HuttNZ

Credit, where credit is due, this parody by former Upper Hutt college students Vinny Rittossa and Emma Judd of Jay-Z song “Empire State of Mind featuring Alicia Keys’ is important for anyone to see if Upper Hutt was your stomping ground in your youth, past or present. In fact the contemporary take on Upper Hutt will have some realising it’s all too true.

The Chorus below so you can sing along

Upper Hutt

Suburban town where dreams don’t come true

There’s nothin you can do

now you’re in Upper Hutt

Homeless people will try to mug you

McDonalds will employ you

Lets hear it for Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt.

I’m sure Mayor Guppy, will be hoping like hell that this parody doesn’t go far,that is nationwide,  but its a great piss take by the two, and excellent production from the team involved, if there was a New Zealand Saturday Live, it would be top material. Chrrrr

Final word goes to OoshMultimedia

The video was produced entirely over a 2 week period, including writing, shooting, audio production, and editing. By basing the video around common associations with Upper Hutt in a light hearted and self deprecating manner, we have been able to successfully appeal to a youth audience and get them involved and interested in The Hutt City. This controversial approach is more meaningful to many youth, as they can relate to what is being said, when opposed to an ‘Upper Hutt is so wonderful’ form that they would take little notice of.
It’s great that so many people have taken an interest in the product, and are willing to voice their opinions.

NZTA opened up the $16.5 million developments at the top of the Rimutakas to two way traffic last week. With a weekend in the Wairarapa it was a chance to capture developments in this ongoing project.

This work has seen the removal of the notorious hairpin Muldoon corner (so named because of how tight it is), don’t think I followed politicians when I use to regularly take the motorbike over the hill for a blat. The Tin Hut wasn’t as posh either (normal watering hole)

But certainly from a travellers perspective whilst the works only shave seconds of the trip, it will make the journey a lot safer, with clear visibility to oncoming traffic, and most certainly for the large rigs.

The job is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

This weekend sees the AmeriCarna car carnival arrive. AmeriCARna will bring in excess of 400 American cars, along with drivers, passengers, supporters, and enthusiasts for four days. A celebration of the American car by enthusiasts from around New Zealand. The event will see cars in various places this weekend, road closures are here and events schedule here

The video below shows the numbers and types that are visiting the valley this weekend after yesterdays registration. If you get a chance take an opportunity to have a look at these cars at one of the scheduled events.

Its been a while since I updated on Hutt Radios progress. This project has developed over the last 4 months from their requests for announcers to their first public meeting and earlier developments .

But I am happy to release the latest news following their early hard work and funding issues:

Hutt Radio, the new community station now on 106.1 FM,
hopefully has most of  the inevitable teething problems solved.
The Trustees are pleased to finally have BBC World on-air,
24 hours a day. Technically, this is the “test broadcast” phase.
It won’t be too long before some live local content is inserted
on a regular basis, in partnership with the BBC World Service.

Current coverage is the whole of the Hutt Valley from the
southern end of Upper Hutt, right down the valley to Petone.
Until the Trust can afford to site the transmitter on a hilltop,
some areas in the Western Hills will be unable to pick it up.

The transmission is from a NaeNae rooftop. FM radio is a
“line of sight” signal, so houses tucked behind a bit of hillside
won’t receive it. Nor will steel-reinforced concrete buildings.
Cars with Japanese radios will need to insert an expander.
Hutt Radio should eventually cover the entire Hutt Region.

via Hutt Radio

Congratulations all around to those involved as the continuing hard work is paying dividends. I look forward with interest to their continuing development in 2010.

Network radio is the current business model but I for one would like to see Hutt Radio succeed if only to provide a conduit for local voices, that seems to have been lost in the drive for commercial success.

As a sidebar the development of this community asset piqued my interest in the history around earlier radio broadcasting in the Hutt Valley (does anyone remember KIX FM?) but also similar activities already underway.

Several other broadcasters exist in this area that I have uncovered (albeit LPFM and/or internet based) which while limited in their range and coverage show the desire of others to express themselves via broadcasting. Whilst not all about community some show interest, and with the desire to broadcast on a network basis by the bigger radio stations the role of a community station servicing only the Hutt community is novel in todays world.

Visiting the NZ LPFM website provides insight into a list of 29 stations within Wellington of which 7 are in the Hutt region. Registration is voluntary and there could be more, but does show the diversity of people wishing to pursue their avenue of broadcasting, some with local content.

My chance to plug two that I have listened to (and know they are around) and like

Grant of the The Cheese is also on Twitter as http://twitter.com/zollymonsta

These guys are also on YouTube

No doubt they have other social media addresses and I apologise if they are not your best avenues or are out of date.

Does anyone else have any favourites that are out there?

I recently visited a little known cafe – local favourite of mine – The Short Straw Cafe.

It is a delight to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city cafes and find somewhere that has some outside area – with grass and a country view.

The Short Straw has all of this in bucket loads and more.  You have to travel over to Whitemans Valley and to 50 Johnsons Rd (well sign posted from top of Blue Mountains Rd Silverstream, map here) but worth the drive.

