Greytown Grapevine May 2026

Festival of Christmas set to thrill this winterSchool holidays, midwinter, fuel prices through the roof… it turns out staying local has a fair bit going for it.The New Zealand Festival of Christmas returns this winter with another packed programme of events, giving locals plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the town, while drawing visitors from over the hill and further afield for a weekend away. More than anything though, the festival has become a showcase of the effort, creativity and community spirit behind Greytown’s small business scene.2026 marks the seventh year of the festival, with shop owners dreaming up new ideas, venues putting their own spin on midwinter events, community groups fundraising, and locals backing it all in. What started as a way to get people out and about post-Covid, has become a pretty good example of what small towns can do when everyone pulls together.The full programme has now been released, featuring a mix of returning favourites and new events across the month, including the July school holidays. And with prices at the fuel pump still biting, there’s ... continued page 3Paul Southey 027 230 5067 | [email protected] | 47 Main Street, Greytown | A1homes.co.nzLocals supporting locals. A1homes Wairarapa and local trades supporting new builds in the WairarapaFree homeupgradesReceive $25,000 worth of free home upgrades for your new home, exclusive to A1homes Wairarapa! Thanks to the help of our wonderful local suppliers, when you choose to build a new A1home in the Wairarapa, you’ll receive a massive $25,000 worth of premium upgrades to your home! For a very limited time, our suppliers are offering upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, decking, smart-home features and even more (*T&Cs apply). Wairarapa locals supporting locals, and proudly keeping it Kiwi! Visit our showhome or get in touch to find out more.• Greytown Orchards community grows• Choir journey from darkness to light• Children’s colouring book celebrates South WairarapaInside this month:MAY 2026

2 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026Please support our advertisersWe are Greytown’s FREE magazine, and while every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Lamb-Peters Print cannot accept responsibility for incorrect or misleading information herein.ADVERTISING COVERS COST OF PRINTING ONLY, EVERYTHING ELSE IS VOLUNTARY.Normally this column is very local, but councils have just been hit with the Government’s bombshell amalgamation announcement and it’s useful to explain what the possibilities are for Wairarapa.The Government wants unitary councils and has given councils until 9 August to decide how they’ll cluster within this framework. Unitaries deliver the functions of both regional councils and territorial authorities (TAs) such as Wairarapa councils. If we don’t decide or don’t fulfill stipulated criteria, the Government will decide for us!There’s growing agreement that the current Wairarapa setup isn’t optimal. Wairarapa has a population of 52,000 but three mayors, councils, CEOs and management teams. Although amalgamation brings some savings, the overwhelming benefit is the opportunity to drive a single strategic direction for our small communities and large rural area that have much in common but are divided by arbitrary boundaries.The option of being a Wairarapa TA within the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) has gone with the abolition of regional councils. The mandating of unitaries means we have a choice of a Wairarapa unitary or being part of a wider Wellington unitary.In the first option, the issue is the cost to ratepayers, with a cross-subsidisation (possibly up to $14m) currently provided by the wider GW region. I’ve raised this before and we’ll be drilling into the numbers to make our own assessment. It must be affordable for ratepayers.If that doesn’t work because of cost, we’ll look at going with the wider region, but the issue with that is the role and functions of smaller units – such as Auckland’s Local Boards that replaced TAs there. The Auckland model was enacted by Minister Rodney Hide and I believe the details were designed to destroy the Auckland local government culture – which had admittedly caused some issues. But localism is absolutely critical – the heart of local government. Local communities must be able make decisions on many issues, with the bigger unit spanning the larger area focusing on significant regional issues.The Auckland boards, some with populations larger than most TAs, have insufficient delegated authority and are poor cousins in Auckland governance. We don’t want this.When I looked at amalgamation in the Wellington region years ago, I told then PM John Key that unless the law was changed to enable far more local decision making, it would be difficult to get further amalgamation. He politely declined.However, the current Government’s announcement apparently allows model flexibility, so we will be testing that if we need to go with the second option. We’d like a regional unitary that enables an elected Wairarapa body within the bigger grouping to retain a significant proportion of the current council powers. I’ve no idea where we’ll end up, but of course it will depend not just on what we want, but on what the Government lets us do.It’s critical that residents understand the nuances and tell us their views. Although councils are being forced to make a rapid in-principle decision now, we intend to engage with the community in the following period to test opinion. From your MayorA&K Plumbing, Electrical & Drainage28A1 Homes 1Armstrong’s Prestige Wellington 8Carterton Event Centre 12CB Contracting 27Changeability 16Climb and Cut Tree Services 25Craig Pope Financial 7Five Rivers Medical 10GKM Property Services 21Greyscale Ultrasound 14Greytown Lands Trust 6Greytown Lions 34Greytown Little Theatre 25Greytown Orchards Retirement Village4Greytown Pilates 15Greytown RSA 20,32Harrisons Carpet and Flooring 16Helloworld 5H M Electrical 19Hub Legal 3K B Gleeson Building 24Lamb-Peters Print 29Liz Dixon Counsellor 21MFS Ltd Office Space For Rent 32Mike Butterick 20Mitre10 Martinborough 6Mulled Wine Concerts 27Photography Tuition 16Prestige Portfolio 36Provincial Wealth 23Richmond Funeral Home 15Siteworx 22SWDC 18SWWMC 29Tauherenikau Friendship Club 29Ticehurst Building 7Tyrehaus 13Wairarapa Electrical & Appliances 24Wairarapa Medical 11WBS 28WCM Legal 9Page PageCirculation rural & urban Greytown: 2,200Deadlines:Editorial & Advertising: 10th of the month Delivered by: 20th of the month*Letters to Editor: 300 word maximum No Grapevine in JanuaryEditorial & Advertising: [email protected]: (06) 304 9245195mm wide x 280mm deepFULL PAGE195mm wide x 135mm deep1/2 PAGE95mm wide x 135mm deep1/4 PAGE95mm wide x 65mm deep1/8 PAGE195mm wide x 75mm deepBANNERPlease state size and colour of your ad when booking.Files must be 300dpi PDF or JPEG at exact measurementsAdvertising Prices (GST exclusive)Colour Black & WhiteFull page $400 $2001/2 page $230 $951/4 page $170 $451/8 page $79 $29Banner $220 $90Trade Listing $19*rural delivery closest Wednesday followingEmail: [email protected]! See inside back pageFran WildeMayor, South Wairarapa

WHAT’S NEWThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 3something satisfying about seeing people from around the region heading here for a winter weekend while locals get to enjoy it all on their own doorstep.A big part of the festival’s success is the way local businesses collaborate and lean into the fun of it. From themed dinners and snow machines to book-and-wine pairings and late-night markets, there’s plenty packed into this year’s programme.Some key events this year include:• Light Up Tractor Parade: returning to Main Street on opening night, Saturday 27 June• Illumination Night Walk: the sellout success of 2025 returns for an extended 10-day season at Cobblestones• Greytown School Country Food Fair: fundraising for a new school shade area• Artisan Night Markets: hosted by the Greytown Trails Trust on opening and closing weekends, alongside Stallkeeper Society markets on selected dates• Snow Suppers at The White Swan: complete with falling snow while you dine• Pop-up events at Alexia Urban Winery: including Pies and Pinot and the Hot Cheese Shack• Between the Wines and the Lines: a collaboration between Alexia and Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop• Festive Night Glow at Molewood Orchard:supporting the Greytown Volunteer Fire Brigade• Christmas High Tea at Aperitif: a delicious mid-week affair• Cobblestones Victorian Christmas Winter Fair: bringing classic winter fair atmosphere back to town• Life Flight Christmas Spirit Quiz at The Offering: supporting an amazing charity• Workshops and Crafternoons: including giant crepe wallflowers, festive table styling, chocolate making and recycled reindeer workshops.Festival organiser Rachael Fletcher says this year’s A Very Country Christmas theme has sparked plenty of excitement and fresh ideas across the town.“What’s really special about the festival is that businesses, schools and community groups all find their own way to bring it to life,” she says. “It creates genuine fundraising opportunities for local organisations, while giving people a chance to have a great time and directly support the place they live.”With a packed programme and a strong community focus, this year’s Festival is the highlight of the region’s winter calendar. The full programme and tickets to events can be found at https://www.greytownvillage.com/from front page ...NZ Festival of Christmas brings winter boost to GreytownFestival spirit filled the town last year. Photos Jet Productions

4 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 20262 bed + study 1.5 BATH 135 sqm 2 bed 1.5 BATH 123 sqm 3 BED 2 BATH 160 sqmGreytown Orchards Lifestyle Village, 67 Reading Street. www.greytownorchards.co.nzDiscover a new way of living at Greytown Orchards’ Lodge — a beautifully designed,light-filled community hub set to become the vibrant heart of the village when itopens later this year. Centrally located and thoughtfully crafted, The Lodge boasts acafé and bar with a double-sided fireplace, a library, a gym, a heated pool, anactivities room, a modern hair salon, and dedicated barbecue and pétanque areas.Book a time in advance to ensure you get a personalised tour of our villas or join us atour next Discovery Days on Friday 29th & Saturday 30th May. Wander through ourbeautiful grounds, step inside our spacious villas, meet our vibrant community, andsee the exciting progress on Stage 2 of our villas and The Lodge. We’ll be here towelcome you both days.Contact Dixon on 027 7007 247 or email [email protected] lodge at greytown orchardsDiscoveryDaysFriday 29 &Saturday 30 may11am–3pmDiscover Refined Living at Greytown OrchardsStep into a life of comfort, style, and simplicity with the beautifullyappointed Mirabelle Villa at Greytown Orchards RetirementVillage. This modern two-bedroom plus study villa has beenthoughtfully designed to offer the perfect balance of space andease—ideal for those living independently who still want room torelax, host, or pursue hobbies.Why you’ll love Mirabelle Villa:Contemporary, light-filled design with quality finishesSpacious master bedroom plus second bedroom for guestsDedicated study – perfect for hobbies or a quiet retreatEasy-care layout designed for low-maintenance livingSeamless indoor-outdoor flow for relaxing or entertainingGenerous back lawnmirabelle Villa: Where sunshine meets comfort More than just a home, the Mirabelle Villa offers a magnificent lifestyle. Enjoy the peace of village living whileremaining part of a warm, welcoming community. With everything designed to make life easier, you’ll have moretime to focus on what truly matters.Whether you’re looking to simplify, downsize, or embrace a new chapter, this villa is the perfect choice forindependent living with comfort and confidence.2.5 BED 1 BATH 131 sqm

