Rimutaka (New Zealand electorate) Rimutaka (New Zealand electorate) Rimutaka is an electorate returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current representative is Chris Hipkins, a member of the Labour Party who has represented the seat since 2008. Centred on Upper Hutt City, the western boundary of the Rimutaka electorate is defined by the Hutt River from Avalon and Naenae in the south, through Stokes Valley, Trentham and Upper Hutt, to Te Marua, Kaitoke, and Cloustonville in the north. Boundary changes in 2014 saw Rimutaka gain Naenae from the Hutt South electorate, while losing Belmont and Kelson to Hutt South. Population
Rimutaka Tunnel made bigger." Transdev Wellington operates passenger services named the Wairarapa Connection between Wellington and Masterton via the tunnel five times a day each way Monday to Thursday, six on Friday, and twice a day each way on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays. Excursion trains also go through the tunnel, such as railway enthusiast specials and trains to the Toast Martinborough festival. Steam-hauled excursions require diesel locomotives to provide motive power through the tunnel due to the danger from smoke in the tunnel's lengthy and confined conditions. From 2014 diesel locos hauling passenger trains in long tunnels were required to have