Hutt Zone

Join John MacDonald in the Community Drive #TheHuttZone on Thursday the 16th of July 2026 at 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM for a variety hour of Hutt Valley stories, history, people, music and poetry. We hear about the Regional Stamp, Coin and Post Card Fair coming to Lower Hutt this Saturday from one of its organisers – Bob Gibson. Get some tips and ideas on collecting from an avid thematic collector. There's more in our 2015 history series with centenarian Eileen Smeaton sharing her memories of the Hutt Valley from the 1920s. We've poetry from Wainuiomata's David Smith “If one is lucky” read by Steve Harrison. And there's plenty of local music from Hutt Valley High School – its 2023 Chamber Music entry with Luke Barlow on piano playing Mozart's K478 – Allegro movement, Shona Lang “Glad I'm not a Kennedy”, and SKRAM perform “Piwakawaka”.

Join John MacDonald in the Community Drive #TheHuttZone on Thursday the ninth of July 2026 at 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 106.1FM for a variety hour of Hutt Valley stories, history, people, music and poetry. There's plenty of Hutt Valley High School “One Hundred Years” stories – hear about the 7-8 August school alumni events from current Principal Denise Johnson, and more in our 2015 history series with centenarian Eileen Smeaton sharing her memories of Hutt Valley Schools in the 1920s and 30s. We also talk with Lower Hutt Seido Karate Dojo Club's Jason Stapp on this popular family orientated martial art and their upcoming tournament in Tokyo. We've poetry from last year's Upper Hutt Libraries poetry competition – Keara Symmans and her shortlisted poetry “Connection” read by Trentham's Arlene Croft. And there's plenty of local music to round out the hour – Hutt Valley High School pupils perform the school Waiata “E Tipu” and we hear a medley from the Upper Hutt Pipe Band. SECTIONS Poem – 1'09” – Keara Symmans “Connection” History – 2'28” – Eileen Smeaton 100 years ago memories of Hutt Schools (2015) Feature Story – 13'32” – Denise Johnson – Hutt Valley High School August 100 Year Gathering Music – 30'08” – Hutt Valley High School Students – “E Tipu” Feature Story – 33'00” – Jason Stapp – Lower Hutt Seido Karate Dojo Club Music – 45'46” – Upper Hutt Pipe Band – Medley

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

This week in #TheHuttZone we talk to Lower Hutt based actor, teacher and musician Henry Ashby before he leaves for musical theatre life in London, starting with his Masters Degree at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Henry is running a give-a-little page to help get him to London - https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-henry-study-musical-theatre-at-lamda-london There are the final memories of Upper Hutt's musical scene in the 1960s from musician Stefan Brown. Recorded in 2016 with Upper Hutt Libraries Caren Wilton. Upper Hutt Heritage .This week it's on the band transformation from Stacey Grove to Ebony. There's grounding poetry from Lower Hutt's Vivienne Ball “A thin place in a Regional Park”. And we have lots of music – from Henry Ashby's Lower Hutt Band SKRAM, from Upper Hutt's Stacey Grove “A Tale of Life” and from Upper Hutt's Toni Baird's entry into the 2006 New Zealand Idol competition “Edge of Seventeen”. You can always Facebook message John with local story, musician or poetry suggestions. SECTIONS Poem – 1'12” – Vivienne Ball – “A thin place in a Regional Park” History – 4'25” – Upper Hutt Memories – Stefan Brown (2016) Music – 17'55” - Stacey Grove – “A Tale of Life” Feature Story – 22'01” – Henry Asby and LAMDA Music – 44'53” - SKARM – “Please give me some peace” Music – 50'30” – Toni Baird – “Edge of Seventeen”

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

We hear more memories of Upper Hutt's musical scene in the 1950s and 60s from musician Stefan Brown. Recorded in 2016 with Upper Hutt Libraries Caren Wilton. Upper Hutt Heritage There's poetry from Wainuiomata's David Smith “Senior Moments” read by Trentham's Arlene Croft. We hear from Upper Hutt City Mayor Peri Zee who talks to Smarterfocus Productions' Martin Edwards on local government amalgamation plans. And we hear a Katherine Mansfield Short Story “A Little Episode” found through the research of Christopher Mourant King's College London – a 1909 story, about relationships, emotions and attachment. Ending with Kapa Haka music from Upper Hutt Primary School recorded in 2020. Sections Poem – 1'29” – “Senior Moments” – David Smith History – 3'04” – Upper Hutt Memories – Stefan Brown (2016) Politics – 27'34” – Amalgamations – Upper Hutt Mayor Peri Zee Story – 29'35” – Katherine Mansfield – A Little Episode Music – 50'06” – Kapa Haka 2020 – Upper Hutt Primary School