WHAT’S NEWThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 5Helloworld Travel Greytown is open each Wednesday from 10am-2pm at The Offering Café. Appointments are recommended.Come in with your travel bucket list and let us work our magic. Have a coffee on us! Address: 65 Main Street, Greytown. Phone: 06 378 2454Mobile: 027 240 3711 Email: [email protected] VISITUS!HELLOWORLD TRAVEL GREYTOWN POP-UP STOREWellington Comic Opera brings Tell Me the Truth About LoveOn Sunday 31 May, Wellington Comic Opera (also known as The Wellington Gilbert & Sullivan Society) will bring their cabaret show Tell Me the Truth About Love to Greytown. Hilarious and heartfelt, and a touch risqué, the performance will wander through hidden gems from comic opera, classic musicals and art songs, seeking an answer to the mystery of what love really is.Brought to life by some of Wellington’s finest singer-actors from opera and musical theatre, the afternoon promises to be funny, cozy and intimate. Harking back to the Society’s roots, there will be several numbers by Gilbert & Sullivan, including one each from WCO’s most recent productions, Pirates! (2023) and The McCardo (2025); there will be well-known songs from Carmen, The Magic Flute, The Merry Widow, Fiddler on The Roof, and South Pacific, plus familiar cabaret numbers from Rossini, Tom Lehrer, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Kurt Weill, and others. Something for everyone to savour. The show starts at 3pm, Sunday 31 May 2026, at Studio 73, with the audience seated around tables. Afternoon tea is available – pre-orders of a snack box can be made before 28 May, and nonalcoholic drinks and snacks can be purchased at the venue. The runtime is about two hours, which includes a short interval.To ensure you have a place at the table, advance bookings should be made on-line at www.wellingtoncomicopera.nz Door Sales (if available) will be either cash or EFTPOS.The show is also being performed in Khandallah Town Hall (Wellington) on Sunday 24 May, 4pm; Hutt Bowling Club (Lower Hutt) on Saturday 30 May at 3pm; Newtown Community Centre (Wellington) on Saturday 6 June at 3pm; and St. Peter’s Hall, Paekākāriki (Kapiti Coast) on Sunday 7 June at 3pm. Big things are continuing to take shape at Greytown Orchards Retirement Village, with 2026 already proving to be a milestone year for the growing community. This June will welcome the 100th resident to the village, where residents enjoy a busy social calendar including regular outings to favourite cafés and restaurants across the Wairarapa.Stages 1 and 2 of the development are almost sold out, with only six villas remaining across both stages. The first residents of Stage 2a have moved in, marking another exciting step forward for the village. Designed with space and comfort in mind, these new homes feature generously sized backyards – a rare offering in retirement living. Wide streets and easy-to-navigate footpaths enhance the village’s relaxed feel, creating a safe and welcoming environment for residents.The three remaining homes available in Stage 2 are the well-appointed Mirabelle Villas, modern two-bedroom-plusstudy homes that are particularly well suited to those living independently. Perfect for a single person living alone who still wants space to relax, entertain, host family and friends, or enjoy hobbies, the Mirabelle offers the ideal balance of independence and connection within a welcoming community setting. With a light-filled contemporary design, quality finishes, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and an easy-care layout, the Mirabelle combines comfort, style, and low-maintenance living – making it the perfect match for those seeking both privacy and community in retirement.At the centre of the development, work on The Lodge community hub is progressing steadily. Once completed later this year, The Lodge will become a central gathering place for residents, featuring a café and bar, gym, library, heated swimming pool, pétanque court and barbecue area.Work has commenced on The Workshop, a dedicated creative and practical space where residents can enjoy everything from arts and crafts to woodworking, hobbies and shared projects. The facility is expected to be completed in late 2026 and will add another dimension to the village’s focus on active, connected living.Work has also begun on the village’s future care facility, which will provide hospital-level and memory care. Although still in the design phase, it is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.You can find out more about what Greytown Orchards has to offer at their next Discovery Days, taking place on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May.For more information or to arrange a tour, visit greytownorchards.co.nzGreytown Orchards reaches new milestones as community growsGenerously sized backyards with wide streets and easy-to-navigate footpaths enhance the village’s relaxed feel – a rare offering in retirement living

6 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026Open 7 days: Monday - Friday: 7.30am - 5pm Saturday: 8.30am - 5pm Sunday: 9am - 5pm Martinborough 37 – 39 Naples Street,Ph: 06 306 5555 mitre10.co.nzEVERYTHING YOU NEED JUST 15 MINUTES UP THE ROADMARTINBOROUGHStay connected! For more updates and news, visit our website at www.greytownlandstrust.org.nz or follow us on Facebook at @Greytown Lands Trust. Community FundingApplications are invited for projects and initiatives that provide a community-wide benefit to the Greytown district in the areas of social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing.Those eligible to apply include local community groups and individuals, incorporated societies, and registered charities operating within the Trust’s defined geographical boundaries. Applicants must be able to clearly demonstrate how their proposed activity will deliver benefit to the Greytown community.Sports & Active Recreation FundingThis year we will run two Sports & Active Recreation funding rounds. The first round will open on 3 June and close on 3 July, with a second round planned for October 2026.Additional support for this year’s Sports & Active Recreation funding has been provided through a generous donation from the Greytown Community Gym following its recent disestablishment. These funds will be used to support sports and active recreation initiatives within the Greytown community over coming years.Applications are welcomed from clubs, organisations, and individuals involved in sport and active recreation activities that serve or benefit the Greytown community.Full details, including eligibility criteria and application guidelines, will be available on our website. Projects of SubstanceWe are always open to discussions regarding significant projects in our community. Recent examples of projects we have supported include the Greytown Little Theatre, the John Gray Pavilion, and the RSA Greytown Cenotaph project.These projects deliver lasting benefit to the Greytown community and are enjoyed by a wide cross section of our community. If you are planning or are involved in a major project, get in touch with us, to see if we may be able to support you.We are seeking applications for two of our core funding rounds which open on 3 June and close on 3 July 2026.Community & Sports Funding Round Opens 3 June 2026

WHAT’S NEWThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 7Something that is often assumed is that older folk do not use, or know how to use, digital technology and are in fact not digitally literate. However, according to research carried out by NZ Seniors and what we at Age Concern Wairarapa see, this is very much a myth with the majority of older folk using technology daily for a variety reasons. Much of the use of digital technology with older folks is in helping them maintain their independence through managing their daily health and wellbeing by using apps such as Nymbl, staying socially connected with a whopping 89% of seniors regularly using social media, and carrying out their banking and grocery shopping. Digital technology is also providing entertainment for our seniors, just as it does for everyone else, with games, books, and news channels all available and utilised. One challenge that some seniors report is being a little afraid of digital technology and not understanding how it works due to not having been immersed in it since childhood. The key to overcoming this is to ensure that education is available with no barriers to participation. This is where services provided by organisations such as Digital Seniors are invaluable as they offer free, drop-in services in local spaces, and can provide a range of educational support. Digital Seniors operates out of Greytown Library on Tuesdays 1.30-3.00pm. Just like everyone else, seniors also note concerns regarding their safety online, with scams being a major concern. To find out the “do’s and don’ts” of keeping yourself safe online, you can visit Netsafe.org.nz who provide a lot of information including what details you should never share online. Go well and enjoy your digital activities.Jacqs WiltonThe Age Concern ConnectionThere is hope with Craig Pope!P 027 547 6739 | Need a mortgage?027 288 [email protected]• New Builds • Renovations• Alterations • Decks • Repairs & MaintenanceGENERAL ELECTION SPECIAL OFFERCandidates’ advertising packageThe Greytown Grapevine is preparing a special coverage option for the November 2026 General Election that will enable all candidates to explain themselves in editorial and advertising.We will feature a highlighted section for editorial from candidates where they can speak directly to readers about why they should get the nod.Every candidate who signs up for the advertising package covering all three issues of the Greytown Grapevine for August, September and October 2026 will automatically have access to editorial space sufficient for an article of no more than 250 words, accompanied by a photograph.Each article can be updated in any subsequent issue as part of the special advertising package, and the advert can also be changed for each issue.The special package has three full-colour advertising options (quarter-page, half-page and full-page) that qualify the candidate for the 250-word editorial.Furthermore, if candidates sign up for three issues starting in August, they will get the advert and editorial in each issue for a discounted sum, compared to ad hoc bookings made month by month. Because the Greytown Grapevine is a monthly production, we will not be running editorial from any candidates other than through the special advertising package. It would be unfair if we accepted promotional material from one candidate and not all, and we do not have the room to run everything all the candidates might want us to run.The one-month separation makes it impossible for the Greytown Grapevine or any candidate to respond in a timely manner to comments made by rival candidates. The advertising package will be the only avenue candidates can use to get editorial coverage in the Greytown Grapevine.Any advertising bookings made by candidates outside of the special General Election package won’t qualify for the free editorial to accompany the advert.Please email [email protected] for any queries and to book your spaces in this year’s General Election coverage.

8 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026armstrongs.co.nzWellington66 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington [email protected]• New and approved used vehicles available now• Drive away in as little as 60 minutes*• Competitive trade-in oers on all makes and models• State-of-the-art service department with the latest technology and factory-trained technicians• Experienced sales team dedicated to nding the right vehicle for you• For our Greytown residents, we oer complimentary vehicle pickup and delivery to make servicing eortlessYour destination for new and certied pre-owned vehicles, factory servicing, genuine parts and tyres.Scan to book a serviceCambridge TceFifeshire AveBarker StArmstrong’s Prestige WellingtonOpening hours:Monday – Friday 8am – 5:30pmSaturday 9am – 5pm04 242 0371Grant SmithGeneral ManagerContact us today:*Selected vehicles

WHAT’S NEWThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 9Dreamscape – a curated musical journey through the convergence of memory and imagination – returns in May.NZTrio is renowned not just for their talent, but for their warm kiwi stage presence and ability to truly connect with an audience. You’ll get to hear world-class NZ talent Amalia Hall (violin), Matthias Balzat (cello), and Jian Liu (guest piano), performing a bold selection of music, from the romantic passion of Schumann to the modern liwi brilliance of Claire Cowan. 22 May, 7pm, Waihinga Centre, Martinborough, tickets from Eventfinda.Programme:Roxanna Panufnik – Around Three Corners Robert Schumann – Piano Trio No. 1 in d minorClaire Cowan (NZ) – wood : strings : hammers : flesh Charles Ives – Piano TrioPlease note this programme features guest pianist Jian Liu.Duration approx 105min including 20min interval.About NZTrio He Taonga WairereDescribed as a “national treasure” (NZ Herald), NZTrio/He Taonga Wairere is renowned for its eclectic repertoire, outstanding talent and warm kiwi stage presence. Bringing together three incredibly accomplished artists: Amalia Hall, Matthias Balzat and Jian Liu, every performance powerfully reaffirms the importance and cathartic nature of a live musical experience in today’s digital world.Jessica Duirs, ManagerNZTrio / He Taonga Wairere returns to the stage Music lovers familiar with traditional choral settings of the Requiem text will know they are most often presented as a prayer of rest for those who have passed.However, on Saturday 13 June, the Wairarapa Singers will perform a work that turns the traditional requiem on its head, instead offering a prayer for those left behind – the living – as they grapple with pain and sorrow.Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living has been described as subtle in its intent, nuanced in its treatment, and beautiful and comforting in its effect. Written in 2013, the work has been frequently performed in the US and internationally. The Wairarapa Singers will be only the second choir in NZ to tackle this technically and emotionally complex piece. The performance will feature an eight-piece orchestra and three soloists, soprano Sophia Gittings, mezzo-soprano Meredith Williams, and tenor Richard Taylor. The concert programme, themed as From Darkness to Light, will include a further three short pieces by the choir to compliment the Requiem, and a set of music sung by Sophia Gittings, accompanied by Music Director Mark Stamper. This is Mark’s third year with the choir. “Wairarapa Singers has traditionally sung major choral works by baroque and classical composers, but there is plenty of stunning, lyrical and challenging repertoire being written today,” he says. “I’m excited by the opportunity for our audience to experience new sounds and composers in this concert, whilst continuing to progress the choir’s artistic journey. ”The concert will also provide space to remember those who have gone before us, whilst supporting those who remain.”The concert will be held at Rathkeale College on Saturday 13 June at 4pm. Tickets cost $25 (free entry for under-fives and school/college aged children). Available at the door, from choir members or by emailing [email protected]. Marisa King, Secretary, Wairarapa SingersWAIRARAPA SINGERS Choir to take audience on journey from darkness to light

