Chris Bishop

HUTTNZ WEEKLY VIDEO REVIEW 17 MARCH 2020

NZ$5.00 Contribution

My, what a difference a week makes. The social distancing now required due to COVID – 19 alert, means the week proceeding which had a host of large scale events in the Hutt Valley, will no longer occur as residents distance themselves from social interaction to avoid the virus.

The Weetbix Tryathlon was held at the Hutt Receation Ground on 11th March. The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon helps kids stay active and healthy through a programme of participation. It’s about getting out there, giving it a TRY, achieving a personal best, improving confidence and self-esteem. Numbers were huge as footage of the bike area alone indicates level of participation. Unfortunately the swim leg was cancelled due to a power outage Hutt Valley wide on the morning, closing the pool.

COVID -19 caused panic buying across Supermarkets chains for toilet rolls and hand sanitisers, but calm prevailed later in the week.

Local MP Chris Bishop incurred wrath of residents as he put himself into self isolation following a weekend trip to Australia. One would question the prudence of this trip given the world wide travel and health alerts, as comments on his Facebook page illustrate.

Brewtown Upper Hutt held on Saturday 14th March the BBQ & Beer Festival 2020, which beside the best BBQ also held a heat of the NZ Chilli Eating Championships. Huge crowd in attendance.

Street artist Block Vandal has paid tribute to the Islamic community & Police by installing 2 further murals in memory of the Christchurch shooting one year ago.

Wainuiomata Pool had a dogs allowed day on Sunday 15th March opening it’s doors to the local K9s after closing for the season to the human swimmers. Set in a beautiful backdrop amongst rose gardens and surrounded by native bush the event was very popular with locals.

Melling Interchange Project and Debate

Melling Interchange Project and Debate

Well at last the funding for the Melling interchange has been approved as part of the Labour infrastructure spend up announced yesterday.

Roughly 108,000 people live in the Hutt Valley region, and with a steady increase in population, a more resilient transport system is vital for the region’s continued urban and economic growth, Melling interchange is an essential part of that.

The Melling Interchange is but one part of the RiverLink programme, which is a multi-organisation programme of three separate but interdependent projects relating to flood protection, urban development and transport improvements. Together this project will spend around $260 million. This is the biggest development project in the Hutt Valley, I believe. The flood protection that goes hand in hand with the Melling bridge intersection with this project is paramount, and we need protection from the river, as the Hutt Valley is one of the largest urban areas in a flood plain.

Of course everyone is claiming political mileage out of this spend, and given the size of the project it is no wonder, after all with nothing else on the horizon this is the number one issue, front and centre.

Chris Bishop National MP for Hutt South , while at the front in his eyes of this campaign to progress the Melling interchange, no doubt will have a somewhat hard pill to swallow, now that the green light has been given by Labour, and to be honest has little in the can, now this has occurred for his upcoming election campaign this year.

There is no debating the issue that this spend was under Labours watch, no matter how Mr Bishop views it. Pledges by previous governments carry no weight, as they simply are promises if elected.

Both the people protests and no doubt the work behind the scene by all concerned has ensured that the NZTA changed its view.

This is great for the Hutt Valley, but it is a long way to completion in 2026.

HuttNZ Weekly Video Review 28 January 2020

NZ$5.00 Contribution

Weekly video review of Upper & Lower Hutt activities and events via HuttNZ for January 28 2020.

This week:

Six60 Concert

Six60 played to a crowd of 20,000 at the start of their summer tour at the Hutt Rec Lower Hutt on Saturday January 25th. Great event, warm evening and a chill crowd.

Public transport to and from the venue needs to be sorted the only downside with some paying Uber fares of $70 to Maungareki (surge pricing).

Unfortunately not every local was impressed with having an event at Hutt Rec that went to 11pm

or the rubbish and rowdy concert goers following the event

https://twitter.com/Coleadve/status/1221677629348048896

HardPark 2020

HardPark 2020 was over Wellington Anniversary weekend at the Riverbank carpark. Largest park up of cars in New Zealand.

Imperial Tobacco to close

Tobacco plant plans to close Petone factory. Imperial Tobacco has announced plans to close its factory in Lower Hutt , which would axe 122 jobs. One of the largest employers in the valley, and has been here since the 1930s. Surprising that the local MP Chris Bishop (Hutt South) has had nil to say about this, given the loss of jobs. But given his past career, it is something that no doubt would make him uncomfortable to speak about, in case it refreshes voters memories come the election this year. He does find time to comment on other potential hot stuff (really!) but not everyone has forgotten his previous occupation.

Campbell Barry the Mayor showed a far greater understanding of the situation

Homicide Enquiry Taita

Police continue to conduct a scene examination and homicide enquiry following a 56 year old man’s death in Taita, Lower Hutt on Sunday morning January 26.

Emergency services were called to the scene near the intersection of Futter Grove and Hughes Crescent just after 5.30am. The man died a short time later and a cordon was set up.