Over the hill
Wairarapa Times-Age has signed a three-year deal, commencing in November this year, with Stuff Petone to print the Times-Age, Midweek, and Wairarapa Property. The paper has been printed at Webstar in Masterton since 2018 but that facility will be closing at the end of this year, putting 40 employees out of a job. Stuff’s Petone production plant also prints The Post, the Taranaki Daily News, and the Manawatū Standard.
Heavy rain, wind
Metservice put a heavy rain watch in place from 8am until 11pm yesterday, warning of periods of heavy rain and rainfall amounts approaching warning criteria. Although the heavy rain may be isolated to yesterday, a gale warning remains in place for the marine area surrounding Castlepoint. Metservice said northeast winds could rise to 30 knots, easing to 20 knots in the evening.
Home burglary
Police are investigating a burglary at a home on Lett St in Lansdowne, Masterton. Officers responded to the burglary report at a residential address shortly before 3.30pm on Saturday. Police said inquiries into the incident are ongoing.
Plenty more roadworks
Waka Kotahi NZTA has advised of a raft of roadworks on Wairarapa state highways. On SH2 between Carterton and Masterton stop-go traffic controls will remain in place at various sections throughout this week, with the transport agency noting that Carterton District Council has also implemented traffic restrictions on the parallel Hughes Line. Stop-go traffic controls will be in place north of Greytown today and tomorrow from 7pm-5.30am to allow for roadside levelling, while motorists will encounter stop-go controls tonight only from 7pm-5.30am north of Carterton [near Anderson Line] for subsurface analysis. On Thursday motorists travelling north of Masterton on Opaki Rd near Third St will encounter traffic control from 8am-4.30pm for tree trimming. SH53 will also be subject to traffic controls today, with tree trimming taking place near Boundary Rd from 8am-4.30pm, and for slip clearing near Wards Line from 8am-4pm. On Friday a new power connection near Boundary Rd, will see stop-go controls in place from 9am-4pm.
