775 days ago

Biggest Employers in UH

Michael from Trentham

Together the Corrections Department and the Department of Defence in Upper Hutt directly engage over 4500 people. Big number for a city of less than 50,000.

Corrections has the ever-growing Rimutaka Prison tucked away in Heretaunga whilst just nearby is the Defence's Trentham Military Camp and a short walk to the main Defence's occupied multi-storied building where pre-Covid, the huge car park use to be full every working day.

Many of the "engaged" are prisoners in NZ's biggest prison and pleased to say not all are from Upper Hutt. But with these large numbers, whether prisoners or uniformed military men and women or staff associated with either, comes the servicing of their needs - associated services, goods and food - and this is where Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt companies and organisations reap the rewards in catering for Corrections and Defence.

With the prison, families of prisoners have moved to Upper Hutt to be close by for visiting and this has help create housing demands in the area.

These two entities and the employees they draw above all else in Upper Hutt are keeping retailing and hospitality outlets in Upper Hutt afloat. Not so many empty shops in Main Street and other CBD streets anymore. And there is also the growth of commercial buildings and operations east of Alexander Road and no doubt some are exceedingly handy for Upper Hutt's leading establishments.

More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

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1 day ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.6% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.6% Complete
  • 22.1% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    22.1% Complete
  • 67.3% Nah - not for me
    67.3% Complete
444 votes
6 days ago

Driven On The Akatarawa Rd Lately?

Marie from Waikanae

If so, its good to know you are still alive and reading this.

We have a function to go to over Christmas up that way and having heard a few hairy stories about the road, I went up there on Thursday to check it out. The road's ok, narrow and winding, but not much worse than a Wellington hill suburb. What was pretty scary was the behavior of other drivers. Three vehicles heading the other way at speed would have crashed into me if I hadn't been pulled off the road. I had pulled in to check the address when a truck came flying past, taking up all of the narrow road at speed. There is no way the driver would have been able to stop had they come around the corner immediately in front of me. The other two drivers came hurtling past as I had turned in to turn around and come back down the hill. They were also driving at speed and taking up most of the road. Coming back down I passed another car coming up and estimate that the safe speed to pass another car was about 30-35 kms.p.h. So, now we're thinking, do we go to the function or not.? Feels a bit like we're taking our life in our hands going up there. Drivers appear to be overconfident, and they are courting serious injury.