What Wellington wants: A safer, cheaper, more vibrant capital

Saturday, 13 September 2025

Vision for Wellington asked Wellingtonians what they want for their city, and it’s safety, affordalbility and to fix the infrastructure.

What does Wellington look like for you?

Is it wind whipping along the streets, leaky pipes that sometimes send up geysers or the squabbling council?

Or is it windswept coastlines, coffee culture, and restaurants on every corner?

In October last year Vision for Wellington was founded. It included Dames Kerry Prendergast, Fran Wilde, Therese Walsh, business leader Sir Bob Jones, Forsyth Barr managing director Neil Paviour-Smith, Stuff owner Sinead Boucher and Wēta Workshop board director Phil Royal.

Filmmaker James Cameron spoke at the first public meeting held by Vision for Wellington.

Since then they have held well attended public meetings, undertaken research and talked to many thousands about what the city is - and what it could be.

And now they have released a comprehensive document with the results.

Vision for Wellington spokesperson Luke Pierson, said Wellingtonians had been clear and consistent.

“People are worried about cost-of-living pressures, about safety, and about whether the city is heading in the right direction. But they’ve also shown huge energy and ambition for what Wellington could be.”

When asked to describe their ideal version of Wellington city, residents generally focused on affordability, safety, and public transport

He said no punches were pulled about Wellington’s current problems and offered pragmatic and innovative solutions to turn the capital around.

Titled Compact, Creative and Impossible to Ignore, the report aims to spark a different kind of conversation —one that draws on the talents, optimism, and honesty of those who live in, work in, and are drawn to Wellington.

“Through that, we’ve aimed to reflect their concerns, creative ideas, and provocative thinking in a bold and pragmatic vision for Wellington’s future. We have not set out to oppose any person or organisation but rather to propose, based on our dialogue with Wellingtonians, an uplifting and achievable direction to help the city thrive,” it says

Let’s be clear here. There were plenty who rolled their eyes when Vision for Wellington was established, calling it a pseudo political organisation or a right-leaning advocacy group formed to try to oust the city’s left-leaning council.

Masthead use only: The three key components identified by Vision for Wellington in their report after nearly a year of asking Wellingtonians what they want.

But with just a few weeks to go until the local body elections, Vision for Wellington has stayed stubbornly out of politics.

But it does say the city can’t afford to shy away from taking the hard, difficult and urgent decisions. ”The choices we make now will shape the Wellington we enjoy tomorrow, and pass on to future generations.”

The results

The results were probably not a surprise. According to the Verian Research Group data, 61% of residents believe the city is deteriorating.

This illustration from the report shows the themes residents want prioritised.

The top priorities identified were maintaining and renewing core infrastructure (93%), safety in the city and neighbourhoods (88%), and affordability (86%).

We also wanted stronger leadership and accountability - at 82%.

“This isn’t theory. It’s what Wellingtonians themselves have said needs to happen,” Pierson said. “They want a city that’s affordable, safe, vibrant, and ambitious — a city that makes it easier to do business, restores pride in the centre, and looks after people and places.”

Vision for Wellington has created six themes to shift the city’s trajectory.

Pierson said each action was supported by specific, pragmatic steps that could be taken immediately.

“This is Wellingtonians’ vision, shaped by thousands of voices and grounded in independent research,” he said.

“The next step is for candidates and elected leaders to engage with it seriously, and for the community to keep holding them to account. Change will only happen if Wellingtonians keep pushing for it.”

The ideas

The first is to become A City that Listens with clear consultation, an “empathy engine” for civic engagement, launching a “Wellington First” civic leadership pledge asking elected members and city leaders to commit publicly to Wellington’s long-term success and having a framework for saying no.

Back in Business is focused on sectors where Wellington leads or can lead globally — such as gaming, climate tech, digital, fintech, creative industries and govtech.

Ideas include making it easier to start, grow, and stay in business, with clear processes, streamlined approvals, and an attitude of civic partnership, a “turn-key” business hub for small and start-up businesses using the expertise of successful business operators keen to give back and start programmes for young people to start businesses here.

A summer intern programme connecting students with local employers and non-profits to grow talent, boost vibrancy, and keep young people in the city sounds like a new version of the old Student Job Search which once had plenty of students but more recently did not have enough employers.

It also ambitiously wants to tackle housing affordability head-on.

“Move from commentary to action by addressing the real levers of affordability: Cost and income. Reducing transport, rates and insurance pressures will make it cheaper to live here, while growing jobs and wages will make it possible for more people to stay and invest.”

Building a Compassionate Capital takes aim at rough sleeping and safety by committing resources to housing and outreach models.

It also wants a zero harm, zero tolerance city commitment for a safety and care strategy that prioritises harm prevention, community well being, and rapid response.

It’s also about how our city looks.

“Take pride in our appearance. Increase the cleanliness of our streets and footpaths, eliminate graffiti, and leverage council resources and volunteers to give central city streets a spruce-up,” it says.

One of the ideas is a fast turnaround for vacant spaces to become transitional housing, drop-in centres, creative hubs, or safe zones.

Restore the Beating Heart of the City has some of the most immediately doable ideas that should prove popular.

Trial free public transport for events and run targeted pilot campaigns where free or heavily discounted transport is offered during major events — combining mobility access with reasons to come into town.

“Subsidise off-peak and weekend public transport to the CBD. Encourage habit change and reduce travel barriers, particularly for families, young people, and those on lower incomes.”

One of the increasing issues with the central business district has been empty spaces as shops and cafes close.

“Make empty spaces work — fast. Implement a short-term urban utilisation plan that activates vacant spaces as transitional housing, drop-in centres, creative hubs, or safe zones — with wraparound support.”

The report says the affordability of the city needs to be increased so people and businesses can afford to stay and grow.

“That means delivering essential services well, managing rates and debt responsibly, and making smarter, more focused choices. Affordability underpins everything else — a city that lives within its means can invest in its future. “

Become the Biodiversity Capital pushes achieving predator-free status by 2029 which has a really decent chance of being achievable. As the report says this builds on existing momentum.

Others might need a bit of work, like ensuring every infrastructure or housing development contributes to ecological regeneration — via green roofs, bird corridors, wetland re-establishment, and other biodiversity focused planning enhancements.

Under the Celebrate Wellington’s Wildness heading are things like developing iconic weather-immersive attractions such as storm-watching platforms, wind parks, rain gardens, outdoor sculpture walks, building infrastructure and marketing around the elements.

But also more basic ones that could be done simply - enhance visitor infrastructure to match the climate, build heated outdoor shelters, wind-resistant street furniture, waterproof routes and viewing pods.

“Position Wellington’s climate as identity, not deficit. Reframe the narrative: the city isn’t ‘windy and miserable’ — it’s dramatic, energetic, alive’.”

“Vision for Wellington wants to reduce transport, rates and insurance pressures to make it cheaper to live here, while growing jobs and wages will make it possible for more people to stay and invest.”

The ideas in the report are ambitious and creative but detail is a little short on just how some of them will be achieved, what it might cost and who is going to do them. Pierson said that was deliberate.

He said Vision for Wellington had heard the passion, love, frustration and anger of people and were offering to help. The report can be found on Vision for Wellington’s website.

And it’s also something for our future leaders, due to be decided in just a few weeks. Vision for Wellington is holding an event on September 25 with the leading mayoral candidates.

The Post’s mayoral debate will be live-streamed on September 17, moderated by National Affairs Editor Andrea Vance.