Hutt Valley facts for kids
The Hutt Valley (also called 'The Hutt') is a large area of flat land in the Hutt River valley. It's located in the Wellington region of New Zealand. The valley and the river are named after Sir William Hutt. He was a director of the New Zealand Company, which helped set up early settlements in New Zealand.
The Hutt River flows along an active geologic fault. A fault is a crack in the Earth's crust where rocks have moved. This fault continues south and helped create the South Island's Southern Alps. Because of this, the land rises steeply west of the river. To the east, there are two flat areas called floodplains.
The Waiwhetu Aquifer is an underground water source. It forms from water that seeps into the ground from the Hutt River near Taitā. This water then flows underground down the Hutt Valley and out beneath Wellington Harbour.
People and History in the Hutt Valley
Some of the first Māori groups, called iwi, in this area were Ngāi Tara, Muaūpoko, Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, and Ngāti Ira. These iwi were descendants of Whātonga's sons, who traveled through the lower North Island. Some of them settled in the Hutt Valley. The name Heretaunga is often used for the Hutt Valley. It comes from the name of Whātonga's home at Nukutaurua village, called a pā.
In 1846, there was fighting between Māori tribes and the Government. This event is known as the Hutt Valley Campaign.
The Hutt River is also known as Te Awa Kairangi. It was an important travel route for Māori. There was a trail connecting Wellington Harbour and the Wairarapa region. This trail went over the Remutaka Range and through the Pākuratahi River. Before a big earthquake in 1855, large Māori boats called waka could travel far up the river, almost to the Pākuratahi River. European ships could also go up the valley nearly to Silverstream.
Modern Hutt Valley Cities
The lower part of the valley is home to the city of Lower Hutt. This city is managed by the Hutt City Council. Further up the valley, past a steep gorge near Taitā, is the city of Upper Hutt. Upper Hutt is larger in area but has fewer people.
Many people who live in the Hutt Valley travel to Wellington for work. The valley is also a place for factories, heavy industries, schools, and fun activities. You can also find motor camps here.
Petone, which is on the shore of Wellington Harbour, was first chosen as the place to build Wellington city by the New Zealand Company. However, this spot often flooded from the river. So, the early settlers moved to what is now Wellington city. A small settlement stayed in Petone because the whole valley was thought to be good for farming.
Nature in the Hutt Valley
Before the cities grew in the 1900s, almost the entire valley was cleared of trees. It was turned into farmland or gardens for growing vegetables. A small part of the original native forest, called podocarp forest, is still protected. You can see it at Barton's Bush in Upper Hutt.
