The Coat of Arms for the City was granted by the Royal College of Arms (London) in 1978 by Letters Patent. This means that the coat of arms is protected and cannot be used without Council’s authority which must be in terms of the laws of arms.
The arms are made up of a shield, a crest, supporters, and a motte scroll. In front of the rock in the Crest, a New Zealand Falcon is portrayed. The New Zealand Falcon (Bush Hawk – Karearea) was very prevalent in the Upper Hutt Valley in earlier times and some still survive in the area. It preys on the forest birds including the pigeon depicted in the Arms and is described as probably the most fearless of all this country’s native birds.
The two birds in the Shield are Pigeons (Hemiphaga Novaeseelandiae) also representing the early bird life in the Valley’s bush, also in existence. The wavy band is a representation of the Hutt River and indicates its importance in the City of Upper Hutt.
The bottom portion shows a Totara tree (Podocarpus Totara) which symbolises the original vegetation that abounded on the Valley floor. Some are still preserved in Trentham Memorial Park and in early days many of these trees in the valley measured in metres across the butt and were a hundred feet in height before a branch appeared from the trunk.
Finally, the Motto translated into English means “Nothing higher nor more beautiful”. This was chosen to record that the City has special physical features and a lovely setting.
The mountainous nature of some of the terrain (the City boundaries extend to the top of the Rimutakas and Akatarawas), the presence of the hills and trees that form so many of the views, the close affinity of the City and farm, and the varied beauty of the river valleys, form a combination within the City boundaries which is most unusual and could well be unique in the context of world Cities.
The Council’s advisors on the question of the adoption of the Motto felt that it was not appropriate to indulge in superlatives, and what has emerged is not an extravagant claim but a simple justified statement.
Badge
The Royal College of Arms also granted a City badge. The badge is placed on property of the Council and used for less formal situations. It consists of a New Zealand Pied Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) tail erect and expanded and perched on a twig within a circlet of gold chain.
Flag
The City in 1982 produced, with the consent of the New Zealand Herald, a flag to be flown on appropriate occasions. One is on permanent display in Council Chambers and another is flown outside the Civic Administration Building during office hours. It consists of the City colours (gold across maroon quarters) with the shield in the middle.
As part of our website refresh in June 2019, we introduced a fresh new look for our logos for Upper Hutt City Council, Upper Hutt Libraries, and H2O Xtream. These new visual identities are more than just design updates. They represent who we are as a community and the values that connect us.
A modern look that reflects our people and place
The previous "postage stamp" logo served us for many years, but we wanted something more accessible and reflective of our unique identity as a connected city.
Upper Hutt is where community meets lifestyle, a place where close-knit neighbourhoods thrive alongside beautiful open spaces, parks, and the natural world.
At the heart of the refreshed logo is the ‘U device’, a modern graphic element that symbolises the unity and balance of our city. It celebrates what makes Upper Hutt special: a city shaped by its people, its natural environment, and the relationships that bring us together.
Custom versions of the ‘U device’ have also been created for Upper Hutt Libraries and H2O Xtream, bringing all our services into one visual family.
Embracing te reo Māori and our cultural identity
As we looked to the future, we also saw an opportunity to reflect our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) and deepen our connection with local iwi and hapori (community). With support and guidance from our iwi partners and Kaitakawaenga Kaupapa Māori (Māori Liaison), we’ve incorporated bilingual names into our logos to honour te reo Māori and share it more widely across our community.
Here’s how our services are now represented:
- Upper Hutt City Council: Te Kaunihera o Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta
- Upper Hutt Libraries: Ngā Puna Mātauranga o Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta
- H2O Xtream: H2O Xtream ki Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta
The term Te Awa Kairangi, the oldest known name for the Hutt River, connects us to the whenua (land), the awa (river), and the stories of the first Polynesian explorer, Kupe. Adding “ki Uta” highlights our inland location and aligns with the broader regional naming conventions, therefore recognising our place within the wider Hutt Valley and Aotearoa.
The new bilingual logos will begin to appear across Council signage, vehicles, marketing material, and online platforms as assets are updated.
If you are a partner, supplier, or community organisation and need access to official logo files for use, please get in touch with our Communications team at uhcc.communications@uhcc.govt.nz
We’re here to support you in using our logos correctly and proudly, in a way that celebrates our community’s shared story.