WHAT’S NEW10 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026Wairarapa Medical 06 304 9012 www.wairarapamedical.co.nzGreyscale Ultrasound 06 601 3401 www.greyscaleultrasound.co.nzThe Physio Spot 0800 842 749 www.thephysiospot.co.nzHealthfit Collective 04 979 9056 www.healthfitcollective.co.nzWairarapa Skin Clinic 06 370 2171 www.wairarapaskinclinic.co.nzMole Map 0800 665 362 www.molemap.co.nzTu Ora Compass Health www.tuora.org.nzTe Whatu Ora District Nurses 06 946 9827Awanui Labs 06 304 9012No bookings required. Open 8am-11.30amFive Rivers Medical Directory of ServicesSpecial pianist returns to NZNikolai Saratovsky is an internationally acclaimed Russian concert pianist with an extraordinary repertoire. Mary Gow, organiser of the Mulled Wine Concerts series, discovered Saratovsky in 2018 when he played in Brussels as a young pianist after succeeding in several important piano competitions in Europe. “I was amazed by his virtuosity” says Gow, a concert pianist herself. “He not only had a love for the music, he had all the technical skill-set you need to express yourself fully on the piano”. She told him she came from NZ, and he then told her he and his Japanese-born wife had always dreamed of visiting here. His effect on audiences here was remarkable – everyone who heard him knew that they were seeing and hearing something special. Saratovsky is now a professor of piano at the huge music school of Taiwan University where he combines teaching and academic research with his performing career, appearing in major concert venues worldwide. He also gives master-classes for aspiring international concert pianists. Nikolai himself says this of his visits here: “This will be already the fifth time I am coming to NZ, and every time I feel extremely happy to come. I have lived and worked in Taiwan for more than six years. I have many memories from NZ. New Zealand is very different from Taiwan, and for me it’s very important to ‘charge my inner spiritual battery’. Coming to New Zealand is the ideal choice. Combination of meeting my lovely friends, conversations beside the fire place, fantastic sunsets, and music making makes this trip truly remarkable.”When: 4pm Saturday 13 June, 2026Where: ANZAC Hall, 1 Bell St., Featherston.Tickets: $30 adults ($10 students under 14) or [email protected]. Tel: 021 101 9609 . Ticket outlets (please note: cash only) : Mrs Feather’s Den, Featherston: Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop, Greytown: iSITE, Martinborough.Children’s colouring book celebrates South WairarapaA new children’s colouring and activity book inspired by rural New Zealand has launched on Amazon, inviting young explorers to discover the beauty of South Wairarapa through creativity and play.Your South Wairarapa NZ Holiday Adventure is designed for children aged 4 to 8 years, featuring 50 bold illustrations, simple activities and fun facts that bring the region to life.Released to coincide with Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival 2026, the book highlights the much-loved townships of Greytown, Martinborough and Featherston, along with the surrounding countryside, coastline and rural way of life. It offers families an easy and engaging way to keep children entertained while travelling, on holiday, or during quiet time at home.Created by Featherston local Sharon Garrett, a tourism storyteller and marketing professional with an international career in hospitality, she said the idea came from real travel experiences with families.“I wanted to create something that keeps children engaged while travelling or during quieter moments on holiday, especially when the weather doesn’t cooperate,” she said.The book also includes Te Reo Māori words and references, adding a gentle learning element alongside play.Part of The Holiday Adventure Series, the South Wairarapa edition continues a growing collection that aims to spark curiosity about places and cultures from an early age.The book will be available (from 1 May) exclusively from Featherston’s specialist children’s bookstore Chicken and Frog for RRP NZ$18.99.

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 11As 2026 progresses, the teaching team at Greytown Early Years is experiencing change as some kaiako move on. We farewelled Morgan and Gemma and sincerely thank them both for the care, commitment and contributions they have made to our centre and community. Gemma has been part of the Greytown Early Years whānau for 10 years and will be greatly missed, and Morgan’s warmth and dedication to tamariki and whānau has also been valued and appreciated. We wish them both well.These changes have created opportunities for new kaiako to bring fresh perspectives, ways of being, and attributes that are inclusive, fair, knowledgeable and exciting. We warmly welcomed Lynette Taylor and look forward to the knowledge, relationships, and ideas she will bring.We will also be saying haere rā to some tamariki as they head off to school – we hope they have fun and enjoy all that their new journeys bring – and new tamariki will be beginning their journey at Greytown Early Years, becoming part of our inclusive, friendly and meaningful learning environment. Through manaakitanga we welcome new tamariki, kaiako and whānau as they learn about kotahitanga (oneness, working together), whanaungatanga (relationships), rangatiratanga (leadership), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whakapapa (identity). Our Explorers and Adventurers excursions continue to run on Monday and Tuesday mornings. These iti (small) groups venture into the local environment to investigate flora, fauna and areas of interest, gaining mātauranga (knowledge) about caring for their environment and one another. With guidance from kaiako, tamariki develop ideas and understanding through their creative hinengaro (mind).Play is the way. Through play, tamariki explore ideas and develop new investigations. Our varied programme includes opportunities in STEAM, science, technology, mathematics, engineering and art, supported by caring kaiako.Martin the Toymaker has returned, introducing tamariki to hands-on skills, using tools safely while developing fine motor skills through creative projects. Kids thoroughly enjoy this time – thank you, Martin. Miss Nadia has also returned with her wonderful music programme, supporting movement, rhythm, and confidence. Thank you, Miss Nadia.A key interest this term has been the monarch butterfly life cycle – observing caterpillars hatch, grow and form chrysalises, learning how to care for them through books, stories and discussion. We look forward to continuing our programme alongside our tamariki and whānau, nurturing each child’s interests and sense of belonging with love, care and inclusivity. Enrolments are now open for children over two years old. Families seeking a nurturing, learningrich and communityfocused early learning environment are encouraged to apply, as spaces are limited.We are located in the beautiful Five Rivers Medical facility at the southern end of Greytown, alongside a multitude of fantastic service providers. — Family healthcare GP, NP and nursing services — Adult and child immunisations — Before-school checks — Drivers Licence, employment and insurance medicals — Quit Smoking — Sexual Health & Contraception — Palliative Care — Accident & Emergency care — Mental Health care — Long term, chronic conditions management — Diabetic care — Minor Surgery — Maternity care — ECGs — Well Child checks — Spirometry & Respiratory managementSERVICESA dedicated team of skilled health professionals caring for the community.CONTACTOPENING HOURS30 Bidwills Cutting Road, GreytownP: 06 304 9012E: [email protected] to us about registering for our online patient portal today.Order your scripts online, view your medications and medical history.8am–5pm MON, TUES, THUR, FRI 8am–7pm WEDGREYTOWN EARLY YEARSA time of change and a time of learning

12 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026For tickets to these events & for more information visitwww.wairarapaeventscentre.co.nz | 06 379 4081Laser Kiwi: Everybody KnowsFriday 29th May 7:00pmLaser Kiwi is back with a brand-new show! Armed with world-class circus skills and their signature brand of surreal sketch comedy, they’ll attempt the impossible: articulating that thing we’re all thinking.“Fall-down funny, absolutely top shelf.” – Adelaide Advertiser“Laser Kiwi are in a lane of their own.” – Three Weeks EdinburghLaser Kiwi will make you laugh, gasp and maybe even agree on something for once. Winners of the Overall Circus Award at FringeWorld 2023. As seen on “Penn and Teller Fool Us 2025” Note: For mature audiences.Miriama Kamo - Saturday 6 June 1:00pmEnter the bubbly-brilliant world of Dr Hubble, as he presents The Bubble Spectacular – a fun-filled, out of this world, bubble-riffic show! Expect to be amazed as the ultimate master of bubbles, Dr Hubble, creates little bubbles, BIG bubbles, volcano bubbles, tornado bubbles, square bubbles and with a bit of his bubbly-magic, you might even end up inside a bubble! The Bubble Spectacular - Friday 5 July 11:00amCome and join Miriama Kamo live in Carterton. Known for her work on Marae and Sunday, Miriama is an award winning reporter and one of Aotearoa’s most trusted storytellers. She shares her personal journey, the experiences that have shaped her, and how she’s embraced a low-waste lifestyle in a way that’s practical, realistic, and grounded in everyday life.Sean Kelly & The Super 8s - Sunday 31 May 4:00pmFor Glory, Orpheus Choir Wellington hits the road with Vivaldi’s Gloria, bringing this landmark choral work to Wairarapa. One of the most recognisable works in choral music, Vivaldi’s Gloria unfolds in a rapid series of short movements, moving between full choir and solo voices with an energy and brightness that has made it a favourite for generations. Orpheus Choir: Glory - Sunday 24 May 2:00pmSean Kelly & Friends present live Irish music played to the back-drop of Super 8 movies taken by Sean‘s Dad, in and around Derry & Donegal from the late 1950s-80s. Sean also presents an authentic dialogue on a tumultuous time in the history of the north of Ireland. The show is immersive and suitable for families, making it an engaging experience for all ages.

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 13Welcome to the South Wairarapa Workingmans’ Club MonthlyPool: Recent results are the Men’s Pairs won by Ray Sutherland and Duncan Mackay, Ladies Pairs winner were Karen Brown and Rose Byl. We also had a visit from the Porirua RSA which resulted in a great win for us but it was more so about the laughs and friendship on the day. At the end of last month several members participated in the North Island 8-Ball Tournament at Upper Hutt.Rose Byl and Jessica Clapp made the final eight of the Pairs Championship Flight, while in the Singles out of 78 competitors Amber James finished in the top eight of the Championship and Rose and Jessica in the top eight of the Championship Flight.A couple of weekends ago we held the Max Higgison 9-Ball Pool Competition at which was won by Jack Lemon and Ray Sutherland over Dave Murray and Cliff Grimwood.Tuesday Club: We play every Tuesday at 1.30pm. Ppopular card games are Bolivia, Five Crowns, Phase 10 and Pony Canasta. If you are unfamiliar with these games come join us for a friendly afternoon and learn.Club 60: As our April meeting was scheduled for Anzac Day it was decided to defer it for a month, so our next meeting will be on 25 May at 1.30pm. Our usual activities are Housie, cards and pool. All members welcome, you don’t have to be a senior. Indoor Bowls: We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7pm. All are welcome, and we could do with a few more players too. There is a gold coin entry fee.Darts: Social Darts evenings are every Thursday at 7pm. All intending players welcome.Dancing: Are you interested in learning to dance? We have sessions at the club every Monday night at 6.30pm. These are beginnerfocused sessions, at which we teach the basics of; Rock’n’Roll, Ballroom, Latin or Sequence, or Partner Line Dance. We don’t take it too seriously, it’s just about fitness, fun and friendship. There is a small fee of $5 per person per night, so come along for a look, you L-R: Dave, Ray, Jack and Cliff can join at any time.

