Increase of reported anti-social behaviour towards Council staff

Reports of anti-social behaviour towards Wellington City Council frontline staff have increased by 323 percent in the past five years, rising from around 400 reports per year pre-COVID to almost 1000 annually.

Three women standing together infront of a pink wall. — Council kaimahi (staff) on Pink Shirt Day.

Personal confrontation is the Council’s highest reported risk – ahead of other critical risks including health and safety risks, vehicles, and work-related hazards.

Friday, 16 May is Pink Shirt Day, an annual celebration that began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a peer was bullied for wearing a pink shirt.

In Aotearoa, Pink Shirt Day works to create environments in schools, workplaces, communities and whānau where everyone feels safe, valued and respected. The Council is embracing the day as an opportunity to remind everyone to be kind to all staff who are working for the city – we are Wellingtonians too.

The Council released a video in 2022 highlighting real life moments where staff have faced conflict when going about their work.

Watch our people tell their stories and listen to the real-world issues facing some of our front-line workers.

The Council has a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying and supports an inclusive, creative and diverse environment. Kaimahi (staff) are trained to deal with challenging situations on the frontline when they occur. However, the toll confrontations with and abuse from the public does take its toll.

Find out more about Pink Shirt Day on their website.