take on local families. His mother required...
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Hospital to get MRI scanner
A $3.7 million investment in an MRI scanner for Wairarapa Hospital has been announced by Health Minister Simeon Brown today. Wairarapa is the only health district in the lower North Island without a public magnetic resonance imaging scanner, which is...
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Birds die ‘in the thousands’
Thousands of native and other birds have died across the North Island from avian botulism outbreaks this year, an expert estimates. Toxicologist Dr Lynn Miller has more than 45 years’ experience working with birds and more than 20 years treating and...
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GET YOUR glow ON
Let’s be real: skincare routines can be a total snooze. Ten steps, a million ingredients and half the time no one knows what they actually do. Everyone’s over buying products that flop or leave skin feeling meh. Imagine if happy, glowy skin was...
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Ribbons there for the taking
Four days of intense shearing and woolhandling competition will come to a head tonight when the Golden Shears World Shearing and Woolhandling Championship finals take place in Masterton. Today’s packed schedule of world championship and Golden Shears...
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A multimillion-dollar risk
Wairarapa risks a potential future deficit worth millions of dollars if the regional council funding model changes. The latest numbers from Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) show its net expenditure in Wairarapa this year would be $33.4...
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Late bid to save CBD trees
Masterton’s council is being challenged about the imminent removal of many of the town’s feature trees. Infrastructure upgrades on Queen St, involving removal of many local trees, are due to start on Monday. A group of people has raised concerns with...
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Left homeless after flood at Lake Ferry
A Lake Ferry community in a low-lying area is still in cleanup mode several weeks after a storm caused flooding and damage to homes. Whāngaimoana resident Adam Mazzola, who lives with his 13-year-old son, was mortgage-free and debt-free before the...
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A little bit of history
A Wairarapa developer has lifted the veil on one of Masterton’s historic premises. The building, at 97 Queen St between Trocadero and Chan’s Restaurant, has been a passion project for developer and building contractor David Borman for about three...
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Wilde sees holes in reform
South Wairarapa mayor Dame Fran Wilde has pushed back on key aspects of the coalition Government’s proposals to scrap regional councils. Wilde, on behalf of the district council, signed off a detailed submission on the Government’s “Simplifying Local...
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NZ Post to review Kuripuni closure
There is a faint glimmer of hope on the horizon for Kuripuni’s postal counter, with NZ Post reviewing its decision to close the service. The offer of an evaluation comes after Kuripuni post shop’s owneroperator, Chris Zhao, lodged a formal...
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A return to the paper age
Wairarapa’s doctors, pharmacists and aged-care providers have been forced to use “old paper-based systems” as the result of a nationwide cyberattack on a major healthcare portal. MediMap, which is widely used in aged...
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Carving up a meaty career
A well-known Martinborough butcher is ready to hand over his business to young blood after more than four decades in the trade. Born in Hawke’s Bay, Scott Reid, of Scotty’s Meats, was encouraged by his father to learn a trade after high...
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No way in and no way out
A week after torrential rain and “savage” winds tore through South Wairarapa, a road remains closed as residents of a rural valley come to terms with the damage, including piles of debris and thick mud. Yesterday, a South Wairarapa District Council...
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Te waka arrives at Aratoi
The cool, calm conditions were perfect for the arrival of Te Waka Wairua o Kurahaupō at Aratoi Museum early yesterday – an event many described as significant and overwhelming. The arrival of the 23-metre fibreglass-hulled waka was the culmination of...
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Scanning around for an ultrasound
A squeeze on sonographers and reduced private ultrasound capacity is forcing some Wairarapa women to look beyond the region for routine pregnancy scans. When Greytown woman Sian Hudson tried to book a routine 20-week pregnancy scan, she assumed it...
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Rescuers racing the clock
Animal rescue services are working around the clock to retrieve sick birds from Henley Lake, as an outbreak of avian botulism continues to ravage the area. The deadly paralytic disease, caused by a toxin from bacteria in warm, stagnant water, first...
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Desperate need for supplies
An urgent appeal has gone out for essential items to be brought in to assist isolated flood-stricken communities on Wairarapa’s south coast. A group of Lake Ferry locals are helping co-ordinate deliveries of food, water and medicines, possibly by air....
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Wild weather wreaks havoc
A low-pressure system off Wairarapa’s coast has hammered the region for more than 24 hours – downing trees, cutting off areas with flooding and causing evacuations. By yesterday evening, the gales and torrential rainfall had subsided, with the weather...
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Key roads at risk if hit by severe floods
Large parts of South Wairarapa could become inaccessible in severe flooding, with two of the three key access routes into Martinborough to close in severe weather. South Wairarapa District councillor Colin Olds, who chairs the council’s infrastructure...
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Questions of trust
Lost jobs and an organisational restructure at a popular South Wairarapa community centre have prompted a former employee to call a public meeting to discuss its future. Renee Adie – Featherston Community Centre’s assistant manager until her fixedterm...
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