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTS14 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026GOODBONES?GOTCALL 06 601 3401 TO BOOK YOUR BONE SCANOsteoporosis affects more than 50% of women and 30% of menover 60. Sadly, most sufferers only learn they have fragile boneswhen they break one, leading to life-changing consequences.But osteoporosis is largely preventable and treatable. Getting aDEXA bone density scan is the best way to identify your risk ofosteoporosis and reduced bone strength, which is the first step inpreventing both.A DEXA scan is a quick, safe and painless procedure, and it's nowavailable at Greyscale Ultrasound based in Five Rivers Medical.There's no need for a referral. To book your appointment, call us on06 601 3401.FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT GREYSCALEULTRASOUND.CO.NZOR ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERGREYTOWN HERITAGE TRUST / TE POUHERE TOANGA O KURATĀWHITIThe street lamp sputtered, the street lamp muttered…(T.S. Eliot)One of the whimsical pleasures of London, particularly in Westminster, is the persistence of gas lamps. Despite the introduction of electricity in 1878, over 1,500 gas lamps still endure. They aren’t maintained for their efficiency. They are maintained for their history and for what they add to the character of the streetscape. The majority fire off a pilotlight, triggered by a time clock that needs to be wound every 14 days by a team of lamplighters. One of the most famous lamps is near the Savoy Hotel on Farting Lane; a nickname for Carting Lane. Known as the sewer lamp, it is fuelled by sewer gas and burns 24 hours a day. Perhaps hotel guests are generously flatulent?Greytown doesn’t run to gas lamps. In 1900 the Mayor, Councillors, and Burgesses of the Borough of Greytown passed AN ACT to empower the procuring and constructing all machinery and plant necessary for electric lighting.Coal produced, the electricity was very locally generated. Look down Main Street and you’ll see that contemporary planners and advocates of this town’s aesthetic, designed and installed “retro” street lamp standards that are sympathetic to the history and character of this small town. That was until very recently. An ugly duckling, unlikely to become a swan, has appeared directly outside the handsome building that was once the BNZ Bank at 75-77 Main Street. The building is all gravitas and symmetry. The streetlamp column is not. It’s bog standard NZTA issue and we suspect that the matter might be the spec for what they term the M19 3-bolt shear base lighting columns (TM2007). Whatever, it’s an oddity. Along with the owner of the building, Greytown Heritage Trust is in dialogue with NZTA and South Wairarapa Council, referencing the Greytown Style Guide.Once we know more we’ll let you know. We won’t keep you in the dark.2026 Annual General MeetingGreytown Heritage Trust holds its AGM on Thursday 28 May at 6.30 for 7.00pm, in Studio 73 at 73 Main Street. There will be a little formal business and reporting but principally this is your opportunity to hear and meet Lyn Eglinton, renown and celebrated for garden design and her garden of national significance, Stablehouse, in Masterton (image below). This event is open to all-comers. You don’t have to be a member to join us. RSVP [email protected] Membership Greytown’s heritage, notably its Victorian buildings and significant trees, is what the Greytown Heritage Trust values and champions. Our heritage attracts people to visit, play, stay and live here. If you are interested in our heritage and would like to support the Trust’s work in advocacy, promotion and protection, please join us. Membership rates: $28 single, $46 couple and $46 individual businesses. Pay on-line: Greytown Heritage Trust, Account 03–0609–0090667–00. Surname in Ref field; ‘individual’, ‘couple’, ‘business’ or ‘donation’ in Particulars field; and phone number in Code field. We will contact you for your first name(s) and address for your receipt.Carmel Ferguson, Chairperson, 021 925 573, [email protected]

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 15Prior to our April Business Meeting we learned of losing our valued member and friend, Maureen Peterken, who joined Greytown Lioness Club first and continued when changed to Red Robins for approximately 18 years. Maureen participated in everything that involved our club and particularly chose the Community Service Committee as she preferred to “give rather than receive”. She was able to be the convenor of this committee many times over the years, and president for one year, well before we changed to Red Robins. We miss her enthusiastic smile and willingness to get things done. After members stood for a minute silence to remember Maureen, we carried on with our meeting as she would have wanted us to. A fellow member gave a short talk on where she originally came from in a town called Gotham in Nottingham, England with a fun poem explaining the incidences in Gotham. A new member, Phyllis Gulliver, was then inducted and carried out by Vice President Noeline Wells. Member and friend Ruth Hooper had introduced Phyllis to our club. We then divided into groups of four to build a structure as tall as possible, comprised of dried spaghetti noodles, sticky tape, one piece of string with one marshmallow for the top. Several members attended the Anzac Day Service, while Kaye Hurrell and Ann Wilson lay the wreath to represent our club. Members had earlier volunteered to sit and collect donations prior to Anzac Day, outside Fresh Choice. Our Speaker at the Dinner Meeting was Annette Rickman who joined as a Karitane Nurse in 1978 and went through a daunting interview by a lineup of four women. She managed to pass and started training for one year at Karitane Hospital in Melrose, Wellington. After it closed, new trainees moved to Kenepuru Hospital in Porirua then Lower Hutt Hospital to finish their training over six months. It was while Annette trained in Melrose that the nurses, in their full uniform, took children in their care to visit the Zoo and all had free entry. They cared for young babies, older children and their mothers on site.Annette chose not to live with families of new born babies, instead she started working in daycare centres from 1979 to 1984 and after this she chose to have her own children. She went on to work for Plunket in the Wairarapa and, now in her semi-retirement years, works two days a week. Annette says “it has been a cool job and I really enjoy it”.During May members are going together to see the film The Devil Wears Prada 2. We are also collected donations for Wairarapa Hospice on Friday 15May outside Fresh Choice.63 Main Street Greytown [email protected] 270 8122 | 06 370 2336Enquiries welcome!GREYTOWNPilates “A great habit”$20/class – $150/10 class ticket.Mats and equipment supplied.9am10am11am6pmTue Thu SatStrength & FlexibilityStrength & Flexibility9.15am Chair PilatesCore Focused Core FocusedRestorative FlowLengthen & StrengthenReminder10 trip tickets now $150RED ROBIN CLUB GREYTOWNMonthly tweetAbove L-R: Red Robin Ruth Hooper, Phylis Gulliver and VP Noeline WellsRight: Maureen PeterkenBottom left: Red Robin Kaye Hurrell and Ann Wilson with granddaughter Ava Wilson

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTS16 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026Nine artists from the Greytown Art Gallery will be taking part in the New Zealand Art Show from 28-31 May in an area specially designated. Linda Kirkland, Esther Bunning, Terry Hann, Rebecca Kempton, Jo Lysaght, Sandi Maddox, Jane Gibbens, Felicity Donaldson Smith, and Mark Lee have been working on new pieces that reflect the depth and diversity of our artistic community. The individual artist’s work can be viewed on Facebook and Instagram.For over 20 years, the NZ Art Show has been a place where people come together to celebrate creativity – where visitors can meet artists, discover new favourites, and experience the rich variety of art being made throughout Aotearoa. This year’s event includes:• 200+ artists• 4,000 original artworks• Three days of inspiration and connectionGREYTOWN ART GALLERYSee you at the NZ Art Show!Learn how to:• Use your camera confidently on manual settings• Improve composition and visual storytelling• Master Adobe Photoshop and image editing• Receive constructive critique on your photography• Process and print black & white film in the darkroom• Video for social mediaTerry Wreford HannGrand Master of the NZ Institute of Professional [email protected] 486 2862Want to take your photography to the next level?Professional photographer Terry Hann offers relaxed, practical tuition for photographers of all levels.One-on-one or small group sessions available.Perfect for beginners, enthusiasts, or anyone wanting to develop a more creative photographic eye.Photography Tuition CARPET Learn to Create Better Images& HARDFLOORINGSPECIALSShaun Stephens0272 663 362Local Business Owner Wairarapa 0800 102 004 | harrisonscarpet.co.nzWe come to you!ChangeAbility is a counselling service with our main premises based in Masterton. We are now offering a limited service in Greytown, and we have two rooms available for rent in a quiet area of Greytown, within walking distance of the village. We will be using the third space in the premises. • Suit a professional, ideally in the health services.• Shared spaces include kitchenette, bathroom, small waiting area, garden and parking. • Rent negotiable, includes power, high speed internet & security system. OFFICE/CONSULTATION ROOM AVAILABLE IN GREYTOWNFOR MORE DETAILS AND TO ARRANGE A VIEWING PLEASE CONTACT LIAT ON 027 421 4084SUNSET CINEMAEvil Does Not ExistAs the days shorten we often feel more inclined to a slower pace of life. Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s film Evil Does Not Exist slides into Sunset Cinema at just the perfect moment – a cinematic prose poem to enchant all. So while it may not be a thrillseeker plot, it did win the Grand Jury prize at the Venice film festival in 2023.Widower Takumi lives with his eight-year-old daughter Hana in the peaceful Japanese mountain village of Mizubiki. They live in harmony with the land, chopping wood, eating from their garden and transporting the pure water to a local café. All is tickettyboo until developers decide to set up a glamping site that will affect the water quality that makes their village special. This film should be a cautionary tale to educate about the importance of community engagement in land development. The ending will surprise all...Please hop onto www.sunsetcinemacarterton.com to discover how to become a member and make the most of our 2026 screenings. You can try a 3-trip sampler membership for $35 so you can glide along whenever it suits you. Evil does not exist screens on Friday 29 May. You can find us at the Rangatahi Hub behind the Event Centre, down the driveway beside the town clock and ITM. Our doors open at 7pm for tickets, tasty treats and a chat with the locals, before the movie starts at 7.30pm. We look forward to seeing you there,Lucia, Jane, Minty, Odette, Jason, Pipi, Noel and Louise – the Sunset Cinema Team

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 17Autumn has been a busy and varied season for us with the brigade balancing community events, emergency preparedness, fundraising, and intensive training. We attended a total of 13 calls in April, consisting of 2 weather events, 2 structure fires, 2 medical events, 5 motor vehicle crashes and 2 alarm activations.Anzac Day started early for us at the station preparing morning tea to take to the RSA. We then took part in the parade. It is always moving to be part of the ceremony and parade and remember those who gave their lives in the service of their country. We then served morning tea at the RSA and it was great to meet so many veterans. Training over recent weeks has been particularly focused on vehicle extrication, commonly known as ‘car cutting’. This is a skill that we need to keep up-to-date as we are called out to quite a few vehicle accidents. In addition, a good proportion of the brigade has taken part in additional practical sessions at the weekends to improve their techniques and I’d like to thank them and their loved ones for giving up their time. I think though, our favourite training night this month (particularly for those watching) was a challenging exercise where firefighters were blindfolded and had to navigate an obstacle course while being guided only by radio instructions from a teammate positioned outside the appliance bay. The scenario simulated working in dark and difficult conditions and highlighted the importance of trust and clear communication during emergency incidents. It was a hot, sweaty exercise but a lot of fun!Now the clocks have changed and we are all hunkering down for winter, it’s time to do some basic checks to help keep you and your loved ones safe over winter. Please sweep your chimney, check your tumble drier for lint, get your electric blankets tested and check your rangehood and smoke alarms. We are currently running a fundraiser-we have bins of plum/peach firewood for sale at $120 a bin. The bins are 1,050 mm x 1,050mm x 750mm high. Delivery is free within Greytown (if you are a bit further out we can negotiate delivery). Please email [email protected] if you’d like to make an order. Q & AQ: Do firefighters really slide down poles?A: No, most modern stations in NZ have a different design these days. The Skytower Challenge TeamThe Sky Tower Challenge will soon be upon us (23 May) and I’d like to introduce the final team member Shelley Murphy. Shelley is a teacher at Greytown Early Years. She joined the team because “I wanted to challenge myself to do something hard as well as fundraising for a worthy cause.” She says “It’s been challenging fitting the training around work and family commitments but it’s been a great push to get out there, increase my fitness and get stronger! I’m lucky to have a very supportive family! It’s been great training for the real thing. You can never have too much practice wearing BA! (breathing apparatus).” The team has trained really hard – they’ve climbed 10,000s of steps around Wairarapa and pushed themselves on their regular Sunday morning “bootcamps”– we are all really proud of them and wish them the best of luck. If you’d like to make a donation to the team page here’s a link https://firefighterschallenge.org.nz/t/2026-greytownvolunteer-fire-brigade.And finally some words from the team, who are looking forward to...Mike: I’m looking forward to getting to the top of the tower and showing my kids it’s never too late to push yourself to try something new and to help raise awareness for Blood Cancer NZ.Nadene: I’m looking forward to the finish line, reaching a goal, and celebrating with the team afterwards! It’s been a privilege to train with amazing people, build camaraderie within the team and our neighbouring brigades, and to represent Greytown and our community is just the best!Shelley: I’m looking forward to feeling the sense of accomplishment that comes from tackling something challenging and stepping outside my comfort zone. I also want to show my daughter, in particular, that women can do difficult things – even in male-dominated environments. Most importantly, I hope to raise awareness and vital funds for Blood Cancer New Zealand.For anything brigade-related, please check out our Facebook page or Contact Chief Fire Officer Seth Rance on 027 461 6391. Our station phone is now pushed through to the above number. Our Facebook page has regular updates and news.Find out more info at www.fireandemergency.nz and stay connected at www.facebook.com/fireandemergencynz and www.facebook.com/greytownfireGREYTOWN VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADEKeeping watch this autumnNadene Hawley and Shelley MurphyL-R: Shelley Murphy, Mike Roil-Glendenning, Justin Hudepohl, Tamara Hudepohl and Nadene Hawley

