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Wellington City Council Wellington City Council
News | 4 December 2024
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A look back at the Pōneke Promise

Wellington City Council launched the Pōneke Promise in 2021 in response to concerns from Wellingtonians that the city felt unsafe. The work started by this initiative is evolving, and we’re writing a City Safety Plan to ensure an integrated and enduring approach to safety in our city.

Two workers standing on the street in orange high vis jackets.

Funded in the 2021 Long-term Plan, the Pōneke Promise (PP) was a three-year initiative committed to making our city a safer, more vibrant, welcoming place to be together with the community.  

The Council knew it had to deliver projects that made a difference, quickly. Council committed $7.2 million to addressing these safety concerns and working with key organisations across Pōneke to kickstart initiatives under four focus areas:  

  • Investing in initiatives that will reduce harm and sexual violence  
  • Improving public space so they are welcoming, well maintained and designed with safety in mind, particularly around Te Aro Park 
  • Opening three new welcoming and accessible community spaces for the inner-city neighbourhood  
  • Working with businesses to ensure they have the tools and support to feel safe 

The Council knew that safety and vibrancy are closely linked, so its initiatives focused on practical safety elements like better visibility, increased CCTV coverage and police presence, but also on creating a better atmosphere and spaces for people to spend time in together.  

View down Dixon Street.
Dixon Street after Urban Design changes.

This was based on what the Council heard from members of the community about what safety meant to them throughout its projects. Different arms of the organisation worked closely together to bring a holistic approach to life – from including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles in our public space upgrades to understanding the role events and outdoor dining can play in making a space feel safe. 

The Council has worked with mana whenua who have been involved throughout, particularly on projects that centred on Te Aro Park which is a site of significance. 

The Council knows the issues we face within the city can’t be solved by it alone, so it's worked hard with partner organisations to share information and deliver solutions. Strengthening partnerships across the Council, with the public and our partner agencies has been key to the success of the Pōneke Promise.  

Earlier this year councillors asked for a new City Safety Plan, building on the foundations set by Pōneke Promise. Its vision is to create a safe and inclusive Wellington where public spaces are inviting, communities thrive, and people feel safe. 

As we move into a new phase for city safety, we will draw from our strong relationships to develop enduring and cooperative safety strategies that reflect what the community wants. 

Te Tai Ohinga Youth Hub living spaces, kitchen and visitors to opening
Te Tai Ohinga, the free space in the city for young people aged 13-18.

Councillors have been kept up to date with the progress of the plan, and action from it is expected to kick off early 2025.    

Timeline of Pōneke Promise achievements  

A huge thank you to our Pōneke Promise partners for their ongoing collaboration: NZ Police, Wellington City Mission, DCM, Hospitality NZ, First Retail, Te Herenga Waka, Chamber of Commerce, Retail NZ, Ministry of Social Development, Metlink and Taranaki Whānui.

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