Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt: Bird Breeder sentenced in Court

A man who tried to smuggle a dozen fertile chicken eggs into New Zealand has been fined $5000 and sentenced to community work.

In Lower Hutt District Court yesterday, John Jakeman was convicted for violating the Biosecurity Act after sourcing eggs from an overseas chicken breeder and suggested the supplier falsify the packaging description.

The self-confessed poultry fancier had gone to lengths to try and bypass New Zealand’s border biosecurity screening programmes, the Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said today.

MAF investigations manager Greg Reid said Jakeman was aware what he was doing was illegal and it was disappointing that someone was willing to risk bringing potential disease into the country.

”It is frustrating responding to incidents where people selfishly put the wellbeing of our country at risk,” Mr Reid said.

Along with the fine, Jakeman was ordered to complete 200 hours of community work.

Lower Hutt: Protesters group picket Loritz Circus

SAFE animal protection group protested today at Avalon Park outside of Loritz Circus in their campaign to free Jumbo the Elephant . This campaign to free Jumbo has been ongoing around New Zealand, and has had high media exposure for the action group as they have had some success in making the public more aware of Jumbos plight.

The story so far is that for over 32 years Jumbo has been little more than a circus slave, she is the last wild animal in a New Zealand circus. When not performing Jumbo remains either housed in a trailer with barely enough space to move, or regularly tethered by a heavy chain.

By attending the circus SAFE says you are continuing to condone this treatment of Jumbo, their protest today was to bring the plight of Jumbo to possible circus attendees.

The protest was successful on several levels in detering attendees and bringing wider exposure to SAFEs action in freeing Jumbo.

Please take the time to visit SAFEs website to make yourself aware of Jumbos situation.

Lower Hutt CBD Development plan

A $20 million new city council building is in the offering for Lower Hutt to give the city’s tired central business district a boost.

Retailers, business leaders and the mayor agree the central city lacks a heart and there is tentative support for the Hutt City Council’s ideas.

Along with the “multi-purpose civic building” proposed for High St near the Hutt River, councillors are also supporting a new bridge from State Highway 2 into the city, a riverside promenade and a green area around the NewDowse art gallery.

The ideas, backed by a council committee last night, are part of longterm plans to revitalise the central city by 2030.

A report prepared for the council says the central business district is unfriendly to pedestrians, full of big box developments and lacking in entertainment options.

Lower Hutt Mayor David Ogden has called for help from a local retailing figure, in the manner of Newmarket Business Association’s Cameron Brewer, because of the big number of empty shops in the city.

“I’ve been getting more and more frustrated that there doesn’t seem to be an effective way of addressing the lack of vitality and vibrancy here,” Mr Ogden said.

The new council building was a good idea because the council’s existing premises would need $15 million to $20m of earthquake strengthening in 2018, he said.

“I’m not prepared to put it off, so we would have to move out in any event … It behoves us to have a place where people will gather and have a social life together.”

The proposed building roughly costed at $21.5m would include 6000 square metres of space for the council, as well as space for parking and shops.

The council report suggests that moving into the struggling southern end of High St could spark development in the area, while a nearby public square would link the city and the Hutt River.

But moving from the council’s present Laings Rd site would also mean finding a new owner, such as a hotel.

Professionals Hutt City owner John Ross said the central business district “lacks soul” at present.

It would be easy to find a developer who could take on the existing council buildings, he said.

One retailer, Mandeep Pala, said there had been plenty of consultation about the proposals, though he was ambivalent about the council’s planned new home.

“If they could spend money on other things, that would be better. But it [council repairs] hasn’t been done in 50 years, so I think it’s probably justified.”

An artist's drawing of the proposed changes looking from Laings Rd toward the Hutt River.

Artists impression of development in Laings Road Lower Hutt looking towards Hutt River.

Lower Hutt: Whats new in the Entertainment scene

I really get encouraged by people willing to give things a try in the hospitality scene, and at present there is a lot going on in Lower Hutt. While most businesses are looking to retrench or have gone into survival mode, I have to tip my hat to these four in trying something new in the Lower Hutt entertainment scene.