SWDC18 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026COUNCIL NEWS FOR MAYHigher safety, lower speeds and new signage are the outcomes of lower speed limits rolled out across the district this year with implementation on rural roads completed this month. The Council spearheaded lower speed limits in January, starting with variable speeds outside schools at the beginning and end of each school day to improve safety for children and families. This was followed by changes on periurban roads (which wind around the periphery of towns), where lower speeds reflect higher levels of walking and cycling activity. The final stage of the programme is now underway, with lower speed limits being introduced on many of the rural and coastal roads. All changes are in the Council Speed Management Plan, which was approved by the Director of Land Transport in late 2025. Find out more at swdc.govt.nz/south-wairarapa-district-speed-changes-2026 Help our volunteers read water meters June is coming, along with the shortest day of the year and the Council’s trusty band of volunteer water meter readers who will pound the pavements across towns in South Wairarapa. Every year, a bunch of volunteers get rugged up and ready to walk to all homes connected to town water supply in Featherston, Greytown, Martinborough and Pirinoa. If that’s you, please take a look at your meter to check it is visible. If it’s overgrown, our meter readers may struggle to find it, which could incur a fee of $40 to clear the meter and take a reading. The Council really appreciates the mahi (work) of the volunteers who take readings. It helps to stay on top of water use, potential leaks and save precious water for all. Doggie do’s – keep yours registered It’s nearly time to register your precious pooch and hardy working dogs. Keep an eye out for dog registration invoices, which will be posted or emailed to dog owners in the first week of June for payment between 1 and 31 July. Payment can be made at the Council office at 19 Kitchener Street in Martinborough or at Featherston or Greytown libraries, in the post (using the form sent to you) or you can pay online. If you’d like to receive your dog fees via email instead of by post, please contact: [email protected] Dog tags will be sent by post within 10 working days of payment being cleared and processed. Please keep your dog registered. Details to pay dog registration from 1 July are online at: swdc.govt.nz/pay-for-something/pay-for-dog-licensing Stay in the know – get Antenno If you’re keen to know what’s happening in your community in real time, download Antenno. It’s free, easy and secure with no need to share personal details. Antenno is an excellent tool for community notifications. It’s used by councils across the motu (country) for everything from roadworks, bin collections and potential emergency weather events to rates and consultations. It allows you to send ideas to the council and to customise what you’d like to hear about. Download the Antenno app for free on Google Play or the App Store.New speed limits implementedHelp protect Greytown’s flora and fauna Greytown’s heritage as a leafy haven for native flora and fauna (as well as beautiful gardens of other plants) is also proving to be appealing to possums, so Greater Wellington Regional Council is running the Greytown Township Possum Control Project. Project organisers are looking for Greytown property owners to take part in work to reduce possum numbers. Traps used are considered safe and no control measures are taken on private property, without permission. Training is available. Email Greater Wellington Pest Animals: [email protected]. Use RPCP Greytown as your submit line with your name, address and phone.If there is something in your neighbourhood that needs fixing or a Council service that could be improved, get in touch to let us know by phone, 06 306 9611, email: [email protected] or fill in the form on our website at: swdc.govt.nz/get-it-sorted. Get it sorted

SWDCThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 19Greytown Community Board is planning their annual Expo for Volunteers. This will be held in the Greytown Town Centre on Sunday 7 June 2026 from 11am to 3pm. June is National Volunteer Month so it is appropriate to hold this annual event to locate more volunteers to join and help our community. If you are interested in getting involved in local social, sport or community support clubs or groups this event is for you! This is an opportunity to see, meet and learn how you can get involved more. Our community thrives thanks to the hard work of our volunteers. If you are a group who is looking for volunteers and you have not received our email for registration please contact us on [email protected] for the Annual Celebration of the First Arbor Day in New Zealand that was held in Greytown on 3 July 1890 are under way. Arbor Day Celebration starts at Arbor Reserve on 3 July 2026 at 10am. For more information check out our Greytown Community Board Facebook page or watch for flyers about town.As always we want to hear from the Greytown community about what we can do better to serve you so please reach out to us anytime via email at [email protected] Brown, ChairCommunity FocusLouise Brown, ChairOur Greytown Toy Library volunteer librarians are enjoying welcoming friendly faces as they visit our refreshed space, to borrow a toys for learning and skill development. We have a range of exciting new toys thanks to the Lottery Board grant, arranged through our supportive NZ Toy Library Federation. These have already been eagerly borrowed. In our April Toy Library newsletter to members, we showed some these toys. An annual membership to Greytown Toy Library is a sustainable way to borrow a huge range of toys for your growing Tamariki.Saturday 28 May is International Toy Library World Play Day - Play For PeaceIt is our tamariki’s universal right to play… because play is so much more than just fun.It is:Our Annual General Meeting is when we report back to our members and elect our committee. We welcome those interested to join us. It will be held on Monday 8 June at 7pm in a private room at the Greytown Hotel, 33 Main Street, Greytown. OPENING HOURS MON 10:30am–12:30pm THU 2:30–4:30pm SUN 2:30–4:30pm (closed Public Holidays) Membership: Annual $25, Grandparent $20, Toy Hire 50c to $5 12 McMaster Street, Greytown (behind Plunket)thegreytowntoylibraryGREYTOWN TOY LIBRARYExciting new toy rangeCCTV Security New buildsAlterationsFreeview televisionPhone/dataHot water repairsFault findingInstalls of all electrical appliancesFor all your electrical needs, a quote or advice, call:Hamish MeyrickRegistered ElectricianDid you miss your copy?For delivery issues, please contact Greytown [email protected] or (06) 304 9245Greytown’s very own FREE paper, The Greytown Grapevine, covering urban and RD1

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTS20 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026ClubSouth WairarapaSouth Wairarapa Rotary is on a roll, backing a surge of hands-on environmental projects that are reshaping local waterways, walkways, and wildlife habitats.At Abbott’s Creek (Otauira/Manga), Rotary has funded a new weedeater, giving the local restoration crew the muscle they need to keep the site thriving. Volunteers are pushing ahead with a new creekside walkway. Do go and check it out, it’s also a great place to walk the dog. Rotary is supporting the Aorangi Restoration Trust with essential trap replacements, keeping predator control efforts sharp in the ranges. The Rotary environment teams is supporting Divine River to deliver environmental workshops that get people making and using products that are good for the environment.A trap building workshop in Greytown saw locals hammering, sawing, and heading home with their own predator traps. We hope to run another workshop soon.Remaining funds until the end of June will boost Featherston Predator Free, with new trap lines and trap boxes, strengthening the community’s defence against introduced predators.Meanwhile, volunteers continue planting and maintaining the gardens at the southern end of the Tauwharenikau Cycle Trail. The trail is now one of the district’s favourite cycle and walking routes so we think it is important to impress our visitors. We have one small working bee needed to finish tidying up that section of the trail so if you want to be part of the action please phone Anne on 027 472 7767, or find out more about what we do jump in at www.swrotary.org.nz.SOUTH WAIRARAPA ROTARY CLUBRotary powers up conservation across South WairarapaThank you to all collectors and supporters of the Annual Poppy Day Appeal which raised $3,310.10 for our Welfare Fund.Thank you to those who donated wreaths, funds, time, or in kind, to make ANZAC Day the success it once again was. The wreaths, as per tradition, are collected and placed at the cemetery.ANZAC Day is a day of great symbolic importance to the Greytown RSA and your input or attendance was greatly appreciated. Bryce Gurney, PresidentTHANK YOUGreytown Returned & Services Association (Inc)South Wairarapa Rotary are local women and men who like to do good for their community and make a difference. Visit www.swrotary.org.nzWeeding at Abbott’s Creek

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 21I’ll get the job done...Dingo Expert: 4-in-1 bucket,leveling bars, augers, trencher,concrete mixerExperienced Painter: Spray orbrushSmall Tree Services: Felling,topping, pruning,Call David Stevenson022 353 4504Garden Maintenance: Spraying,weeding, lawncare, hedge trimLandscaping: Fencing,excavation, drainageHouse Cleaning: Water blasting,spoutings & drainProperty & Building Repairs• Children • Adolescents • Adults • Coupleswww.lizdixoncounselling.come: [email protected] m: 027 494 8475face-to-face, on-line and phone sessions available.• Qualified and experienced • Safe supportive environment • Confidentiality assuredThe April meeting of the Tauherenikau Friendship Club featured two engaging speakers. Viv Green (née Vickers) kept us entertained with tales of her childhood in both Levin and the Wairarapa. Viv’s father loved hunting, becoming master of the hunt club, laying the foundation for the family to become proficient at riding horses and ponies. Viv also gained musical accomplishments in piano accordion, ukelele and the piano. After morning tea, Yvonne Rhodes spoke about four families from her family history book which she published in 2018. Yvonne also managed to weave those stories with a sense of what was happening historically in NZ at that time. Of particular interest was the story of her ancestor John Stenton Workman, a whaler. Stenton Workman came to NZ in 1834 at the age of 16, on his uncle’s whaling ship, the William Stoveld. He based himself in the Bay of Islands at Kororāreka (now known as Russell) which was a significant whaling base and known as the hellhole of the Pacific, with no law and order. Whilst at Kororāreka, he was a jockey in the first horse race in NZ, going on to work at a whaling station on a small island off Kapiti. It was here that he managed to secure the release of a Māori woman from Te Rauparaha, who later became his wife.After the Wairau affray, and with tensions with Te Rauparaha becoming strained, Stenton moved to Te Kopi, Palliser Bay, where he set up a whaling station. He earned his living whaling in winter and carrying wool for farmers down the Ruamahanga river in summer. The couple lived in a house made of clay and thatched with toetoe, and food available at that time was much the same as the Māori would have eaten. The pastoralist Sir Charles Clifford asked Stenton to take him in his whaleboat to the top of the South Island to look for suitable grazing land. It was here that Sir Charles decided to set up Flaxbourne station. With declining whale numbers, Stenton would later go to work for him at Flaxbourne, but he still did a little work with his whaleboat, whaling and trading. Yvonne also talked about two families displaced by the Taranaki wars which were forced to leave the area and make their homes in Canvastown in the South Island, where they started a very long association with the timber industry. The fourth family Yvonne spoke about came to NZ as a member of the Royal NZ Fencible Corps, a group of retired soldiers recruited from Britain and Ireland in the mid 1850s sent to defend Auckland when tensions arose with the northern Māori.The May meeting at the SWWMC featured two speakers – Bob Pomeroy on his Myanmar holiday and Jenny Carr on growing up in Greytown. TAUHERENIKAU FRIENDSHIP CLUBA spotlight on family history Yvonne Rhodes

