News in brief

Fourth fatality

A fourth person has died following a crash on State Highway 1, near Redwood Pass, on Sunday 22 February. Two people died at the scene, and three others were transported to hospital with serious and critical injuries – one of whom passed away in hospital not long after. Sadly, a fourth person has passed away and one person remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Patience urged

Flight disruptions will affect Marlborough Airport from next week due to volatile jet fuel prices, prompting the mayor to urge patience. Air New Zealand will reduce the number of flights, expected to affect about 44,000 people nationally, chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar said on Thursday. An Air NZ spokesperson said the cancellations were “mainly in lower-demand or off-peak times” and affected passengers would be rebooked on flights the same day as their original booking. Marlborough mayor Nadine Taylor said flights connecting Marlborough with Wellington and Auckland would be affected from next week until early May. “Air New Zealand says it intends to reduce routes to Wellington three times per week, for a total of 28 rotations (inbound and outbound flights), as well as nine rotations in total between Marlborough and Auckland,” Nadine said. But Marlborough’s routes would remain largely intact as flights were generally at more than 80% capacity, she said. Local Democracy Reporter

Sculpture removed

An aging wooden sculpture of a whale at the Picton Powerhouse Reserve on Wairau Road has been removed. Council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Manager Nicola Neilson said the wooden sculpture was rotten and had become a public safety hazard, so the difficult decision had been made to remove it. “In its day, it was a striking installation, skilfully created using chainsaws by local carver Pita Rua. It is a shame to see the deterioration which has taken place over the years, but the only option was to remove it as it has become dangerous to the public.” Unveiled in September 2015, the piece was carved from the stump of a Douglas Fir tree and depicts a mother humpback and her calf diving.

One Agent, 210km, One Big Cause

Blenheim real estate agent Michael Rea is going the distance later this month, taking on a 210km endurance challenge to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand. As part of the charity’s House to House Challenge, Michael is running, cycling, hiking and swimming a combined 210 kilometres to reflect the average distance families travel to access specialist hospital care through RMHC support. Michael is aiming to raise $4914, enough to help cover the cost of accommodation for a family of four staying at Ronald McDonald House for a month while their child receives treatment. The cause is a personal one as Michael and his family were supported by the charity in 2021 after his wife went into early labour and their newborn son required care in Wellington’s NICU. Having accommodation close to the hospital, he says, helped relieve enormous stress during a frightening time.  To boost fundraising, he is also hosting a quiz night fundraiser on 27 March, with all proceeds supporting families facing medical journeys away from home.

Fundraiser hits right note

Music, wine and community spirit combined at Lawson’s Dry Hills recently, where the popular Vinyl in the Vines event raised thousands for a local cause. This year’s event, themed “Funk for Food,” saw DJs spin old-school vinyl for a crowd of locals enjoying an afternoon of music, food and wine at the winery’s cellar door. All ticket sales were donated to the Marlborough Community Foodbank. In total, $2342 was raised and donated to the food bank, helping support its work assisting people and families across the region. Vinyl in the Vines is a regular summer fixture for the winery, bringing together local DJs and the community for a relaxed afternoon in the vines — and, this year, helping stock the shelves for those who need it most.

Tugboat arrives

The sky was grey but spirits were high as Port Marlborough welcomed its newest tugboat Kaiaua after its week-long voyage from China. The arrival of the $15 million Azimuth Stern Drive tug on Friday would make the Port Marlborough’s marine fleet the newest of any commercial port in New Zealand, the port said. Kaiaua was 23m long and had a 72-tonne bollard pull, advanced manoeuvrability, and greater fuel efficiency, Port Marlborough said. She was purpose-built for the port’s towage requirements in Picton Harbour, which recorded more than 3000 commercial ship visits over the 2025 financial year.

Calling all veterans

Veterans’ Affairs is heading to Nelson to meet with veterans and their whānau from across the top of the South Island. Veterans' Affairs is putting the call out for serving and former New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel to join them on Thursday 26 March or Friday 27 March for their Marlborough Tasman Veteran Support Event. Friday is the main event, running from 10am to 2pm at the Trafalgar Centre, Paru Paru Road, Nelson, while Thursday’s evening event will be from 7pm. Head of Veterans’ Affairs Alexander Brunt says it is an opportunity for veterans from across the top of the South Island to discuss their current needs or future support with someone face-to-face, learn more about their entitlements, and set up or change any support they or their whānau require. “This is the first time we’ve held a forum in Nelson, and we’re excited to catch up with our with veterans from the Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman regions,” he says. More information can be found at www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz/events