Martinborough
Wharekaka (Māori)
Martinborough's Memorial Square
Martinborough's Memorial Square
Coordinates: 41°13′8″S 175°27′33″E / 41.21889°S 175.45917°E / -41.21889; 175.45917
RegionWellington Region
Territorial authoritySouth Wairarapa District
WardMartinborough Ward
CommunityMartinborough Community[1]
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Wairarapa District Council
 • Regional councilGreater Wellington Regional Council
 • Mayor of South WairarapaMartin Connelly
 • Wairarapa MPMike Butterick
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel
Area
[2]
 • Total4.50 km2 (1.74 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[3]
 • Total2,060
 • Density460/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
5711
Area code06
Martinborough township and surroundings viewed from near the top of Rapaki Hill

Martinborough (Māori: Wharekaka or Māori: Huangarua)[4] is a town in the South Wairarapa District, in the Wellington region of New Zealand. It is 65 kilometres east of Wellington and 35 kilometres south-west of Masterton. The town has a resident population of 2,060 (June 2023).[3]

The town is home to the South Wairarapa District Council.

History and culture

European settlement

John Martin is regarded as the town’s founder and set out the first streets in the pattern of the Union Flag[5] in the 19th century. Before Martinborough was established the southern part of the region was known as Waihenga, a point that seems to be lost at times in the history of the district. A feature is the colonial architecture, one example of which is the historic Martinborough Hotel, built in 1882.

Prior to the expansion of viticulture, Martinborough was largely a rural service town for nearby farms.

Mayors of Martinborough Borough Council

The mayor of Martinborough officiated over the Martinborough Borough of New Zealand, which was administered by the Martinborough Borough Council. The office existed from 1928 until 1989, when Martinborough Borough alongside Greytown and Featherston boroughs also with Featherston County was amalgamated into the South Wairarapa District Council as part of the 1989 local government reforms.

Name Term
1 W.B. Martin 1928-1938
2 C.W.F. Skill 1938-1941
3 C.R. Holmes 1941-1946
4 J. Martin 1946–1953
5 L.A. Campbell 1953–1965
6 S.H. Ussher 1965-1973
7 Dawson Wright 1973–1989

Marae

The local Hau Ariki Marae and Te Whare Wananga o Tupai meeting house are affiliated with the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāti Hikawera o Kahungunu.[6][7]

In October 2020, the Government committed $371,332 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, and create 37 jobs.[8]

Demographics

Martinborough covers 4.50 km2 (1.74 sq mi)[2] and had an estimated population of 2,000 as of June 2022,[9] with a population density of 444 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,329—    
20131,473+1.48%
20181,767+3.71%
Source: [10]

Martinborough had a population of 1,767 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 294 people (20.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 438 people (33.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 741 households, comprising 852 males and 915 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.93 males per female. The median age was 49.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 288 people (16.3%) aged under 15 years, 192 (10.9%) aged 15 to 29, 840 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 444 (25.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 84.9% European/Pākehā, 18.5% Māori, 3.6% Pasifika, 3.7% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 19.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.0% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 1.9% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 387 (26.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 279 (18.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 282 people (19.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 723 (48.9%) people were employed full-time, 246 (16.6%) were part-time, and 30 (2.0%) were unemployed.[10]

Economy

Martinborough Rodeo 2016
Mustering Toast Martinborough 2011
Flocked Toast Martinborough 2011

Martinborough has a large number of vineyards producing wines, notably Pinot noir. Martinborough has a warm micro-climate, with hills to the east and west. Almost all the vineyards are in thin ribbons around the northern and eastern sides of the town, and on the Dry River to the south. All follow dry riverbeds, which provide appropriate soils for viticulture.

Notable wineries include Schubert Wines,[11] Te Kairanga, Tirohana Estate, Palliser Estate Wines,[12] Dry River, Martinborough Vineyard,[13] Murdoch James,[14] Ata Rangi,[15] Craggy Range,[16] and Escarpment.[17] During November, the region's wines are celebrated in the Toast Martinborough wine festival. This event temporarily enlarges the population by 10,000.

Other industries around Martinborough focus on traditional beef and sheep farming; growing olives, lavender and nuts; and fishing at the coast settlements of Ngawi and Cape Palliser. Tourism is an important industry for the town, and the Martinborough i-site[18] provides advice about accommodation, activities, wineries and where to eat. Several wineries and specialist tour operators offer vineyard tours, and the Martinborough Brewery is also located in town.[19]

Education

Martinborough School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[20][21] with a roll of 237 as of April 2023.[22]

The nearest high school is Kuranui College.

The international cooking school Le Cordon Bleu and UCOL considered establishing a campus in Martinborough by 2009. They eventually opted to open a campus in Wellington instead, disappointing locals who were hoping it would provide an economic boost to the town.[23]

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Martinborough Community Board". South Wairarapa District Council. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  4. ↑ "Huangarua - te Aka Māori Dictionary".
  5. ↑ "MARTINBOROUGH – 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand – Te Ara".
  6. ↑ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  7. ↑ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  8. ↑ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Martinborough (257900). 2018 Census place summary: Martinborough
  11. ↑ "Schubert Wines".
  12. ↑ "Palliser Estate Wines".
  13. ↑ "Martinborough Vineyard".
  14. ↑ "Murdoch James".
  15. ↑ "Ata Rangi".
  16. ↑ "Craggy Range Martinborough". Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Escarpment".
  18. ↑ "Martinborough Information Centre".
  19. ↑ "Martinborough Brewery".
  20. ↑ "Martinborough School Official School Website". martinborough.school.nz.
  21. ↑ "Martinborough School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  22. ↑ "Martinborough School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  23. ↑ Ford, Gerald (8 May 2008). "Give us our money back, says MP". New Zealand Herald. Wairarapa Times-Age. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
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