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTS22 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026GREYTOWN LIONS CLUBBusy time aheadIn late April we assisted the Red Robin Club in Greytown with an Anzac Day Street Appeal.This upcoming King’s Birthday weekend, the Greytown Rugby Club will be having its 150th Year Anniversary Jubilee and our club members will be assisting there.Greytown School is hosting a fundraising Country Food Fair on Saturday 27 June, which we will assist with.The club sponsored four children to attend a Special Needs Children’s Party (Autism NZ) in Masterton, as well our regular commitment to send students at Greytown School to Camp Waimanaaki.Donations of trailer-loads of firewood for fundraising raffles or auctions were made to Kia Kaha Kockey, to a person who is representing NZ at an Obstacle Course Racing event overseas, as well as a couple of local Scouts to enable attendance at an upcoming Jamboree.As far as our garden products go, we are currently out of sheep manure but another “dig” will be occurring shortly.Some signage for the Greytown Toy Library was constructed lately by Lions Club member Richard Vidulich. We were hosted by Carterton Lions Club last month to a dinner meeting followed by a social “sports” competition vying for the Harry Gray Trophy, which our club won, and to be presented at a future meeting. It is hoped this will be an annual event.Our club owns a tri-shaw – a bicycle equipped for carrying a couple of passengers at the front. This has been on loan to Carterton Lions Club because of recent low demand in Greytown. It traditionally returns to Greytown for use on Anzac Day. We have kept it here for a couple of weeks since then, and it has been used to give some residents at Palliser House an outing or two. It is hoped there will be more demand for its use in Greytown and, if so, it will be brought back on a permanent basis. Greytown Orchards Retirement Village residents may wish to use this at some stage in the future, especially once the rest home section is completed.At our last club meeting, the guest speaker was James Inwood, an ultramarathon runner who specialises in 24-hour running events. He told us of his experience in the Badwater event, a 217km run through Death Valley in California, USA, at the height of summer. The low night time temperature was a mere 40ºC and, at times during the hottest days, could reach 57ºC. Every two miles or so he had to be sprayed with very cold water, wore special ice-containing clothing and drank plenty of fluids – softdrinks, water and electrolyte solutions – as well as eating packaged baby food while on the run. He completed this race 48th out of 93 runners in a time just over 38 hours! The funds raised went to Alzheimer’s Wairarapa.Our next speaker will be Cheryl Watson, representing Wellington Free Ambulance in Wairarapa, who will be talking to us about time-critical transfers of patients who need tertiary hospital treatment. This requires a lot of interactions between paramedics, the helicopter service and the primary and tertiary hospitals involved. This should be very interesting and relevant to people in Greytown.Open Wednesday to Saturday 9.00 am till 3.00pmPalliser House residents Anne Rhodes (left) and Judy Gunn in the tri-shaw piloted by Simon Ford

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 23Skyline Challenge sets recordsThe Martinborough Lions Skyline Challenge ride, run and walk took place on Saturday 11 April 2026, one day before cyclone Vaianu came our way.“It was our biggest success again this year, no matter how you look at it,” says one of the organisers from Martinborough Lions, Lee Quayle. “We raised more money than ever, beating this year’s $15,000 target to buy much-needed equipment for South Wairarapa Meals on Wheels. Timing was perfect; one day later and the cyclone would have forced us to cancel, whereas on Saturday we had ideal weather for some Challenging exercise! And we went against the trend of many recent events by hosting our biggest ever number of participants, with over 300 attending for the very first time,” adds Quayle.The new finishing chute and ‘Challenge Badges’ for everyone made finishing more satisfying for participants, with the new pedestrian area making things safer for them, their friends and family around the base camp.We moved the date of the event this year so that it was held during school holidays and after Daylight Saving, giving us a lighter start. “The lighter early-morning start definitely helped and we think that being in the school holidays made it easier for participants to bring their younger children”, says Quayle. “We will be looking to find a similar date next year,” he adds.The 10km walk attracted over a third of the total Skyline entries. This dedicated scenic walk took participants out the back of the historic Huangarua Station, dropping down through a bush section, before climbing up to Camp David, for a refreshing cool drink and wonderful views over South Wairarapa and the vineyards in autumn bloom, before following the skyline ridge back to the start.The 28km and 20Km run/ride courses were again popular and the 11km run/ride/walk attracted many people wanting a more modest challenge than the longer events provided. This year all proceeds from the Skyline Challenge will be going to South Wairarapa Meals on Wheels Martinborough. “Meals on Wheels is a local charitable service, run by the Masonic Villages Trust from Wharekaka, providing meals to our elderly, disabled or rehabilitating residents in Featherston, Greytown and Martinborough,” says Quayle. “We’re pleased to say that, because of the success of the fundraising for the event, we will be buying muchneeded new kitchen and delivery equipment for Meals on Wheels” says Lee.This community fundraising event organised by Martinborough Lions would not be possible without the generous support of our principal sponsor, Green Jersey Explorer Tours, and 20 other financial sponsors who have all contributed to this worthy cause and great event.“And to all the other people who helped: not the least over 30 volunteers and marshals, who gave up their Saturday; suppliers of food, coffee, music and PA system, radio network, 4WD vehicles, the members of the committee: a huge THANK YOU all!” concludes Quayle. MARTINBOROUGH LIONS CLUBSuccess is measured in many waysTaking time to take a photo because the views are hard to beat. . .

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTS24 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026It has been a quiet month at the Shed as many Sheddies have been on holiday. However, this gave us the chance to finish off a number of small projects and do some overdue maintenance. We have also demolished our old wood shed which was showing its age.The story of the lamp posts. Cobblestones once owned a large number of these lamp posts which were stored in a farmer’s shed. These were restored some years ago by the Menz Shed and installed at Cobblestones where they can be seen today. The last two, pictured, were found just recently in our wood shed when we cleaned it out. They will be cleaned and restored, and sold to raise funds for Cobblestones.Paul Dodge, SecretaryGREYTOWN MENZ SHEDPole to pole& Appliances (2017) LtdNeed an electrician?We can do all electrical work Wairarapa wide• Complete rewires • New builds • General maintenance and repairsCALL US TODAY34-36 High Street South, CartertonPhone: 06 379 8930 | Email: [email protected] Gleeson and his team specialise in architectural homes, and renovations/extensions, while also offering a full range of building services. Their work is defined by a commitment to quality, communication, and delivering results that stand the test of time.Bringing Quality Craftsmanship to South WairarapaGet in touch today:[email protected] www.kbgleesonbuilding.co.nz

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 25Greytown Little Theatre’s production of Quick & Quirky opened on 20 March at Studio 73, and tickets are still available for most shows. The season will run for five shows from Wednesday 20 May to Saturday 23 May at 7.30pm, finishing with a matinee at 2pm on Sunday 24 May. Quick & Quirky was first presented in 2024 and proved highly popular with audiences. GLT has created a diverse new programme which is certain to entertain with the dramatic, to the funny and the quirky. It features several short plays and monologues plus “three familiar and funny Kuranui students are back from The 39 Steps, to perform a collection of improv games” – probably no dancing this time. Our actors and performers are:• Anna Logan• Hannah Wilton• Sean Wilton• Steve Lillyston• Graeme Burnard• Heath Dunnet• Owen Wos• Finn-Osker Mikkelsen• James Riley• Jo Crimp• Jonty Austin• Victoria Ross• Greg Webb They bring a great diversity to the Quick & Quirky programme. Quick & Quirky will be presented in our usual cabaret style with tickets $25 and students $15. Tickets can now be purchased by emailing [email protected] or texting or calling John on 0274 586 126 with your booking requirements. Some door sales will be available if bookings allow. GREYTOWN LITTLE THEATRE AT STUDIO 73Tickets still available for Quick & Quirky Tree reductions & removalsPruning & TrimmingHedging & ShapingStump grinding & Storm DamageQualified Wairarapa Arboristspecialising in:TREE SERVICESFree no obligation quotes!Andy Traill – [email protected] big storm in April saw the airfield completely under water, but within a day of the rain stopping, surface water had drained away. Fortunately, the following two weeks of warm sunny days allowed sufficient drying for the runways to become operational, and glider pilots came out to enjoy the calm autumn flying conditions. We had three fantastic achievements on Sunday 3 May. Kuranui College students Heath Dunnet (16) and Julius Schaefer (17) converted to the club’s single seater gliders. Both have earned their glider pilot’s licenses before they have learned to drive a car. Not to be out done, Paul Clegg (64) was sent on his first solo flight in the two-seater trainer. Grae Harrison and Luca Hayman (15), also from Kuranui, flew a 300km flight from Greytown, completing the flight at an average speed of 130km/h. For a trial flight contact us at www.glidegreytown.nz or visit the club on the weekend for the 10am pilot’s briefing.Grae HarrisonWELLINGTON WAIRARAPA GLIDING CLUBFine weather flyingJulius Schaefer (left) and Heath Dunnet prepare for their flights

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTS26 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026The Te Papa art exhibition, showcasing exhibition prints of illustrations from New Zealand’s most famous books on native birds, has opened at Cobblestones Greytown.Running until 29 July, Buller’s Birds: The Art of Keulemans and Buchanan displays exhibition prints of illustrations used in Walter Buller’s iconic 1873 book, A History of New Zealand Birds and its smaller spinoff, Manual of the Birds of New Zealand.Buller’s Birds: The Art of Keulemans and Buchanan also showcases print reproductions of original hand-coloured lithographs by London-based renowned natural illustrator Johannes Keulemans, from the rare first edition, as well as of drawings and engravings relating to the later publications by New Zealander John Buchanan.To be able to see a pair of Huia specimens is quite surreal. Huia, named by Māori after its loud distress call, which sounded like “uia, uia, uia” (where are you?) was a sacred (tapu) bird to Maori, and considered a taonga prized for its beautiful black tail feathers tipped in white, and signified great mana when worn. The last known pair lived in the Tararuas until their native habitat was cleared for farming, and the species is now extinct. Two beautiful specimens are part of the exhibition, and this is a rare opportunity to get up close to see them, and a morepork (ruru), little blue penguin and a brown kiwi, says Lynn Bushell.Te Papa’s Chief Executive, Courtney Johnston, says the touring exhibition is part of Te Papa’s broader programme to work with regional museums and galleries, and showcase more of the national art collection, more often. “We work hard to ensure all New Zealanders, regardless of where they live, can see our national treasures,” Johnston says. Te Papa Curator of Historical New Zealand Art, Dr Rebecca Rice, says the illustrations are accompanied by examples of Buller’s publications, along with specimens of the illustrated birds.“Given how wonderfully clear and true to life the illustrations are, it’s incredible to think Keulemans and Buchanan most often worked from bird skins, rather than observations in the wild,” said Dr Rice.The exhibition runs until 29 July. Entry is included in Cobblestones’ normal entry fee, with children under five free.For more information, visit our website cobblestonesmuseum.org.nzCOBBLESTONES – WAIRARAPA’S HERITAGE VILLAGE AND MUSEUMTe Papa exhibition Buller’s Birds: The Art of Keulemans and Buchanan opens at CobblestonesThere was drama on the railway line that runs beside Hutt Park, recorded on Super 8 colour film and viewed on-screen at our meeting on 24 April. A gang of youths and girls drove at speed along a deserted road, stopped and dragged a struggling adult male out of the door. They laid him across the railway track, tied him down and left him to a gruesome fate.The victim was their English teacher, Tony Donovan, who fortunately survived for the next 56 years to fascinate us with his story.Back in 1968, faced with a rather bored-looking English class at Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College, he had suggested, “Why don’t we make a movie?” That started an exploration of the practical and philosophical aspects of film-making that soon went nation-wide and spawned a new subject that became known as media studies. Excited by their new ability, teams of six students made more short films, including a black and white documentary on the somewhat below-standard state of the school grounds and facilities. This was shown to the staff and the school board, rather to their horror. Later, a similar film in colour and featuring happy and smiling students, gave an alternative view of the school and taught the students about the possibility of skewed messages in the media.Scripts tended to exploit goodies vs baddies themes, including Superboy in action, but extended to a simulated advertisement for Ford motorcars. Super 8 film with a sound track challenged them to synchronise sound and vision. Editing by cutting and gluing film was more demanding then than it is today with digital media. Establishment of a school radio station, by a student who wanted to be a disc jockey, was an interesting development. The Evening Post, Dominion, Radio NZ and the Post Primary Teachers’ Association Journal all covered the new development.Rebus club members, none of whom were still at school when media studies became part of the curriculum, thoroughly enjoyed Tony’s presentation and films.Guest speaker at our next meeting, on Friday 23 May, will be Prof Chris Hollis who worked at Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) for most of his career and specialised in the geological record of climate change and the impact of the environment on extinction events.SOUTH WAIRARAPA REBUS CLUB“Why don’t we make a movie”The South Wairarapa Rebus Club meets at 9:45am on the fourth Friday of each month at the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club in Greytown. The club prides itself on the quality of its guest speakers, and reviews of previous talks can be found in newsletters on the club’s website: southwairaraparebus.com. Retirees interested in joining are invited to attend a meeting as a visitor. Introduce yourself at the door from the West Street carpark, or contact John Reeve on 021 560 461 for more information. David J Woodhams

