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.