Community joins forces for Cuba Street clean-up

About 40 people came together on Monday to give Wellington’s beloved Cuba Street a scrub-up before the busy festive season kicks off.

About a dozen people standing in a line wearing yellow high-vis vests and gloves, holding cleaning buckets and sticks for picking up rubbish.

Thirty kilograms of rubbish was collected, gardens were tidied, and the bins, playground and other street furniture were given a good wash.

The community clean-up was organised by Wellington City Council as part of the wider work under the Pōneke Promise – working towards a safe, vibrant and welcoming central city.

Council staff, Mayor Tory Whanau, Councillors, and members from local businesses including Iko Iko, rolled up their sleeves alongside teams from Greater Wellington Region Council, DCM, Wellington NZ, Wellington Police, Sustainability Trust, Hāpai Ake (our Local Hosts) and the Inner-City Residents Association.

A young woman with dark curly hair and wearing a high-vis yellow vest, smiling as she crouches beside a red post, which she scrubs with a bucket of soapy water. — Volunteers from the community rolled up their sleeves to help make Cuba Street sparkle.

Central City Manager Prak Sritharan says the amazing community effort ensures the street looks fresh ahead of the busy festive season.

“Cuba Street is such a unique, vibrant, and iconic part of the city, celebrated for its heritage, creativity, and hospitality. We felt it deserved some TLC as we move into its busiest time of the year.”

Surrounding businesses and the passionate Cuba Street community said they were keen for the elements that make Cuba Street quirky and unique to be retained.

“We were mindful of old posters and bill stickers as they are all part of the Cuba Street character. We wanted to get rid of the gunge, not grunge!”

A young woman smiling while wearing a pink high-vis vest, as she scrubs a red plastic slide. — Pōneke Promise Project Manager Clara Breitenmoser gets stuck in.

The Cuba Street clean up builds on the success of the Courtenay Place clean up in June, recognising the opportunity to give focus to particular parts of the city ahead of key periods of activity.

“While the Council has a team of street cleaners who service the city daily, community clean-ups help build pride and commitment to the inner city as a neighbourhood, as well as making a visible improvement to the street,” says Prak.

“We’ve seen how enthusiastic members of the public are to show up for the central city and they were keen to be part of future events.

“A huge thank you to all the volunteers, community groups, and local businesses who joined our staff to help make this happen.”