2005 The decade that was

BY CHERIE HOWIE

It was the end of an era in more ways than one for the people of Marlborough as the first decade of the new millennium broke the halfway mark.

Change ranged from the simple, the end of rural milk deliveries in April, to the serious, the death of Pope John Paul II the same month.

It was all change as well for the Marlborough Red Devils rugby team, which folded to make way for a combined Marlborough and Nelson team, and Kaikoura MP Lynda Scott, who walked out of Parliament for the last time during the year.

Some things remained the same.

Classic fighter aircraft again took to the skies above Omaka for a damp but memorable airshow in March.

The region's wine industry also continued to soar with ever-increasing plantings and entrepreneur Peter Yealands' tussle for Oyster Bay Marlborough Vineyards with Delegat's Wine Estate lifting interest in wine stocks.

That interest was further boosted by overseas moves by drinks group Pernod Ricard to buy Montana's owner, Allied Domecq.

However, the same growth also led to concerns of a labour shortage leaving some vines unpruned, a fear that was not realised.

In the pressure of an increasing industry, fears were also raised that some workers were being ripped off by dodgy contractors.

Also continuing to boom was the property market, with ratings revaluations released in September showing residential land values had almost tripled in three years.

Perhaps eyeing up this opportunity was the council as it considered plans for a massive 400-section subdivision along Taylor Pass Rd.

However, not so popular was the council's policy to remove ornaments from graves at Fairhall and Tuamarina cemeteries.

Meanwhile, some businesses called for more retail development, saying they wanted to expand, but had nowhere to go.

Plans for two new business-retail park were lodged with the council, but it was the combined clubs and conference centre planned next to the Taylor River that was really moving ahead.

The council gave the complex a huge seal of approval when it agreed to put $3.9 million towards the project.

It was not all strawberries and icecream for the business sector though.

A high dollar eroded export margins, with the flow on effect of some aquaculture factory closures late in the year.

Also under pressure were Toll New Zealand, who were met with anger over the 20-knot speed of their new ferry Kaitaki in August.

Dozens of Marlborough residents took part in a protest flotilla against the ferry's speed, while an Environment Court hearing between the shipping company and the council over the speed continued.

Farmers were also feeling under the gun over land access legislation. And held a protest march in June, including a mock funeral.

Tragically, a real farewell was needed the same month for an Invercargill man killed when he was pinned under a tractor on a Marlborough farm.

The man's death was one of too many tragic events in the region during 2005, starting with a May collision between a Bluebridge ferry and the launch Timeless which resulted in the death of a Picton man. Two months later Blenheim was left reeling following the early morning death of Cedric Joyce outside the Copper Bock. Manslaughter charges were later laid against two Blenheim bouncers, but the men were found not guilty.

It was a double tragedy the following month when two truck drivers died when the concrete trucks they were in fell from a barge into Picton harbour.

Three divers also met their deaths in Marlborough waters during the year.

Police were also kept busy, not least with the search for a Rapaura man in August following an armed raid of a Rapaura Rd house which saw the use of stun grenades to gain access before the bomb squad was called to deal with an explosive device.

Searches that day and later in the month failed to find the man, but he was later captured by police on the other side of the Whangamoas.

The year was a happy one for some, none less so than the hordes of British and Irish Lions supporters who descended on the country, and the province, as their team made their way around the country.

Another person smiling was National Party Kaikoura electorate candidate Colin King, who was elected to the seat in September despite a concerted challenge by Labour's Brendon Burns.

- The Marlborough Express