New Zealand’s first newspaper, The New Zealand Gazette, was published in Petone. The Gazette was first published in London under the auspices of the New
Christmas in Hutt Valley: parades, parties & decorations
Christmas parades began in NZ about 1905, started by department stores promoting the arrival of Santa for shoppers to visit in their stores. George and Kersley Ltd’s
Armistice Day in Petone
The First World War came to a close with the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allied Powers on 11 November 1918. Fighting
Early settler Samuel Parnell and New Zealand’s Labour Day
Samuel Duncan Parnell is the ‘founder of the 8 hour working day’ in New Zealand, celebrated first in 1890 with a Labour Day parade for the labouring classes.
Petone’s eccentric town clock
Called erratic, eccentric, and “two-faced” the Petone Town Clock has survived 103 years. It has also survived the demolition of the Petone Municipal building, a
Hutt Central School – 150 years old?
There has always been some uncertainty as to when Hutt Central School started. According to the School’s 90th anniversary booklet, “The date of commencement of