design and build

Welcome to the first bimonthly edition of Marlborough Magazine. We are thrilled to be bringing you an even bigger and better magazine every two months, with increased copies and further distribution across the region. We’d like to take the opportunity to thank our wonderful readers for your support and welcome any new readers who are now finding us.

As we move from summer into autum, it’s all hands on deck. The grapes on the vines ripen and the buzz of harvest begins. It is such a special time of year for our region when the majority of our community comes together with a common goal, being the best wine region in New Zealand! Marlborough produces some of the best drops in the world and it is a pleasure to showcase our favourite photos from harvest in this magazine. I raise my glass of Sauvignon Blanc and cheers to harvest and everyone who is behind it!

As we look ahead, and just when you thought things might be slowing down for winter, April and May prove to be as busy as ever, with two of the best and biggest events on the calendar – Yealand’s Classic Fighters Omaka Airshow and Saint Clair Half Marathon. If you get the chance, both are fantastic events to get involved in and you can find out more in this edition.

Happy reading and we look forward to bringing you our next issue, the winter edition, out on 1 June 2023.

EDITOR

Summa Donald | summa@topsouthmedia.co.nz

DESIGN

Patrick Connor and Toni Woolf

CONTRIBUTORS

Paula Hulburt, Adrienne Matthews, Amy Russ, Megan Smith, Judene Edgar, Tessa Jaine, Sarah Brown, Matt Brown, Frank Nelson, Michelle Bradley

ADVERTISING

Summa Donald | summa@topsouthmedia.co.nz

Rosa Tate | rosa@topsouthmedia.co.nz

DISTRIBUTION

Phil and Paula Brown, Wendy Abernethy

PUBLISHER

TSM Marlborough

52 Scott St, Blenheim topsouthmedia.co.nz

Farm park future under review

Headliners

What made news in our region...

Marlborough District Council is calling for feedback on the future of ‘the backdrop of Blenheim,’ the Wither Hills Farm Park. The management plan for the popular 1100-hectare park is under review for the first time in 20 years. Soil conservation has been the top priority for the park since the 1940s, however, council appreciates the farm contributes to the quality of life for the community in a range of ways and submissions regarding its future use are open to the public until 27 April 2023.

Top award for tennis talent

Marlborough sporting stalwart Nigel Perry has received national recognition for his life-long contribution to tennis and table tennis in the province. In March, Nigel was guest of honour at an afternoon tea where he was presented with a lifetime achievement award – the prestigious Te Tohu Hāpai Award – from Tennis New Zealand. And, it is not the first honour for the 93-year-old, in this year’s New Year’s Honours Nigel was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for his service to the community.

New homes found for EcoWorld animals

The animals from EcoWorld have found homes thanks to the help of Port Marlborough and a team of specialist staff. Port Marlborough took possession of the building and its animals in December, after Justice David Gendall gave aquarium owner John Reuhman 20 working days to vacate the land. Mostly the animals have been relocated close to their original home, with the stingray released into Picton harbour, some saltwater fish released to Marlborough Sounds and tuatara moved to Lochmara Lodge.

Historic milestone for The Whale Trail

The historical double-decker Awatere River Bridge is set to get a new lease on life as it officially becomes a key part of New Zealand’s newest cycling and walking track – The Whale Trail. The move will see the bridge open once again to the public, for the first time since 2007, as part of a bid to showcase parts of the east coast. Marlborough Kaikōura Trail Trust chairman Luke van Velthooven says it is an exciting step forward for the project.

Watermain woes

An aging watermain pipe is set to be replaced along one of Blenheim’s busiest streets with council bosses warning about traffic delays. Vital work to upgrade the 450 metre (SH6) pipe will start on Nelson Street at the beginning of April. The move comes after numerous repairs and maintenance on the perishing pipe over the last few years. Disruption on Nelson Street between Boyce Street and McLauchlan Street is expected with traffic measures in place. Work is expected to be completed by mid-June.

Cook Strait concerns

Concerns have been raised by councils on both sides of the Cook Strait after ships encounter problems while crossing New Zealand’s busiest marine corridor. The concerns were prompted when the Interislander ferry Kaitaki broke down at the start of the year after it encountered rough conditions and drifted close to Wellington’s south coast. This event highlighted the importance of passenger safety and the need for an open-water tug, which neither Wellington nor Picton ports currently possess but are now in conservation about.

Quote Of The Issue

Running brave, pages 17 – 19.