Medical professionals often seek locum and permanent positions across New Zealand and other countries to advance their careers, which requires significant relocation and travel. Researching your assigned location beforehand can help to smooth the transition and enhance the overall experience.
In this Hutt Valley location guide, we aim to highlight the benefits and attractions of the area along with its primary healthcare facilities. This post is part of a wider series showcasing what working in New Zealand is like.
About The Hutt Valley – Everything You Need To Know
Named after early colonist Sir William Hutt, the Hutt Valley is located in the north Wellington Region (around 20 minutes by car from the city). It spans both the industrial Upper Hutt and the more commercial Lower Hutt areas. The Hutt Valley is one of the four main urban areas located within the wider Wellington region (the others being Porirua, Paraparaumu and Masterton).
Sheltered by the Remutaka Ranges, the Hutt Valley is well protected from the more extreme wind and weather conditions that Wellington is famous for. Its proximity to the Belmont and Wainuiomata Regional Parks and the wider Hutt Valley region makes it an ideal location for those who love to enjoy the outdoors while still having access to urban conveniences.
Cost Of Living In The Hutt Valley
Is it expensive to live in the Hutt Valley? Compared to Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch housing costs are slightly lower in both Lower and Upper Hutt, although availability can sometimes be a problem due to the lack of properties.
Average daily living costs in the Hutt Valley are pretty similar to those in the rest of New Zealand. However, you can expect to pay extra for travel costs if you intend to commute to the city for work.
Essential services such as electricity and internet are readily available with a variety of nationwide pricing/plan options, and 3 to 4 leading companies offering these services in the area, providing you with some options.
Lower Hutt And Upper Hutt Demographics
What is the average age of people living in the Hutt Valley? The median age in Lower Hutt is 36.9, and 39.1 in Upper Hutt compared to 38.1 New Zealand-wide. According to the Stats NZ website, the estimated population of Lower Hutt is just over 100,000 people, with Upper Hutt sitting around 45,000 people. The Hutt Valley is home to a range of ethnicities but is predominantly made up of European, Asian, Māori, and Pacific Peoples, according to census data.
Transportation In The Hutt Valley
Due to its location just outside of Wellington City, getting around Upper and Lower Hutt can be a bit tricky if you do not have a car. However, there are regular bus services available in and around Lower and Upper Hutt as well as into the city, routes, ticket prices and timetables online at Metlink. There are also regular commuter train services that are reliable and (generally) on time. Taxi services are also standard in both Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt, along with ride-sharing operators such as Uber.
Both Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt are fairly compact, so good old-fashioned walking will get you most places within the urban limits. The nearest airport is the Wellington International Airport, which offers domestic and international services.
Hutt Valley Weather And Climate
Upper and Lower Hutt are relatively sheltered from Wellington’s prevailing winds by the Remutaka Ranges, so they tend to enjoy slightly more predictable weather conditions. Temperature-wise, the Hutt Valley experiences pretty similar weather to Wellington, with relatively warm summers and mild winters.
Average temperatures usually hover around 20-23 degrees, with the extremes reaching as high as 30 degrees in the summer months at times. July and August are the coldest months, with temperatures of around 10 to 15 degrees commonly experienced. Relatively high levels of rainfall are typical throughout the year, with intermittent occurrences of heavy rain that can sometimes disrupt daily activities.
Education Services In The Hutt Valley
There are approximately 50 primary schools and 15 secondary schools in Lower and Upper Hutt, including Taita College, Naenae College, Hutt Valley High School, Wainuiomata High School, Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School, Sacred Heart College, St Bernard’s College, Heretaunga College, Hutt International Boys’ School, and Upper Hutt College to name a few.
There are two tertiary institutes for further study beyond high school, the Wellington Institute of Technology in Petone and The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. And, of course, students have convenient access to all of the schools and universities in nearby Wellington.
Top 5 Things To Do In Wellington’s Hutt Valley
Being so close to Wellington, numerous national parks and the epic New Zealand coastline means living and working in the Hutt Valley opens up a wealth of opportunities for those who love experiencing the urban delights of city living while also making the most of the great outdoors. Here are our top picks for the best things to do in the Hutt Valley!
