Upper Hutt (Wellington, New Zealand)

Last modified: 2006-09-23 by jonathan dixon
Keywords: wellington | upper hutt | cross (yellow on maroon) |
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• Pesentation of Upper Hitt
• Description of the city flag

See also:

• New Zealand
• New Zealand - Index of all pages
• Welllington province

Presentation of Upper Hutt

Upper Hutt is one of the four cities that make up the Wellington Urban Area. It is located at the north of the valley of the Hutt River, which flows into the northern end of Wellington's Port Nicholson harbour. With a population of about 35,000, it is slightly smaller than its southern neightbour (and fierce rival) Lower Hutt.

Upper Hutt was originally known as Orongomai, and was the home of Ngai Tara and Te Atiawa Maori in pre-European times. The first European settlers arrived shortly after 1840, and the settlement of Upper Hutt was founded in 1848 by James Brown. It was declared a town in 1906, and proclaimed a City in 1966.

The city is sited at a point where the Hutt River first widens into a floodplain after travelling through rough hill country, and as such it is better connected to the cities of Lower Hutt and Wellington to the south than with centres to the north. A winding highway crosses the Tararua Ranges to the northeast, connecting the city with the cities of Napier and Hasings on the North Island's east coast. The railway connection with these cities is via one of the country's longest rail tunnels, although until the 1950s a mountain railway system operated across the slopes of the Rimutakas.

The city is long associated with the New Zealand Army, who have operated a training camp in the suburb of Trentham for many years.
James Dignan, 13 July 2006

Description of the flag

The flag of the City of Upper Hutt in New Zealand is described at this site:

"Flag:
The City in 1982 produced, with the consent of the New Zealand Herald, a flag to be flown on appropriate occasions. One is on permanent display in Council Chambers and another is flown outside the Civic Administration Building during office hours. It consists of the City colours (gold across maroon quarters) with the shield in the middle."

Would I be correct in thinking they mean a gold cross and maroon quarters? That is a maroon field with a gold cross, and the escutcheon (without crest and motto) in the centre of the cross?
Laurence Jones, 13 July 2006