Notable news around Marlborough

Lavender hue
The Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture honoured Picton’s Elsie Hall with its 2026 Plant Raisers Award in recognition of her 36 years cultivating lavender.

Elsie has nine patented lavenders and seven more under evaluation. She and her husband, Brian, transplanted from Wairau Valley to their current Leighvander Cottage on Queen Charlotte Drive.

RNZIH says Elsie’s “contribution to the selection and development of garden lavender has bought international attention to New Zealand Horticulture”.

Bird flu
With bird flu detected in Australia in migratory seabirds, the Ministry for Primary Industries is coordinating with Council to prepare for H5N1 here.

Council's announcement last Monday, which preceded the first case detected domestically, noted that the virus strain “cannot be eradicated” and “is expected to become widespread in New Zealand’s wild bird population” after reaching Kiwi shores.

Via the mpi.govt.nz site, MPI offers guidance for commercial operations and backyard bird owners. The agency asks anyone seeing a group of three or more dead or sick wild birds to call 0800 80 99 66.

Icy blue
Antarctic aficionados, the Marlborough Provincial Museum has a programme for you. Forty Years Below on 26 July offers “a memoir in poetry, images and song” featuring award-winning balladeer and poet Roger Lusby.

Roger, who spent a year in Antarctica, will share his experiences and also commemorate Ernest Shackelton’s 1914 expedition. The 2pm event is a fundraiser for the museum.

Old meets new
The Waitohi Picton Community Garden dedicated the site of its new Education Shelter with a traditional laying of stones.

The education shelter, once completed in the next several weeks, will serve as a community hub space.

Mid-Winter Dinner
Beef + Lamb New Zealand will hold its annual Marlborough Farming for Profit Mid-Winter Dinner on 21 July at Lansdowne Event Hub.

The event accords attendees an opportunity to “hear real stories from real farmers, sharing the journeys, challenges and opportunities”.

Speakers on tap include South Islander Jojo Wallis and North Islanders Hugh and John Jackson – all farming cattle and deer.

Visit beeflambnz.com for further details.

Tree-planting day
A community tree-planting day in the Wither Hills on Friday will bring together Rangitāne o Wairau, Indevin, DOC and local volunteers as part of the restoration of the historic Ōhine-anau-mate waterway.

Rangitāne and Indevin plan to plant more than 1,500 native trees over the coming years to help restore the waterway and improve its environmental health.

Indevin noted its 15 Valley Winery sits within the catchment, and the two organisations have worked together on monitoring and restoration initiatives, including a recent survey of juvenile tuna populations.

Wine Fellows
A week before his passing on Monday, actor-vintner Sam Neill headlined the list of New Zealand Winegrowers Fellows.

The others announced on 8 July were Kevin Judd, a winemaker and photographer; Lynnette Hudson, an advocate for Pinot Noir; Rex Sunde, a leader for both New Zealand Winegrowers and Organic Winegrowers New Zealand; and Philip Gregan, recently retired CEO from the Wine Institute and New Zealand Winegrowers.

The five will be inducted at the New Zealand Wine 2026 Celebration Dinner in August in Wellington.