Lower Hutt

Petone Winter Carnival 2010

Well I have been decidedly slack of late posting on HuttNZ, as a new business venture takes off and my focus is on that.
But I would be rather remiss in not posting about last weeks annual Winter Carnival at Petone. Whilst I did not attend the days events, the buzz was that it was just as much fun as previous years for family entertainment, followed by the specatular fireworks show off Petone wharf.

Words don’t do justice to this carnival so courtesy of the web, here is a visual representation of what occurred, with the focus this time on nightime activities.

Follow the links from below, and thanks immensly to those that took these pictures

 Omega Photography (Facebook) of the days activities

KiwiFrenzy’s Photostream (Flickr Slideshow) of Fireworks at night

And from HuttScene  the video of the fireworks display

Lower Hutt: Second Scrub fire in two weeks

A small fire started in the eastern hills around 5pm today in the area between Naenae and Fairfield the closest houses being around Summit Road. It started near a water reservoir about 1/2 km up the fire break.
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The small fire was quickly contained by emergency services and the fire was out by 6.30pm.

This follows the more substantial fire two weeks ago in Wingate and the large one in Titahi Bay last week.

Thanks to Steve for footage below

Petone Fair 2010

Today is the 19th annual Hutt News Rotary Fair held at Jackson Street Petone.

Over 300 stalls offering everything from delicious food to an array of merchandise was on display.

Pictures below  (slideshow here) and video

Huge crowd, great weather, bit blustery but fun for the family the photos and video are just a little insight into some of what happened.

Click through to the photos.

Petone Fair 2010

Lower Hutt: Old Waterloo Fire Station what to do?

There has been a lot of talk lately around the disused Fire Station in Waterloo Road and the vandalism occurring.

The back story is that the Fire Station once decommissioned has not ended up in Fire Service hands but is now part of the Office of  Treaty Settlement.

This and more addressed by Dave and Camille Breakfast show yesterday on

90FM Classic Hits including the problem at the old Petone Tech as well.

Both hosts on Twitter Dave and Camille so follow them.

Audio below:

ch90fm David Ogden on Waterloo Road Fire Station

I will post some photos of the dragons round the back via Twitter soon. (lol)

Lower Hutt: Fire evacuation at Queensgate

A small fire occurred at Westfields Queensgate  today.

The fire began near the foodcourt just before four this afternoon and the entire mall was evacuated, as a safety measure.

Westfield’s spokeswoman Bev McGee says the fire was put out as the mall was being evacuated as standard practice and management is now investigating the cause of the fire.

Ms McGee says there were no injuries and no damage to the surrounding area.

via Newstalk ZB

Lower Hutt: New Health Centre opening next year

I heard on the radio the other day about the opening of a new Health Centre for Lower Hutt.

A general practice is to open in Lower Hutt early next year to accommodate a growing number of residents who are unable to see a local family doctor.

The Hutt Valley District Health Board says the situation has occurred as doctors have closed their books to new patients.

via Radio NZ

This situation in the Hutt Valley has been dire for a number of years. 

The problem which hit the headlines last year is that we have one of the worst ratios of GPs per head of population of any urban area in New Zealand. Overwhelmed practices were unable to enrol new patients. It was estimated last year that  around 3,000 people couldn’t enrol with a GP in the Hutt Valley and people were using Hospital Emergency Departments as their primary access to health services.

Currently there are around 120 odd GPs practicing in the Valley. Local MP Chris Hipkins also shows concern on this matter last year before election.

It is great to see a solution being addressed along with the timing which is before winter, when demands on GPs are at the highest.

Lower Hutt: Three car crash at Avalon turnoff.

A serious car accident occurred last night  involving three cars at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Fairway Drive, Avalon. Six people were taken to hospital, one serious.

Emergency services attended the crash which occurred about 7pm.  As a result of the accident the Kennedy Good Bridge remained closed till about 10pm, as the Police conducted an accident investigation.

Police are also seeking witnesses to the accident. Please call Detective Sergeant Steve Harwood at the Lower Hutt police station on 560-2674, if you can help.

Eastbourne: Car in water by Days Bay.

Lower Hutt police said they received a call at 1.00pm after a passerby spotted a car with a man sitting on its roof in the harbour just north of Eastbourne.

A white Nissan Cefiro stationwagon had fallen more than two metres on to rocks near Days Bay Eastbourne.

The crash was caused by driver inattention and speed was not a factor.

The driver, in his 40s, was heading north along Marine Drive when he was distracted and his car left the road at a point before Days Bay. The driver got out of the upturned car himself with only a small cut or bruise on his face, and it is likely he will face charges.