- Remutaka Forest Park. Spanning 22,000 hectares, the Remutaka Forest Park is very popular with hikers, mountain bikers and hunters for its abundance of native wildlife and vast network of tracks and trails. There are numerous walks and biking tracks across much of the park suitable for all ages and fitness levels, with some of the most popular locations being Kaitoke Regional Park, the Remutaka Hill, Tunnel Gully, and Belmont Regional Park. Love the Remutaka Ranges so much you don’t want to leave? Forest cabins are available for hire in the more remote Orongorongo Valley area as well as a camping ground at the Catchpool Recreational Area.
- Staglands Wildlife Reserve. Located on Akatarawa Road, Upper Hutt, the Staglands Wildlife Reserve brings a carefully curated animal-related experience you will never forget to the table. If interacting with the local flora and fauna across 10 hectares of lovingly cultivated forest, farmland and wetlands, blending conservation, education and tourism sounds like you then the Staglands Wildlife Reserve is definitely the place to be!
- White Water Rafting. Prefer a little more action and adrenaline? How does navigating the mighty waters of the Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River sound! The team at Wellington Rafting offers multiple outdoor white water experiences, including everything from gentle and relaxing paddles down the river through to thrilling white water adventures. See parts of the Hutt Valley wilderness and idyllic scenery that you would never normally have access to while soaking up the fresh air and watery wonderland!
- Petone Settlers Museum. Located right on the waterfront in Lower Hutt, the Petone Settlers Museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn and explore some of the history and cultural aspects of the region through insight from early settlers and explorers. Bonus – the museum is housed in one of NZ’s land’s most significant memorial buildings commemorating the spot where European settlers first came ashore in 1840.
- Brewtown. The destination of choice for fun and excitement for the whole family, Brewtown is home to numerous craft breweries and an onsite distillery, as well as an indoor go-kart track, ice skating rink, 5-lane ten-pin bowling alley, trampoline park, and large indoor paintball field all encapsulated within the aptly named Daytona Adventure Park. Book your chosen activities online or call in and let the fun begin!
Healthcare Facilities In Hutt Valley
There is one main healthcare facility in the Hutt Valley – Hutt Hospital. The 322-bed facility employs around 1,800 staff and provides secondary surgical services and community-based healthcare, including plastics, maxillofacial and burns, rheumatology, dental, regional public health, mental health, addiction and intellectual disability services and breast and cervical screening.
The Hutt Valley hospital has been upgraded over the years and has received several state-of-the-art additions, such as the MAPU (Medical Assessment and Planning Unit) and the purpose-built Perioperative Department, which has a Day Surgery Unit and eight operating theatres that are used by all specialities. There is also a modernised Emergency Department with a combined medical assessment/acute assessment unit.
The Hutt Hospital is consistently looking for ways to make initiatives and systems more streamlined and easier to access to better support clinical services and would make a great base for doctors looking to work in a modern, future-focused facility without having to be located in a major city.
The Hutt Hospital is one of three hospitals in the Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley district serving around 900,000 people which includes the Wellington Regional Hospital in Newtown and Kenepuru Hospital in Porirua. Specialist services across the three hospitals include neurosurgery, oncology, neonatal intensive care, district nursing, rehabilitation services, social work, alcohol and drug services, and some home support services.
Working In Lower Hutt And Upper Hutt
One of the major benefits of working in the Hutt Valley is its small-town feel yet close proximity to the bustling city streets of Wellington. For this reason, there are a lot of people who live in the Hutt and commute via train to Wellington for work.
Remaining in the Hutt Valley for work also has its perks – avoiding the traffic and morning commute is a big one, but there is also a lovely tight-knit community feel that is difficult to replicate in the majority of larger cities.
For family members not working in healthcare who also wish to work in Lower or Upper Hutt, job opportunities are based on agriculture, wholesale trade, administration, and manufacturing.
If you’re looking for a community vibe with an outdoorsy lifestyle and all the conveniences of the city within easy reach, then Hutt Valley is the place for you! Need help finding a job? Triple0 Medical Recruitment takes pride in ensuring that healthcare facilities have the staff they need and that medical professionals can find the right permanent or locum jobs in NZ – register with Triple0 to find your next healthcare role today!
