Upper Hutt

Upper Hutt: Short Straw Cafe Whitemans Valley (Review)

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

Upper Hutt: Fire seriously damages Auto Repair Shop

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.

Upper Hutt: Christmas Parade 2009 Photos

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.

Silverstream: Liquor off-licence granted

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.

Upper Hutt: Whitemans Valley boy flown to hospital

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

Upper Hutt: Farmers Market (Video)

Well after last weeks effort I promised myself that this week I would get there earlier.

Attendance was good as another pleasant day had occurred, purchased a Cup Cake from the Cup Cake stall, and got a huge sugar overload. Bit of competition from the alternative market in the Mall, but to not put it to nicely had the tack that I generally avoid. It is a craft /tinkers market.

No doubt both have a place and will feed off one another, but it is early days yet, they need to become established to survive and given the rigorous conditions to become a Farmers Market, they will need support to outlast several wet Sundays, being outside. The word on the street is that an organic vegetable supplier is coming, which will hopefully boost numbers. I also have the feel that an organic market as part of a larger market akin to something like the Lower Hutts Riverbank Market would help, but it’s not my project and I do wish them all the best especially the suppliers. (see here for more details and links from last week)

Upper Hutt Farmers Market

Well I was late, told myself I would have to be early but didn’ t time my arrival till about 11.30.

Seems I missed all the activity which occurred after 9am, so ably I’m handing the review over to TheInquiringMind, who did arrive early and posted a comprehensive review on his blog.

I did have the opportunity to catch up with Chris who is responsible for the web presence of the market and Helen part of Upper Hutt Experience. They were extremely pleased with the inaugural result and received a lot of encouraging feedback from both suppliers and visitors, so I am sure that this will develop into a great asset for the city.

Enjoy the photos courtesy of Chris and if you are up that way early Sunday enjoy!

Check them out at Upper Hutt Farmers Market Website and Twitter account

Hutt Valley: Fish and Chip Fridays where is the Best?

New Zealands best top chip shop has been annonced it was won by Oceanz in Silverdale, located 35km north of Auckland, in this year’s best chip shop competition. Chip shops were judged on the freshness and colour of their chips, shop cleanliness and customer service. Regional finalists were decided through public text voting, mystery judging and chip fat analysis across New Zealand before the six regional winners and the overall winner were then chosen by a panel of judges. Not every F & C shop entered but it gives a pretty clear indication of quality.

But how did the Hutt Valley fair, and where is your local?

The regional finalist for Wellington was from the Hutt Valley and was So Fine Seafood at 2 Tennyson Avenue, Avalon, Lower Hutt.

I have freqented here and must say while not highly visible to the public being off High Street it certainly draws the crowds come Friday. Disappointingly they dont have EFTPOS which I always find annoying, and has caused me to travel further afield on occasion.

As for the rest of the Valley, finalists were:

Moby Dick’s Fish & Chip 51 Witako Street, Lower Hutt

Samo’s Seafood 52 Holdsworth Ave, Upper Hutt

Waterloo Fisheries 1 Hardy Street, Lower Hutt

Blue Island Seafood 131 Randwick Road, Lower Hutt

All competitions aren’t created equal and remember it was for the best chip not the fish, but great result for the Valley.

Whats your favourite?

My winner would be Ocean Blue Seafoods, the most cleanest, polite, prompt service I have had in the Valley. They are at 812 High Street corner of High Street and Park Road.

Hutt Valley: Stormy Spring weather hits the Valley

Thursday night brought heavy downpours across the entire Hutt Valley with surface flooding in several areas including the old Hutt Road reported from early morning. The Open Polythechnic was hit by two slips during the night which sent dirt and trees into the building on its eastern side. Lower Hutt experienced the highest recorded rainfall in the region with 69mm from 8pm last night to 8am this morning. Further heavy rainfall was experienced in late morning as well.

Conditions are not expected to improve tonight with further heavy rainfall forecast in the Tararuas and again across the Valley, late Saturday also has more of the same predicted.

River levels at Silverstream Bridge Upper Hutt at midday

Several events have been moved in anticipation of the weather including the Upper Hutt Highland Gathering a national Scottish festival has moved already to the wet weather alternative at Heretaunga College.

At this stage there is no news on alternative arrangements for the Belmont Spring Festival (returning after a 10 year hiatus) but the wet weather alternative day is 31st October.

Waiwhetu stream hit 2 year flood levels early Friday morning, but had abated by noon.

Eastbourne flooding earlier in the morning.

Upper Hutt: Hazelwoods goes into Liquidation

It survived two world wars, the Depression and several economic downturns, but the recession has proved too much for a 115-year-old Upper Hutt shopping institution.

Furniture store Hazelwoods went into liquidation this week with the loss of 10 jobs. It first opened its doors in October, 1894 selling groceries and general goods but began selling furniture in 1984 in Upper Hutt’s Queen St.

Company owner Michael Gibbs said the furniture industry had been hard hit in the past few years and the business could not survive a downturn in sales because of the recession. The company had employed many people over the years and there were lots of fond memories, he said. A liquidation sale in which all furniture will be sold to maximise the return to creditors and shareholders is expected next week in both the company’s Upper Hutt and Tawa stores. The Tawa store is also closing.

via The Dominion Post

Well as a young fella I was trotted around Hazelwoods as my Mum looked in the haberdashery department at the latest patterns, before heading up to Evans to do the same.

I remember clearly how I hated it, all these woman with these big pattern books flicking through them, probably only akin to the sense of earnest appropriate to the Six O’Clock swill for the men of the same decade. It was torture for me, any chance to escape to the toy department hindered by my young age and a firm grip from mum. That era was probably Hazelwoods halycon period, a time from a bygone era of single car families, if you were lucky, and black and white Tvs, and not a lot of competition.

For a lot of Upper Hutt folk, this shop is their Maceys of New York, and has been a regular port of call.

A somewhat fading giant over the last couple of years, it certainly will be the end of an era, and I hate to say it, Upper Hutt has always had Hazelwoods, no longer, bit sad really, it will leave a large gap in Main Street to fill.

Recession, Credit crunch and Harvey Norman, you Aussie import, with your interest free loans have a lot to answer for……..