Notable news around Marlborough

Bridge is back
The Crinoline footbridge returned to at Riverside Park on Tuesday, and Council says it should be ready to use by the end of next week.

Taylor River dredging between the Alfred Street bridge and the SH1/rail bridge required removal of the footbridge to accommodate the inaugural use of a “purpose-built amphibious excavator – nicknamed Swampy”.

The footbridge was “refurbished and redecked with new non-slip boards”, Council said, adding that its “new weed boat ‘Wee-D’ will continue to target vegetation in the town reaches and downstream to further improve drainage”.

Author, author!
The Marlborough Book Festival has lined up two prize-winning authors fresh off receiving honours at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

Last Wednesday in Auckland, Ingrid Horrocks won the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction 2026 and Elizabeth Cox won the BookHub Award for Illustrated Non-Fiction.

Both agreed to speak in Blenheim at the 24-26 July event.

Check marlboroughbookfest.co.nz for upcoming ticket sales and other details.

For the birds
Hoping the second time will be the charm, the Kārearea Falcon Trust is hosting a fundraising art auction on Thursday at 5:30pm at Wine + Food Experience Marlborough.

The event, rescheduled from March, features Metalworks Wanaka sculptures along with paintings, limited-edition prints and jewellery. Proceeds from auction items and door donations go to kārearea conservation.

Visit kareareafalcon.org/events for more information.

Growth curve
Vintners and the broader industry surrounding them will come together in Marlborough next month for WinePro NZ 2026.

Free for professionals to attend, the conference will run 23-25 June at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000.

It is supported by Council and Wine Marlborough.

See winepro.co.nz for the speakers list and exhibitors.