What To Do With Upper Hutt's CBD
The CBD mainly in Main Street is a mess and a disgrace to a town that is called a city.
But not all is lost.
For years I have been saying make the CBD a mix of retail and apartmental. In other words compact the shopping and bring people right into the precinct by accommodating them. Make it living instead of lifeless.
It seems this might yet happen.
The owners of the mall had plans to increase the size of the mall considerably. Thank goodness they have not as now the current mall is virtually filled at long last and any increase in size will remove what little is left of the outside and the CBD would become disfunctional.
I have pitched for a Jackson Street (Petone)- like operation for Main Street with the council chipping in to help (rates holidays) and encourage in improvements and converting buildings to accommodate apartments and soliciting free paint for building exterior upgrade and "group" benefits for renovations.
Tracy Bull is quoted in The Leader as saying she loves the CBD the way it is. Whew. I wouldn't be supporting her opinion.
Councillor, Paul Lambert didn't see the CBD being required much above "ordinary" when I last spoke to him about it but I think that included in the mix should be boutique type of shops that along with the other major retail players will help to attract the public from the southern Wairarapa to come and shop in Upper Hutt instead of travelling further south to Lower Hutt or further north to Masterton.
Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️💥❔
What has a head but no brain?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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42.5% Yes
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33% Maybe?
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24.5% No
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
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