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 27Mulled Wine Concerts in Featherston ANZAC Hall - Bell St, FeatherstonSaturday 13 June 4 pmwww.mulledwineconcerts.comTickets $30 ( student under 16 $10) Online sales - [email protected] outlets (CASH ONLY): Mrs Feathers Den, Featherston,Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop, Greytown, iSITES in MartinboroughNIKOLAI SARATOVSKYPIANO RECITALIn the midst of converging crises, it can be easy to lose hope. But there are things we can do. Nadine Hura (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Pākehā), author of Slowing the Sun, published by Bridget Williams Books (BWB), examines the whakapapa of climate change and the responses we can activate personally and collectively. Emily Writes has written that “Nadine is one of Aotearoa’s most beautiful writers. She is a national treasure and her essays are full of heart. She writes bravely and powerfully about life in a way that breaks your heart and then heals it.”All welcome to Hope is a Shovel – Climate action strategies for the overwhelmed with Nadine Hura, Cameron McCauslandTaylor and Ricky Utting, on Sunday afternoon, 7 June at Carterton Library. Part 1: 1-2.30pm, Part 2: 3-4.30pm. Come to one or both sessions.Part One will focus on the intersections of Te Tiriti justice and anti-colonialism. Nadine believes that Tiriti o Waitangi is the most powerful tool we have for climate action in Aotearoa. Nadine will be in conversation with Carterton District Council Climate Change Coordinator Ricky Utting. Part 2 will be practical, interactive and creative, with zine-making inspiration featuring blogger and whale advocate Cameron McCausland-Taylor (Ngāti Awa, Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa, Waitaha). Bring your questions, enthusiasm, even despair – no-one leaves unhappy! A free event for all ages brought to you by Wairarapa Word and Carterton Library, with support from Carterton District Council, Bridget Williams Books and Almo’s Books.Copies of Slowing the Sun will be available for sale and signing through Almo’s Books. The book is also available through your library, in print, as a free e-book.WAI WORDHope is a shovelAuthor Nadine Hura comes to Carterton Library on 7 June. Photo Ebony Lamb

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTS28 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026Led by NZSO Associate Concertmaster Donald Armstrong, the Amici Ensemble returns, with a fresh and exhilarating programme that defies tradition and delights the senses. This year Donald’s team of Anna van der Zee on violin,Nicholas Hancox on viola, and Andrew Joyce on cello is joined by acclaimed saxophonist Simon Brew in a stunning line-up that blends the elegance of the string quartet with the soulful lyricism and surprising versatility of the saxophone.Since Adolf Sax invented the saxophone in the 1840s, composers have been enchanted with its sonorities, combining the sax with other instruments in many idioms. Composers such as Debussy and Ravel incorporated the beautiful sweetness of the saxophone in their music, influencing more recent composers such as Russell Peterson and Ellen Zwilich, whose Quintets for Alto Saxophone and Strings will be performed in Greytown.The concert will open with Peterson’s Quintet, which draws on both classical chamber music traditions, and the rhythmic language of jazz. Zwilich was the first female composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, and has been called “one of America’s most frequently played and genuinely popular living composers”. Her lively Quintet explores all the sonorities of saxophone and strings.For strings only, Max Richter’s “On the Nature of Daylight” – a slow, luminous meditation on time, memory and loss – is interposed between the two quintets.After the interval, the strings will play Mozart’s String Quartet in F Major, K590, the final work in Mozart’s celebrated set of six “Prussian” quartets. As the work was composed with the celloplaying King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in mind, the cello has a prominent, lyrical role.The concert will finish with “Winter” and “Spring”, from the “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” by Piazzolla, arranged for soprano sax and string quartet by Mary Osborne.Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience a chamber music concert like no other – where soaring strings meet the warm glow of the saxophone in a journey through light, rhythm, and resonance.Amici Ensemble:Where Classical Meets the Unexpected: 4pm on Saturday 23 May at 57 Wood St, Greytown. Admission $30, children $10. For bookings, contact Ed and Juliet Cooke: ph 06 304 9497 or [email protected] with WBS Let your money work as hard as you do.Ts & Cs apply. Rates subject to change.Contact us today(06) 370 0070wbs.net.nz125 Queen Street, MastertonDe Leeuw familyNeed an electrician?• maintenance • renovations • new buildsaandkplumbing.co.nz0800 473 583GREYTOWN MUSIC GROUPAmici Ensemble – where classical meets the unexpectedL-R: Simon Brew, Nicholas Hancox, Donald Armstrong, Anna van der Zee and Andrew Joyce

LOCAL GROUPS & EVENTSThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 29UPCLOSE AND PERSONALToo Many Chiefs Our next concert is Too Many Chiefs: Wayne Mason, Rob Joass and Andrew London. This will be an afternoon of original songs by Wayne Mason, Rob Joass and Andrew London. Playing together, it will be stories and lies, satire alternating with poignancy, and possible spontaneous combustion. You’ll want to be able to say you were there to see it!Individually excellent musicians with many years of performing and songwriting, together you can expect hilarity and fireworks! Please book to make sure you don’t miss out.When: Sunday 28 June 4pmWhere: Studio 73, 73 Main Street, GreytownBookings essential by text to 021 0236 1951 with cash on the door or buy tickets through Eventfinda. Refreshments available for a gold coin, BYO welcome.Too Many Chiefs. L-R: Wayne Mason, Rob Joass and Andrew London.Are you aged 55+?Relocated?Changed lifestyles?Retired?or looking for a new interest?Then, come along to the SWWMC on the Interested? Please phone 027 466 7524You’re invited to join the Tauherenikau Friendship ClubDo you enjoy:• making new friends • hearing great speakers • convivial morning teas?We also have optional group activities,including:• antiques • dining out • gardening• Family dining: Wed – Fri – Sat – Sun evenings• TAB facilities• Wednesday night Membership cash draw• Wednesday and Friday night raffles• BIG screen TVs for all that Sky sport• Reduced membership rates for over 60s• Reduced membership rates for 18 to 24-year-olds• Two full-size Snooker tables• Three Pool tables• Ten Dart boards• Education and Welfare Trust to help out financially• Reciprocal visiting rights to over 300 clubs in NZ• Reciprocal visiting rights to Queensland and Western Australia clubs• Modern bar facilities• Very friendly atmosphere!• Live entertainmentMembers, affiliated members and guests welcome120 Main Street, Greytown06 304 9448 | [email protected]“Your comfort and enjoyment is the goal of our team.”Join the club and enjoy:Workingmen’s ClubSouth Wairarapawww.lambpetersprint.co.nzLamb-Peters Print have the expertise and technical know-how to make your next print or design job a success. Our creative team will listen to your requirements and provide a range of options to ensure you receive an outstanding finished product. The team at Lamb-Peters Print use the highest quality materials to deliver the very best results – the way you need it, how you need it, when you need it.We offer a wide range of services:• Offset print• Digital print• Letterpress• Signage• Display banners• Roll-up banners• Graphic design• Book design and production• Newsletters• Posters• Leaflets• Postcards• Business Cards• Labels• Packaging• Photocopying• Laminating... and moreCome in and have a chat with our friendly, experienced team and we’ll get the ball rolling!06 304 9245Proud to be located in Greytown, the heart of the Wairarapa, we’re your ONE-STOP LOCAL SHOP when it comes to print and design. 2477 State Highway 2, GreytownSPECIALISTS& DESIGN

SPORT30 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026We hit the ground running holding trials at the beginning of March for our seniors. The ladies made team selection tough this year with so much talent out on the court. We secured two teams made up of returning and new players.With both senior teams competing in the permier grade, we are excited to see the teams grow and succeed through this season.A huge thank you to Holmes Construction and Kaiwaiwai Dairies Ltd for supporting our senior teams.Greytown Junior Netball Club have had a change this year and we have moved from the South Wairarapa competition and entered into the Masterton competition, giving us two teams to enter! They are completing their grading games, and we look forward to seeing where they end up in the competition.We would like to thank Infinite Landscapes and Property Brokers with Dave and Jennah for their support of the junior club this year.Greytown Netball would like to thank all our coaches, volunteers and umpires of our four teams, and The Offering for player of the day treats for the junior club. We truly appreciate the commitment, time and dedication it takes to support our players and the club.Want to follow the clubs progress this season? Make sure you are following our Facebook page @ Greytown Netball Club for updates from all the teams!Greytown Holmes Construction team competing in Premier 3 Greytown Kaiwaiwai Dairies Ltd competing in Premier 6 A selection of our Junior Club members – sponsored by Infinite Landscapes and Property Brokers with Dave & JennahWelcome to the Greytown Netball 2026 seasonLakefront property after April stormOnce again Lamb-Peters Print at the northern end of Greytown was the location of what some would consider (under different circumstances) a desired trait – lakefront property!After the deluge that swept through in early April, valued customers were diverted to our rear parking area to avoid navigating the watery obstacle course in order to get to the front door.This year, as our visitors commented on regularly, it took quite some time to dissipate – climate change?However, the sun is shining again and the the two Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) at the roadside coloured up in spectacular style.

SPORTThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 31Winter may be inescapable, but there is a way to keep the joy of summer in your life through to spring – come and play tennis in Greytown.The Greytown Tennis Club runs a jovial group that meets twice a week right through the year. We have a good mix of ages and skill, so there is no need to worry about not being good enough.We play on Mondays and Thursdays, from 1pm until at least 3pm in the autumn/winter months, on our recently resurfaced courts alongside Greytown Campground in Soldiers Memorial Park. Just come in the main campground entrance on Kuratawhiti Street and keep to the right – you can’t miss us.We have three splendid courts, so there is little chance of being left out for long. We shuffle the players regularly and if you are between games you can watch the action from our clubroom, where we enjoy a cuppa, and chat, afterwards.Tennis is often cited as the best form of exercise to undertake as it activates the muscles that other sports don’t reach. You set your own pace, and play to your ability. Within a few weeks, you’ll be moving – and laughing – much more freely.If you like it, you can sign up as a member so you can play all year round. Once spring arrives, we change the start time to 9.30am to avoid the midday heat. For more information, please contact Lynette on 027 600 1527 or just turn up on the day. We look forward to welcoming you along!Greytown Tennis ClubGREYTOWN TENNIS CLUB 1905Keep the bounce in your stepWith the start of May, all leagues and teams are now playing. Junior football has kicked off with 15 teams representing the mighty GFC, from ages 5 through to 13. As we know marshalling 160 kids into teams wouldn’t be possible without the support of a host of volunteers, so to the committee, the coaches, the managers, the line markers, the referees, sponsors and more a massive THANK YOU. It is great to see those budding footballers out there having fun. Speaking of which, as you are on the side line encouraging the kids, remember this quote “I just hope both teams have fun”. Be supportive of all kids, regardless of team and remember – the referees are volunteers also.May also sees the start of the Wairarapa Women’s league with the mighty GEMSonce again taking to the field. The women’s league is still growing in the Wairarapa and we welcome players of all ages and abilities to come along and join in. First up was a hard-fought loss to Martinborough, but will be bouncing back against Carterton with a 1-1 draw.The Keinzley Agvet Men’s senior firsts team have had a great start to the season with only one loss, to be sitting third in the league. Well positioned for the goal of getting into Central League next year. Monday 27 April saw Chatham Cup football come to Greytown with the Keinzley Agvet Men’s senior firsts team taking on Vic University. Bouncing out to a 3-1 half time lead, the lads finished it off with a 6-2 win, thanks to a brace of goals from Daniel Maclennan and Matthew Tod-Smith. Second round was on Saturday 9 May, an away game against Marist, which saw the team come away with a 6-2 win and make it to the third round of the Chatham Cup. For the first time in Greytown Football Club’s history, we have made it this far. Leading goal scoring for the team in both club and the league is Matt ToddSmith scoring a hat trick in the Chatham Cup.Climb & Cut Reserves have also started the season with a roar, with three wins and one loss to be sitting third as they battle in the Men’s Capital 4 division. Meanwhile the Umbrella Group Spartans, GFC Property Brokers and GFC Gallaghers Insurance are all upholding the pride of Greytown Football across the Wairarapa.Finally a shout out to Greytown Lands Trust for funding a refresh of our junior football shirts (photo at right).All kids are now kitted out with logo and matching kit. Looking great!Greytown Football Club