This week we talk watercolours and wellness with Dawn Dutie ahead of her workshop on Sunday in Upper Hutt, and hear about the art community she's building around her Main Street Art & Gift shop. We see out May New Zealand Music Month, by hearing memories of Upper Hutt's musical scene in the 1950s and 60s from musician Stefan Brown. Recorded in 2016 with Upper Hutt Libraries Caren Wilton. Upper Hutt Heritage We also hear original music from Tom Dorman & Simon O'Dey “Who lit the fire” and from Wicked Fish “Burn the flame”. There's inspirational poetry from Lower Hutt writer Alex Jeune – “A better place” . You can always Facebook message John with local story, musician or poetry suggestions. Sections Poem – 1'16” – “A better place” – Alex Jeune History – 2'48” – Upper Hutt Memories – Stefan Brown (2016) Music – 22'50” – “Who lit the fire” – Tom Dorman & Simon O'Dey Feature – 27'52” – Dawn Duthie Artist – Upper Hutt Watercolours for wellbeing workshop Music – 48'44” – “Burn the flame” – Wicked Fish

As May is New Zealand Music Month, John chats to Harvest Moon band member Rob Reid ahead of their next Days Bay Pavillion gig – 31st May, we hear about the band's music, its origins, and hear some of their unique “Americana” tunes. We complete our readings from Katherin Mansfield's “In a German Pension” from Bookstream Audio Book's Harrie Dobby – this week's it's “A Blaze”. There's poetry from last year's Upper Hutt Library Poetry Competition – “Celebrate my firsts” by John Dwyer and read by Steve Harrison. And lots of local music from Harvest Moon, Cumbia Blazera and from Parkway Intermediate, Wainuiomata – from their 1982 musical “Monsters”. You can always Facebook message John with local story, musician or poetry suggestions. Sections Poem – 1'03” – "Celebrate my firsts" by John Dwyer Story – 4'09” – "A Blaze" by Katherine Mansfield Music – 17'56” – "Historia" by Cumbia Blazera Feature – 21'27” – Harvest Moon Band with Rob Reid Music – 42'49” – "Copperhead" cover performed by Harvest Moon Music – 47'55” – "That Happy Day" from Monsters the Musical – Parkway Intermediate, WOA

As May is New Zealand Music Month, we celebrate 50 golden years of singing by Hutt City Chorale/Wainuiomata Choir and chat to choir member Hedda Bleasdale ahead of Saturday afternoon's concert at St Mark's Uniting Church, Woburn Road, Lower Hutt. More details from Hutt City Chorale #NZMusicMonth We finish hearing about the history of Cruickshank's Saddle from the research of David Castle. This was in the area of Totara Park, Upper Hutt to the Mangaroa Valley. Thanks to the Upper Hutt Libraries – Upper Hutt Heritage for sharing this on the Recollect Platform. There's poetry from former Wainuiomata based poet Margaret Jeune – “An Encounter”. And lots of local music from former Hutt Valley High School musician Ethan Ziggy Morrison “River”, Lower Hutt's Jonathan & Samuel Berkahn “The Wedding at Dunbar” and from 2018 combined Cantoris Choir & Hutt City Chorale – “Rhythm of Life”. You can always Facebook message John with local story, musician or poetry suggestions. Sections Poem – 1'19” – Margaret Jeune – An Encounter History – 2'49” – Cruickshank Saddle Music – 12'32” – Ethan Ziggy Morrison – “River” cover by Leon Bridge Feature – 15'59” – Hedda Bleasdale – Hutt City Chorale 50 Golden Years Music – 43'14” – “Rhythm of Life” – Hutt City Chorale (Wainuiomata Choir) & Cantoris Choirs Music – 48'22” – Jonathan & Samuel Berkahn – “The Wedding at Dunbar”