Loaded Hog High Street Lower Hutt

Loaded Hog

Recently taken over by James Thwaites who comes from a background in the hospitality business in Wellington. Major plans are on the cards with a current project to develop a 50 seat dining area upstairs. Also longer term is a 500 capacity band and nightclub venue next door, together with the intention to lauch a One Red Dog upmarket pizza restaurant above the night club. This restaurant will have an outside balcony looking out over High Street. That al fresco concept might also be a feature carried over into the upstairs part of the Loaded Hog. Paul Rowan, of ex Mange Tout is group executive chef. Paul has already changed the existing restaurants menu and the aim is to bring the Stonegrill concept to the new upstairs restaurant upon completion.

Las Margaritas Daly Street Lower Hutt

Las Margaritas

Open about a week in the former Workshop Cafe in Daly Street.

The result of a dream of 14 years by owner Andres Pimentel, is a restaurant that is a combination of Mexican casual and upmarket cusine. Chef Roberto Amaro from Puebla Mexico will be in the kitchen while Andres sister Marina is the maitre’d.

They hope to share their culture through the food and ambience they have created.

Several other outlets are in the planning and while not yet confirmed here are the other two.

Possible Upmarket Burger Restaurant Cadillac

Cadillac

Further down southern High Street is a conversion of a former curry joint into Cadillac an upmarket burger outlet. Work is still being completed on fitout.

Possible Mediterranean Food Warehouse

Mediterranean Food Warehouse

(check out the review on The Med Warehouse here)

Opposite McDonalds in High Street, this is a further outlet for the Mediterranean Food Warehouse group (Newtown Wellington).

Construction has taken longer than predicted through resource consent delays. Offering hard to source food supplies from the Mediterranean along with a cafe with an upmarket pizza outlet.

It is encouraging that these developments are progresing in the Hutt and offer a greater hospitality experience.

I wish them all the best, and if you know of any other new dining outlets opening soon please let us know at HuttNZ@gmail.com or dm www.Twitter.com/HuttNZ

Lower Hutt: Hairdresser wins employment payout

The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has awarded $17,600 to a hair stylist who was sacked after arguably turning up to work five minutes late – and slated her boss for not showing up at personal grievance hearings.

Nadine Clarke started work for Lower Hutt firm B Hair and Beauty (<-see here,or here ->) View Larger Map in July 2008

There was no written employment agreement, but it was agreed verbally with the firm director Bianca Blake that she would work on the days the salon was open, from Tuesday to Saturday each week.

Ms Clarke told the ERA it was arranged that she could turn up before her first client arrived, but she said she turned up early anyway.

She took three days off from August 21 for a family bereavement.

She was not paid her wages for the previous week when they fell due on August 20, but when she rang the firm, she was told they had been paid. Her bank confirmed they hadn’t.

The next Tuesday she arrived at work at 9.05am and was told by Ms Blake that she was late. Ms Clarke had no client at the time.

She asked for her wages but was informed by Ms Blake that she needed to attend a meeting at noon ”to be dealt with,” the ERA said in its report.

She was asked to leave the premises and told that police would be called.

Ms Clarke felt she had been dismissed. She was not paid wages for the last two weeks she worked.

Ms Blake sent her two letters requesting she attend an investigation over her performance and behaviour.

Ms Clarke sought help from a lawyer and a personal grievance was raised on her behalf with a claim made for wages not paid.

There was no reply to that letter and Ms Blake failed to attend two mediation meetings that had been arranged.

Ms Blake did not respond to the ERA’s request for documents despite proof of service, and did not show at its investigation meetings.

”The respondent’s reprehensible behaviour in failing completely with my investigation means I have received nothing from the respondent to hear its side of the story and any defence to the claims,” said ERA member Paul Stapp.

He found Ms Clarke was dismissed unjustifiably. He ordered the hair firm to pay her $8820 for three months’ lost wages, $1700 in wage arrears, $4000 compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings, $3000 to assist in her costs and $70 for a filing fee.

