Nine To Noon Around the motu: Ian Allen in Marlborough
Mar 25, 2026
Ian Allen, Stuff’s Marlborough editor who covers local wine, housing and community life. He discusses dire warnings for wine growers and pressures from rising land valuations. He shares a young buyer’s path out of renting and a dramatic beagle rescue in the bush. He also previews the new Fruit Loop music festival.
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Marlborough Wine Industry Facing Multi Year Downturn
- Marlborough's wine industry faces a real downturn due to oversupply and falling global demand.
- Accountant Anton James warned councillors vine mothballing, falling export volumes and values, and multi-year tax loss recovery for growers.
Reconsider Vineyard Rates To Prevent Grower Insolvency
- Councils should reassess vineyard rating valuations to reflect falling land values or risk pushing growers into insolvency.
- Anton James urged pressure on council rate decisions after vineyard values nearly doubled then fell, creating 40% higher rates for some owners.
23 Year Old Bought Home By Cutting Spending And Booking A Broker
- Elliot Paps, 23, left his seventh rental to buy a three bedroom house after aggressive saving and financial moves.
- He increased KiwiSaver to 8%, cut discretionary spending, booked a mortgage broker, and saved a $26,000 deposit for a $495,000 Blenheim home.