This cafe was built of straw bales and then plastered (hence the name) – Eco Friendly and so are the staff.  Always willing to go the extra mile to ensure you get what you want.

The food selection is great and very generous.  The berry cake is to “die for” and they serve some of the best coffee around the area.  They have a menu for Adults and Kids -  licensed as well.

You really do feel that you get country hospitality when you dine here.

The kids (and parents) love this place as it has lots of areas for the kids to play outside (sandpit – slides – swings and lots of grass).  A quick look over the fence and you can chat with the local animals.

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Inside also has an area for kids with lots of toys.  I know I have mentioned kids a lot in this article and with good reason – This cafe will do kids birthday parties with small tables and an area set aside just for the littlies.

You just need to ring them to discuss what you want and they will oblige – much better than a McD party and then they can play outside and wear off all that sugar.

A wonderful place to go now that the weather is improving…..Even the adults can come here and enjoy themselves – without the kids.

The Short Straw Cafe

50 Johnsons Road

Whitemans Valley Upper Hutt

04 5287884

A review courtesy of one of our readers Thanks Nola

see here previous review here

Fire appliances and emergency services attended a serious fire at Kiwi Race Cars an automotive Repair Workshop in Goodshed Road Maidstone Upper Hutt around lunchtime. Damage to the race car workshop was extensive. The workshop was divided into two areas, the section in which the fire started was seriously damaged along with two vintage cars. The other area containing several cars suffered light damage.

For more details checkout details and photos, click here courtesy of Hutt Valley Fire Police Unit who attended.

Well I knew someone would take great photos of this community event but what a standard, and thanks must go to Kathryn Wilson.

Kathryns outstanding work of the Christmas Parade can be viewed here from her blog or go straight here for her Flickr Slideshow of the event.

Outstanding and quality work of the people who made up this years parade.

Thanks Kathryn for the right to link to your work.

Well as I mentioned in an earlier post, unfortunately under current legislation in NZ, the LLA can only consider applications based upon the context of the Liquor Act., the result an off-licence granted.

Approval has been given for an off-licence alcohol business to open in Silverstream, despite the Liquor Licensing Authority recognising “clear evidence that public antipathy to the proposal was endemic”.

via Stuff

Mrs Patel is doing no wrong under this act, and as such has made a consideration for her licence application by closing her shop doors in the period raised by objectors, something she did not have to do, but no doubt to appease those greatly concerned.

The Judge as I mentioned was faced with the context of the law, and while aware of objections I believe had no other position available than to grant the application with provisos of the applicant, that is closing in the period she mentioned. He has a number of discretionary conditions he can put on the application as well. The Police and other agencies are also tied by the fact that the applicant is doing no wrong in applying and not breaking any rules, just applying for a commercial licence to sell liquor as is allowed in NZ.

“It is our view that we have no option other than to grant the application. The company fulfils all the criteria …
“However, we do have the right to fix the days and hours of trade … we believe that we have a duty to take into account the likely impact of this new business on the neighbourhood. In doing so we must consider the effect on young people who are attending the nearby schools,” Judge Unwin’s decision says.

via Stuff

The fault is fact lies with current legislation that does not take into consideration public concerns around liquor distribution, and the current backlash against liquor outlets that has increased in recent times. New legislation is before Parliament in May next year I think, to change the context of the act, but that could take several months knowing legalisation.

Judge Unwin acknowledged the community response and the objectors presenting “as a cohesive body who were very concerned about what they saw as a detrimental impact that the proposal would have on the current village culture of Silverstream”.

The “close knit and engaged community did not want the proposal to proceed”.

“The impact of the evidence was such that the application might well have been refused, had there been the power to do so,” Judge Unwin’s decision says.

“However, the application has to be determined on the criteria set out in the Sale of Liquor Act 1989, and not on the wish of the people. The fact that a new bottle store is unwelcome in a community is not a ground for refusing to grant a licence.”

via Stuff

Take heed that the Police are actively managing bad outlets to combat problems in this area,  very strongly in the Hutt Valley. If you are caught selling to underaged or other infringements under the act it is highly unlikely your licence will not be renewed. Unfortunately current crap legislation opened the gate to the growth of suburban liquor outlets, without input from the community. We were suppose to be a mature nation around liquor consumption. The concession over the opening hours does go some way to meeting Silverstream community concerns, but I doubt strongly with legislation akin to Pokies licences, which is advocated in liquor discussion document that this outlet would have gone ahead. Timing is everything.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to Whiteman’s Valley Upper Hutt last night at 7:30pm 19 Nov 09.

A 9yr old boy had fallen while playing on the trampoline at home and had suffered head and neck injuries.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded to the location with a Wellington Free Paramedic onboard. A Wellington Free Ambulance was already at the location and had immobilised the patient ready for the flight.

The boy was flown back to the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department where he is being treated for his injuries and is in a stable condition

Via www.lifeflight.org.nz