Lower Hutt CBD $50,000 for CCTV

The Hutt City Council has budgeted $50,000 to maintain and enhance the existing 12 cameras trained on the CBD, plus others in Naenae and Stokes Valley.

A further $50,000 is budgeted for 2010/2011 for camera installation in Wainuiomata.

No doubt these cameras will further enhance crime preventation in the District, but Im at a loss as to where the other $50,000 reported in the LTCCP is going.

Not good if your a pedestrian on a Thursday in May

A Land Transport Road Safety report for Hutt City (2008) makes for interesting reading, and whilst none of this should be taken lightly, read into it whatever you take away, but be careful especially in the winter months were visibility is poor for motorists and pedestrians alike:-

Nine percent (9%) of the casualties on Hutt roads in 2007 were vehicles versus pedestrians. From 2000-2007, thirteen percent (13%) of all injury accidents in the city and eighteen percent (18%) were fatalities involving pedestrians.

The most common reason for pedestrian injuries were:-

Poor observation (41%) failure to give way / stop (Note some of these accidents were pedestrians crossing a road heedless of traffic
Yung people under 20 represented 45% of the pedestrian versus vehicle accidents (2000-07); people over 70 represented 12%.
19% of these injury accidents occured at night.
The worst month May.
The worst day on average Thursdays

Well I’m glad May is over, but tomorrow is Thursday. Be Safe

Lower Hutt woman recovering after stabbing

Tuesday 2 June

A woman is recovering from multiple stab wounds, including a serious one to her neck, following an altercation in Lower Hutt overnight.

Police found the woman with numerous wounds after being called to an address in the city.

Detective sergeant Brent Murray says a man found in Wellington shortly after has been charged with wounding with intent to injure.

He says the pair had been in a relationship for around six weeks prior to the attack.

Hutt Park Redevelopment – Valley Indoor Sports to move next year.

Last week Hutt City Councillors approved issuing a lease of up to 33 years for land on the Eastern fringe of the Park so that Valley Indoor Sports can build a 3000sq mtr stadium incorporating 6 courts.

Valley Indoor Sports has run the indoor stadium off State Hughway 2 in Petone for the last 17 years. Owner Graham Kelly says around 3000 people a week play netball, soceer or cricket at the current stadium. His son Leigh Kelly, now runs day to day operation. NZ Transport Agency owns the lease over the old building and while there is no pressure to leave the current site early, the aim is to open the new stadium at Hutt Park in July next year. The Kellys will still have to get resource consent for the new stadium. Parking is a major consideration but upon formalisation of site layout in development that may be abated.

Lower Hutt Griffins Gingernuts better

This from TVNZ Fair Go the other night, it appears that Gingernut Biscuits taste better from the Lower Hutt factory than from their Auckland factory. They will replace them if you think the taste is different.

Mount Maunganui man Brian Cotter got in touch to say he wasn’t happy with the last batch of Griffin’s Gingernuts he bought – they were card-boardy, he said. When he rang Griffin’s customer services they said they’d had a bunch of complaints, and the problem started when Griffin’s shifted all the biscuit-making from their Lower Hutt factory to their Auckland factory.

There was a problem with the new machinery involving about 31,000 packets of Gingernuts, but now the teething problems have been sorted. Griffin’s said it was only about the texture and appearance of the gingernuts; the recipe hasn’t changed. Brian says no, they taste different.

Fair Go did its own test and we thought that both the “old biscuits” that Brian liked and the “problem” biscuits were pretty similar in taste – but the problem biscuits were harder and crunchier! No-one thought they were “card-boardy”. So Brian – taste really is an individual thing.

If you are unhappy with your packet of Gingernuts ring Griffin’s on 0800 GRIFFINS – that’s 0800 47433467.

And finally, Gordon found an English biscuit expert Stuart Payne who’s mad about the things – comparing them with a fine single malt whisky in his book Nice Cup Of Tea And A Sit Down. Check out his website for more.

www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com