Street Secrets
There are secret spots to be found in every city and Upper Hutt is no exception. Follow along as we introduce you to some of the best and newest gems to be found on the streets of Upper Hutt.
1. Rich and Hot!
Six and a half years ago Hutt Valley local Amanda was a stay at home mum attending many play dates and drinking a lot of hot chocolate. Not pleased with the drink, Amanda thought she could improve on the recipe and started her own business! Amanda uses cocoa nibs, her secret ingredients and an interesting machine called a Melanger to create both milk and dark hot chocolate with Hazelnut, Mint and Coffee variations. Get 10% off any order over $40 until the end of April with voucher code 10%APRIL (excluding shipping) Delivery may take 1-3 business days. www.kokochaud.com
2. Mother & Daughter Team
Meet Agnas on the right, and her daughter Madhuni. Agnas originally trained as an electrician and worked for the railways in Sri Lanka but a move to New Zealand and two daughters later Agnas has branched out and started her own business Kalu’s Sewing Studio. Kalu’s is far more than alterations as Agnas also offers a made to measure sewing service. They offer a selection of fabric, clothing and haberdashery for sale in store. 67 Main Street www.kalussewingstudio.co.nz
3. Building Blocks
This interactive installation, created by Auckland artist Sara Hughes is based on the idea of the building block: it’s an artwork you can build with. Especially popular with families, visitors can build their own cityscape using hundreds of wooden blocks. On from the 17th April up untilthe 27th June at Expressions Whirinaki Arts and Entertainment Centre. Whilst at Expressions, make sure to check out the delicious Dough Café, a modern take on a bakery serving ‘all things dough’. Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre, 836 Fergusson Drive www.expressions.org.nz
4. Free Bath Bomb Anyone?
Nothing like a scented candle, a bath bomb and a soak in the tub. Rachel makes her own products right here in her beautiful shop on Main Street. With a focus on recyclable and minimal packaging for all their natural skin and bodycare products the bath bomb, which comes in a range of colours and scents. Would you like a free bath bomb? Mention “Neighbourly Bath Bomb” when making your purchase at Botanical Beauty’s shop and you willreceive one free bath bomb, limited to the first 20 customers, one per customer/visit. Candle from Humble & Grand Homestore. 124 Main Street www.botanicalbeautyco.com
5. Fashion Up to 70% Of
Excellent news, the Pop Up Clearance Store is now permanent! Stocking new women’s fashion, up to 70% off the original price, you will find R E V I S I T upstairs in The Mall, Upper Hutt. R E V I S I T has switched premises with Wild Rose so you can check out the new look Wild Rose store while you are there. The Mall, 181 Main Street www.facebook.com/REVISITUH
6. China City
Meet Alex. Alex is frequently asked how far he walks in a week, he’s not sure “it has been suggested that I get a pedometer” says Alex. But if you see him at work you really would think he has wheels as he efficiently glides around an Upper Hutt classic, China City. What you may not know is that China City have a $13, 4 course lunch deal. There is a good selection to choose from with lunch sizes portions so you won’t want to sleep all afternoon! Available Tuesday - Friday. China City, 11 Main Street.
🧩😏 Riddle me this, Neighbours…
I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?
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Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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43.5% I avoid spending money on coffee
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46.4% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10.1% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
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