SPORT32 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026On Kings Birthday weekend, 29 to 31 May 2026, we warmly invite all past and present club members, players, coaches, managers, committee members, supporters and the wider community to join us for the celebrations of this milestoneTicketed EventsPlease visit www.grfc150jubilee.com or email [email protected] to explore these events: – Golf day, Mix’n’Mingle, Gala event at the Copthorne (please note some events have sold out but we have waitlists running).Community Celebrations:Join us at the Club grounds in East Street:Saturday: JAB from 10 am, Senior Rugby from middaySunday: action from 11 am with JAB and College teams, weekend culminating with our feature match: Greytown invitational XV vs Barbarians.Come along and see former Greytown, Wairarapa and Barbarian greats return to the field for an epic clash.Bring the whole family along and help celebrate 150 years of Greytown Rugby. Food carts, open bar, memorabilia and photo displays, fun space for the kids Commemorative 150th Jerseys up for auction. See you there!Greytown Rugby 150th Jubilee CelebrationsGreytown RSASocial GatheringMembers, partners, friendsGathering 3rd Fridayof every month17.30 – 19.00South Wairarapa Working Men’s ClubSouth-east corner, main barCome and meet your mates and enjoy the Club’s amenitiesALL WELCOME.www.rsa.org.nzOFFICE SPACE FOR RENT Main Street GreytownA well-positioned, large office space is now available for rent on Greytown’s Main Street:• centrally located• separate large office• access to shared kitchen facilities• shared meeting room• bathroom amenities with shower• available from 1 JulyFor enquiries or to arrange a viewing, please contact Rachael on 0272 612 998 or email [email protected]

SPORTThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 33With the bowling season now coming to an end we held our closing day on Sunday 3 May with members enjoying the sunny day, good bowls, shared food, along with great camaraderie. The club would like to acknowledge the support given from both their sponsors and the many supporters who have helped over the season. Without their support, we would not be able to hold our bowling events which are eagerly attended by local businesses, the community and our members. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you!On the weekend of 9-10 May, our final Champion of Champions events were held at Masterton Bowling Club. In the Men’s Junior Pairs event, Rob Wolff and Tim Herbert played well, coming in top and winning the event. A great effort for both. Pauline Brooks played in the Women’s Junior Singles making it to the semi-final. Additionally, Rob Wolff played in the Men’s Junior Singles making it to the final gaining runner up in this championship.The club final for the Mixed Pairs was played at Greytown while the Men’s pairs were being played, and the victorious pair of Dean Hands and Lorna Green were the eventual winners. They went on to play in the Champion of Champions in a hard-fought battle against a young pair from Carrington Bowling Club.It was in the Champion of Champions event of the Men’s Singles held at Masterton Bowling Club recently that Keith Graham came runner up. He played well, with the final being a great contest against a Masterton player. Congratulations Keith.Two Greytown players were chosen to represent Wairarapa in the WKWM Fixture Event held at Levin Bowling Club on Saturday the 2 May – Rob Wolff and Pauline Brooks – both playing in the men’s and women’s triple’s teams. This is a tournament between Wairarapa, Manawatu, Wellington and Kapiti playing singles, pairs, triples and 242 events. Overall, the women’s teams came third and the men’s gained second place. Well done Wairarapa teams.Each season Greytown Bowling Club has continued to provide its members with opportunities to play in many bowling events at all different levels, from social bowls to competitive events. Players take up the many bowling opportunities at these different levels to either improve their bowling skills or to just enjoy their bowls with other like-minded people.Thank you to the Greytown Grapevine for providing the Greytown Bowling Club with the opportunity to use this publication as a forum to keep readers informed of what goes on throughout the bowling season and to help celebrate our successes.The 2026-2027 bowling season starts in September this year and the club welcomes new players who may be considering taking up the game, either to learn new skills or to know more about Lawn Bowls.Signing off until September, and thanks for reading our articles over the past few months.Pauline Brooks, Secretary GBCGreytown Bowling ClubHello my name is Owen and I am a Greytown scout. I have been a part of Greytown Scouts for five years (I’m 16 years old at the moment) and over that time I have experienced some of the best activities Scouts have to offer. Some activities have included a 10-day camp in mystery creek Hamilton (NZ Jamboree) and a 16-day camp in the Gold Coast (Australian Jamboree).Over the Christmas holidays, some of the scouts from Greytown went to an activity called Venture. This camp was planned over ten days and involved over 2,000 scouts. These scouts were mainly from New Zealand and Australia but there were still contingents from Europe and Asia. For the first four days of this camp all the scouts participating were scattered over the country doing activities. I chose to kayak the Queen Charlotte sounds but other scouts were doing four wheel driving, boating tramping and many more. For the second part of Venture, all the scouts came together for a week of activities in and around wellington.From my time at scouts I have learnt so much about camping, tramping, first aid and many other skills. The scouts learn all of this from our weekly nights at the scout hall and the camps and tramps that we organise over the weekends. Greytown Scout group is an active group that provides our kids with so many learning experiences that they won’t find at school or at home. Our leaders are the backbone of the organisation, and we are looking for any keen people in the community who could help out in this important role. If you are interested in becoming a leader, or have children who would like to attend, please get in contact at [email protected] Bateman, Group Leader, Greytown Scout GroupGREYTOWN SCOUTSVenture brings international scouts1.Scented, 7.Boers, 9.Fed, 10.Architect, 12.RockandRoll, Across: 15.Proofreader, 17.Austerity, 19.Why, 21.Odium, 22.Umpteen 1.Screw, 2.Gnu, 3.Weir, 4.Couturier, 5.Freckle, 8.Whanga, Down: 11.Colostrum, 13.Kororā, 14.Grounds, 16.Khmer, 18.Tomb, 20.Eta Crossword Solution

NOTICES34 The Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026Crossword Noticeboard1 2 3 4 56 789 101112 1314151617 18 192021 22MAY CROSSWORDCrossword kindly supplied by Ruth O’Brien. Ruth is keen to receive any feedback you may have about the crossword content, so please email [email protected] with your comments. Solution: See page 33Across 6. Name of Greytown olfactory shop now retailing only online (7) 7. South Africans of Dutch, German or Huguenot descent (5) 9. Nourished (3) 10. Building designer (9) 11. First form of mammals’ post-natal milk (9) 12. Dance form (11) 15. Essential staff member in publishing company (11) 17. Strictness, severity; policy of no luxury (9) 19. Interrogative pronoun (3) 21. Intense hatred or disgust (5) 22. Countless, indefinite number (7) Down 1. Spiral grooved metal fixing (5) 2. Large stocky African antelope (3) 3. Lower barrier over waterway (4) 4. Fashion designer (Fr) (9) 5. Harmless light brown sun spot on skin (7) 8. Harbour or bay (Te Reo) (6) 13. World’s smallest penguin (Te Reo) (6) 14. Land surrounding buildings (7) 16. Relating to people, language and culture of Cambodia (5) 18. Burial place (4) 20. 7th letter of Greek alphabet (3) Lions Helping HandOlder or disabled people needing help with simple tasks like stacking firewood, minor repairs (including bikes) and essentiallocal transport, may ring Ian Frowde on 304 7127.Donation welcome but not required.Garden productsOrder sheep manure, sawdust,lime and kindling at theStihl Shop 246 Main Street,or contact 021 226 2002or [email protected] or help LionsOur motto is ‘Serve the community and have fun!‛ We meet twice a month. To join us or help with a Lions project,contact Barry Knight 027 484 2406or [email protected] groups raise funds by raffling Lions firewood. Ask us!Lions wheelchairFor visitors to our town. Kept at South Wairarapa Workingmen‛s Club, 120 Main Street — ask at the bar.Greytown LionsLions walkway andhistoric wire shedLions built and maintain thewalkway that linksKuratawhiti and Udy Streets.Lions Reading HelpCommunity volunteers helpGreytown School childrenwith their reading.Learn ‘n Live CampsEach year Lions sponsor tenGreytown children to attend these life-changing camps at Riversdale.Lions book sale in the Town Centre,once a year.

NOTICESThe Greytown Grapevine MAY 2026 35NoticeboardFrom the EditorWe receive many wonderful and interesting stories and photos for publishing in the Greytown Grapevine every month. When you supply your stories and accompanying photos, please include a brief, detailed caption describing your photo. If they contain people, include their names (left to right if more than one), so readers aren’t left wondering who these people are (as we don’t know either!), and makes for a much more understandable, interesting and enjoyable read. Thanks. Ed.Garage SalesNeed more spare change in your pocket? Time to sell off those goodies that have been sitting at the back of your wardrobe gathering dust? If you would like a FREE Garage Sale Notice in the Greytown Grapevine, email [email protected] with date, time, location of your sale, and no more than 10 words describing your items. Submit by the 10th of the month.Sat 24 Aug, 6-10am123 This Road, GreytownToys, bikes, games, clothes, power tools, household items. Cash only.EXAMPLEGreytown Community Playgroup Greytown Community Playgroup runs every Monday during school term time, 9.30-11.30am. We have lots of friendly faces and morning tea and drinks provided for the adults. Come say hello at 12 McMaster Street, Greytown.Wairarapa Model Railway Club Wairarapa Model Railway Club, meetings first and third Thursday of the month, 7:15-9:30 pm, contact Peter Murray 027 630 1780.Greytown SongstersWe are an informal choir that meets every Wednesday during the school terms. There is no audition and the ability to read music is not essential. The emphasis is on having fun singing together. We welcome new members.Please email me on [email protected] for details.Wendy, Treasurer, Greytown SongstersSWWMC – Card Club1pm, every Tuesday, new players very welcome. $1 per person. Laughter and enjoyment FREE!Come along and meet us. Easy cards, including Phase 10, Five Crowns, Pony Canaster, 500 and Poker – your choice.Bridge is available too, so just drop in, or phone O27 466 7524 for more information. Everyone welcome.FREE Wooden Pallets up for grabs Wooden pallets available from Lamb-Peters Print2477 State Highway 2, Ahikouka, GreytownCome in and see us first, phone 06 304 9245 Vehicle Storage Vehicle storage with high stud area available, Tauherenikau, Pine Terry 027 486 2862.BUILDERSImagreat Builder Ltdphone: ......................................................................................................email: ......................................................................................................website:.....................................................................................................We are looking to publish a regular column each month listing local tradies to encourage people to “support local” – trusted services you can call on – plumbers, electricians, builders, etc – listing only essential contact information.If you’re a tradie and keen to have your service listed, please email [email protected] for more details.directoryTRADE(Example)only$19per monthSouth Wairarapa Tramping Club We will hold our 2026 AGM on Tuesday, 9 June, at Studio 73, Main Street, Greytown starting at 7.30pm. All welcome.O’Connor’s Bush Working BeesO’Connor’s Bush is the historic native reserve beside the Soldiers’ Memorial Park in Kuratawhiti Street. A friendly team of volunteers work together regularly to restore the bush and sustain the native wildlife that relies on it. Everyone is welcome to join a working bee. We meet beside the tennis courts at the back of the park. Our next dates are:10am, Saturday, 30 May and 1pm, Wednesday, 10 JuneThank you.

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