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Thread ID: 59401 2005-07-01 08:25:00 Moving craigb (4884) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
368443 2005-07-01 08:25:00 Hi all
Well looks like I'm off to Wellington to live. Job transfer with promotion. So the question is:

Where in Wellington is a good place to live. The bussines I work for is in Petone so I'm thinking Petone/Lower Hutt. Looking to rent first then buy once we're settled in maybe 6 months or so. Any coments welcome.
Cheers
craigb (4884)
368444 2005-07-01 08:50:00 Parking is free in Upper Hutt, not like that miserable place Wellington with it's miserable anti-people, anti-dog council, and UH is handy for the Tararuas, the Akatarawas, the Rimutakas, what more could one want :thumbs:

Edit: of course I meant to say that "The Hutt" is not Wellington, that would be an insult to the Hutt people.
Terry Porritt (14)
368445 2005-07-01 09:42:00 Parking is also free in Petone & Lower Hutt. As to your question, both would be suitable. Depends on your situation - school age kids - wife?
Bye
Peter H (220)
368446 2005-07-01 10:33:00 And congrats on the promotion. Laura (43)
368447 2005-07-01 10:37:00 Hi all
I'm off to Wellington to live.
Shame. I feel for you bro :(
Greg (193)
368448 2005-07-01 11:01:00 Shame. I feel for you bro :(
Could be worse.
Could be Auckland.
pctek (84)
368449 2005-07-01 11:12:00 Bah @ AK Westies... East Orcs is the PLACE to be :) Greg (193)
368450 2005-07-01 11:33:00 Seriously now, I like Petone, it used to be a dump, but has improved considerably, with many of the older houses being renovated and becoming desirable residences.
The main shopping street is very long, but it has a good selection of shops, and lots of interesting second hand goods shops, tool shops, and things that interest blokes.

It is an industrial town though, the upside is that you can get anything there from a wide range of industrial suppliers. The downsides are not many now, there is the Exide battery plant which has been reported on lately regarding possible lead contamination, but I don't really think it is a problem else it would have shown up before now, and the town seems much cleaner than it used to be 20-30 years ago.

It is viciously cold in a southerly, Petone foreshore is a place to avoid then.
Parking is free as Peter said, Lower Hutt city council tried to introduce parking meters last year, but a petition against by the local shopkeepers which I signed too as a regular shopper there made the council back down.

Lower Hutt is ok, the council is a bit up itself. They illegally call themselves Hutt City because they didn't like the 'Lower' bit. This has never been gazetted, legally they are The City of Lower Hutt, or Lower Hutt City Council, not Hutt City Council.

They are always suggesting a take over of Upper Hutt. Lower Hutt has already swallowed Wainuiomata, Eastbourne, and Petone, so power has gone to their heads.
Parking is not entirely free, they have parking meters, and the River Bank car park which used to be free is now charged for. The only substantial free parking I know of in the centre is the Westfield shopping centre which is currently a shambles of re-development, but will come right eventually.

Lower Hutt has a good hospital with good parking, unlike Wellington which is a shambles of re-development and awkward to get to in an emergency from the Hutt side. Wellington could have built a new hospital at Porirua with all the acres of ground anyone could wish for.
Lower Hutt hospital does not have all the specialist services that Wellington offers, it could have given the money and the staff.

Lower Hutt has the valley floor for housing, the Eastern Hills, and the Western Hills. Both sides are prone to slips and flood flows in very heavy rain conditions, whilst the valley floor would not be good in an earthquake as the deep shingle beds would turn to jelly. Earthquakes are magnified on the valley floor. The valley is also prone to flooding from the Hutt River, though the Regional Council will be extracting more gravel to lower the river bed level over the next year or two.

Housing along the valley dates back to the state housing days of Michael Savage, but not all of course.
There is very high value property in the Woburn part of Lower Hutt.

All in all I like the Hutt, and Upper Hutt in particular, and there is housing to suit most pockets.
Terry Porritt (14)
368451 2005-07-01 12:14:00 Thanks for that Terry. Very infomative. Whats the traveling time from Upper Hutt to Peone during rush hour. Its a bit further out than I had planned, but it may be worth a look if favourable.

Oh yes I forgot to add - no kids (they've grown up) just me and SWMBO.
craigb (4884)
368452 2005-07-01 12:25:00 Personally I found Upper Hutt a dreary and boring place, extra travel for nothing, I enjoyed my time in Petone and Lower Hutt .A day driving around will give your relevent info I would imagine.

Aslong as you get a house in walking distance to a bottle store and a Pizza place you cant go wrong........ :thumbs:
Metla (12)
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