Wellington pies and why bus lanes rule
Saturday, 2 August 2025
Thomas Nash has been a Green Greater Wellington Regional councillor since 2019 but is stepping away from the council in October. He talks pies, happy hours and life in the southern suburbs.
My favourite thing about this part of Wellington is …
Being close to the beach and the rock pools, close to the forest, close to Newtown and on a major bus route into town - the mighty number 1. Berhampore is such a good location in that way and there are heaps of families with young kids and open-minded people from loads of different backgrounds. It’s a very welcoming neighbourhood, we love it.
The best place to get coffee and bump into neighbours is …
To head down to Shorland Park in Island Bay with the kids. You’ve got coffee, ice cream and pastries from The Grocer’s Shed, the amazing Patrisha’s Pies and the beach all basically across the road from the park. Also fish and chips right there too if it’s actual mealtime. We always bump into neighbours, friends, work mates down there, it’s great.
To get to work on Cuba Street I …
Travel sometimes by bus, occasionally by bike, but mostly we load the four of us into the car because my wife and I both work close by and our kids’ early childhood centre is right there too so it’s very efficient and convenient.
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat in Wellington …
Head to the Cuba St precinct. You’ve got Tatsushi tucked away on Edward St for a cosy Japanese lunch, The Ram for delicious happy hour drinks and snacks, and then Highwater for a classy dinner.
My favourite place to take a visitor to Wellington is …
The harbour. Jump on an East by West ferry to beautiful Matiu Island or Days Bay on the other side of the harbour. It’s even better now that Wellington’s smooth, sleek electric ferry, built right here in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, is back in service.
The most contentious issue on my neighbourhood Facebook page …
Would probably be the road layout changes designed to share some public road space with people not travelling by car and to make our streets safer for kids. I’m a car driver, a bus user, a bike rider, a pedestrian and a parent of young kids and I really welcome these changes to make our streets safer, even if it slows me down when I’m driving.
The perfect Saturday morning in my part of town is …
To take the kids up the hill to the Brooklyn Toy Library at Vogelmorn Bowling Club. This is such a fantastic community-run place and just ideal on a sunny morning. The kids can run around on the big lawn, jump on the trampoline, choose some new toys to take home for a couple of weeks while mums and dads etc can get a coffee and a snack from the cafe upstairs.
Everyone knows Te Papa, but maybe not that many people know that kids can dig for dinosaur bones in the big sandpit in the museum’s outdoor bush area. There’s also a classic Department of Conservation-style swing bridge out there. We are huge fans of Te Papa and that lush little park is an absolute gem right in the city, just brilliant for kids.
When I need to clear my head …
I go to the beautiful South Coast. Nothing beats that view across the glistening sea with the light shining on the distant snow-clad peaks of the South Island.
My guilty pleasure in the city is …
To go to a pie shop and eat a pie. Is that a guilty pleasure? There are loads of great pies in Wellington – basic pies, fancy pies, I like them all. I probably eat too many.
If I were mayor for a day …
I would install way more bus lanes. Bus use is at record highs and this is such an easy win. The city has doubled the amount of bus priority in the current council term and now it all needs to be connected up so that bus passengers can get full value from this work. Bus lanes are amazing because they are very affordable (cheap as chips compared to billion dollar motorway tunnels) and when you save 15 minutes on a 45-minute journey you get to run a third more services for basically the same cost. Talk about bang for buck.