This week we hear about the history of Cruickshank's Saddle from the research of David Castle. This was in the area of Totara Park, Upper Hutt to the Mangaroa Valley. It saw plenty of settler activity from the mid-1800s – saw milling, tunnels, water races and railway lines. We start with two of the earlier landowners of the area – Hon. Henry William Petre and James Duff Cruickshank. Thanks to the sharing of this on the Recollect Platform by Upper Hutt City Libraries – Upper Hutt Heritage. We continue reading Katherine Mansfield's In a German Pension – this week's it's “The Swing of the Pendulum” narrated by Bookstream Audiobook's Harrie Dobby. There's poetry from Lower Hutt's Vivienne Ball – “Glimpses of a Cold Day – Remembering”. And music from former Hutt Valley High School musician Bruce Aitken – “Blue Brush Crush”, from his 2026 Album – The World We Live In. Sections Poem – 1'02” – Vivienne Ball - Remembering Story – 3'01” – Katherine Mansfield – The Swing of the Pendulum History – 24'13” – Cruickshank Saddle Music – 46'59” – Bruce Aitken – Blue Brush Crush

This week we hear about Sunday 3rd May Hutt Valley Orchestra concert – Wings of Fire from violin soloist Ambrose Tarrant-Matthews. Ambrose is playing Mozart's Violin Concerto Number 4. We hear him playing the Allegro movement with pianist Gabriela Glapska. We finish the history series “Because I was there – Eastbourne and the Wahine Disaster” where Hutt City Council's Shelley Seay talked to Bruce Mitchell on his memories as an 18 year-old school boy. This is part of the audio heritage collection available on https://huttcity.recollect.co.nz/ HuttCity Libraries There's poetry from the Upper Hutt Libraries 2022 Poetry Competition from Kimi Thomson – “Home”. And music from Upper Hutt Brass Band from this month's National Band Championships – “When the light falters”. Sections History – 1'25” – Bruce Mitchell Wahine Memories Poem – 21'46” – Kimi Thomson – “Home” Feature Story – 23'07” – Ambrose Tarrant-Matthews – Hutt Valley Orchestra Concert Music – 35'47” – Ambrose Tarrant-Matthews – Mozart Violin Concerto K218 Music – 45'19” – Upper Hutt Brass – When the light falters

This week we hear about the Heretaunga Giant Charity Bookfest from Trustee Iain Opray. It's Wellington's largest second-hand book, record, DVD, CD and games event. Running over the first weekend in May (2-3rd) at Upper Hutt's Whirinaki venue. We continue the history series “Because I was there – Eastbourne and the Wahine Disaster” where Hutt City Council's Shelley Seay talked to Bruce Mitchell on his memories as an 18 year-old school boy. This is part of the audio heritage collection available on https://huttcity.recollect.co.nz/ HuttCity Libraries There's poetry from Eastbourne write and publisher Mary McCallum – “Missed”. And we mark ANZAC Day with music from Upper Hutt's Renee Maurice “We will not soon forget” and from Hutt City Brass – “And can it be”. You can always Facebook message John with local story, musician or poetry suggestions. Sections History – 1'40” – Bruce Mitchell Wahine Memories Poem – 20'27” – Mary McCallum - Missed Music – 22'38” – Hutt City Brass – And Can it Be Feature Story – 28”20” – Charity Bookfest – Iain Opray Music – 49'40” – Renee Maurice – We will not soon forget

This week we talk dog mental agility and wellbeing with Scent Ways NZ Daniella Penhall who has recently expanded her Upper Hutt dog courses and trails with a Kid's Club for scent dog activities. We continue the history series “Because I was there – Eastbourne and the Wahine Disaster” where Hutt City Council's Shelley Seay talked to Bruce Mitchell on his memories as an 18 year-old school boy. This is part of the audio heritage collection available on https://huttcity.recollect.co.nz/ HuttCity Libraries There's poetry from Upper Hutt's Sayler Phillips – “The people in which we live”. This came second in the 2022 Upper Hutt Libraries Poetry Competition – Teen Category. And we have music from Upper Hutt's Toni Baird with Dijretts and Abe Borman “Far Away” and from last week's National Brass Bands Competition from Hutt City Brass. 01' - History - Bruce Mitchell and the Wahine Disaster 18' - Poem - Sayler Phillips - The People in Which We Live 21' - Music - Toni Baird and Dijretts - Far Away 25' - Feature Story - Scent Ways NZ - Daniella Penhall 48' - Music - Hutt City Brass - Music of Spheres

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.

The Hutt Zone with John MacDonald focuses on the people, issues, events, and music that shape the Hutt Valley community.