‘Our city is in trouble’: Andrew Little on why Wellington needs him

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

The former Labour Party leader believes Wellington has lost its confidence and the city council 'doesn't seem to be offering the leadership that's needed'.

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Andrew Little has declared his candidacy to be Wellington’s mayor, painting a picture of a city that has “lost its confidence, lost its mojo”.

It emerged last week the former Labour Party leader and minister was considering a tilt at the capital’s top job, after previously rejecting an approach by the party.

In an exclusive interview with The Post, Little said he was motivated to run after becoming frustrated by a lack of leadership from the city council.

In the last year, it has failed to get to grip with a financial crisis with the Government forced to intervene by installing a Crown observer, while residents have endured double-digit rates rises.

Andrew Little is a former minister for Treaty negotiations, defence, intelligence service, justice, immigration and health.

Little said he changed his mind after being sounded out by a number of business and community leaders, and some government figures.

“It’s clear to me our city is in trouble. Living in Wellington is becoming unaffordable for working families.

“Cuts to public services are hurting the city and in a time of crisis our council too often seems like it’s out of touch with the people it’s supposed to serve.”

Little, who is working as a lawyer after serving as an MP for 12 years, said his priorities in office would be fiscal responsibility, affordable housing and better project management, such as reconsidering the controversial Golden Mile project.

Little’s resignation as Labour leader promoted Dame Jacinda Ardern, and eventually saw her become prime minister. Before entering Parliament he was president of the party and boss of the EPMU.

His entry into the race marks a serious challenge for incumbent Tory Whanau, whose candidacy was endorsed by the Green Party last week.

Little criticised failed policies championed by Whanau, including a sell-off of the council’s stake in the city airport and a buyout of land under the mothballed Reading cinema.

“Wellington didn’t vote for regressive policies like asset sales, closure of community facilities or millions of dollars in corporate welfare for an international cinema owner,” he said.

“Wellington’s future isn’t going to be built on hawking off the things that are important. It’s going to be in attracting events, new business and people here. We’ve got to make Wellington an affordable city to live in.”

That included tackling the city’s homelessness problem and improving social housing, he said.

As mayor, he would pursue a regional deal to build new infrastructure, put an end to front-loading costs on ratepayers, and run a ruler over-spending.

Specifically, he questioned the “poor oversight” of the Town Hall upgrade, which resulted in a multimillion-dollar cost blowout.

“We don't have to do everything right now or everything in a short space of time, particularly when the Wellington economy is fragile. It is time to say: let's think more carefully about how we pace things.

“I would rather the money goes into the things that strengthen communities, the community facilities that this council seems to think it’s OK to put at risk.”

It will mark a return to politics for the former trade union boss, who left Parliament after the Labour Government was defeated at the 2023 election.

First elected in 2011, he took over the party leadership leader in 2014, eventually stepping aside for Dame Jacinda Ardern.

In government, he held 12 ministerial portfolios, including health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

First designs for Golden Mile project that mayor Tory Whanau says will mark a key step in Wellington's transformation into a more modern, walkable city.

He lives in Island Bay with wife Leigh. Little’s nomination is expected to be confirmed by the Wellington Labour Party this week, with a formal campaign launch to follow in the coming weeks.

The Post asked the Whanau’s office in February for a sitdown interview with National Affairs Editor Andrea Vance, but this was declined. An open invite was extended, but no response was received.

Andrew Little on …

Why now? “The idea has been raised with me before I'd left politics. I was very happy with that decision … But in the last few weeks, the sort of people who have been approaching me haven't just been Labour Party colleagues. They've been from right across the political spectrum. I got to the point where I thought, actually, I do have some skills that could make a difference.”

Ending council dysfunction: “I don't think councillors disagreeing around the table is a bad thing. We should see good, healthy debate … What I think I bring to it is making sure there's good information before we even get to the council meeting.

“The mayor is the leader of council, and the mayor should be engaging with senior officers of council to make sure that all the right questions have been asked and answered. When you're a minister, you're the people's champion to the bureaucracy. It's the same as the mayor and councillors. You are put there by the people, and you're their champion.”

Cycleways: “I think the cycleways are important because it does mean that those people who who want to cycle get to do so safely. I think there are some places where it is questionable. I question whether Molesworth St had to be reduced to one lane. Equally around the Botanical Gardens. We've just got to make sure [there’s] good consultation, good engagement.”

The Golden Mile: “Where there are no contracts, I would want to think carefully about how we face that. Right now, business conditions, particularly in that part of town, are fragile, particularly for hospitality and retail. It is not time for massive disruption that's going to put put pressure on those businesses. So I would want to to think carefully about what the future of that plan looks like.”

A regional deal: “If there's an opportunity to get support from central government to improve the city, the council's duty bound to pick that up. It is important that local government establishes a good, constructive working relationship with central government. I'm confident I can do that. I have good relations with most of the ministers who are in office at the moment, as part of my skill is reaching across the table. And equally, I back myself to stand up for Wellington, to challenge central government if that is needed.”

Why he loves Wellington: “I've lived in Wellington a long time. I love Wellington. I love the fact that I can get down to the beach at Island Bay, get in a kayak and paddle around, or I can hop on a mountain bike and get into the hills.”

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