Positively Pōneke

Major infrastructure upgrades are needed to make our city a better place to live, work, and play. This work is essential and it can’t be delayed, so we’re getting construction rolling throughout 2023 and beyond.

What's on this page

Our vision Road works and closures What we're working on Business support The Pōneke Promise Partners Contact us

Our vision: A creative capital where people and nature thrive

Wellingtonians want a city that is climate-friendly, affordable, and a welcoming place to live for generations to come. 

Work is underway to transform Wellington with critical infrastructure investment, including fixing pipes, seismic strengthening and civic development.

The Spatial Plan and District Plan review will help make more housing available and more affordable by allowing more medium-rise and high-rise housing in our city. The Golden Mile and the Bike Network Plan will remodel our streets and enhance the way we use them, while Te Atakura – First to Zero is our blueprint for taking urgent climate action. Tākai Here sets out our partnership agreement with mana whenua.

We've got some big builds happening too – Te Ngakau Square including the Town Hall, Te Matapihi Central Library – as well as the less visible but equally important upgrades to water infrastructure and network.

Tākina exterior taken from Cable Street side
Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre

We’ve delivered the innovative Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre bringing new visitors and business to Wellington.

Road works and closures

Visit our road works and closures page to search for road works, roading projects, and street events that affect traffic access.

Check Wellington traffic in Google Maps.

Find traffic information for your trip on state highways via Waka Kotahi: Traffic map (nzta.govt.nz)

Work is underway to transform Wellington

Map of Wellington city centre and the waterfront with numbers 1 to 14 showing the location of completed work and work in progress.

Map key:

1. Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre – completed
2. Featherston Street bike improvements – completed
3. Grey Street bike improvements – completed
4. Post Office Square bike improvements – completed
5. Lower Cuba bike/pedestrian improvements – completed 
6. Kent Terrace Bus/bike/pedestrian improvements – completed 
7. Oriental Bay Bus/bike/pedestrian improvements – completed 
8. Frank Kitts park playground – completed
9. Te Matapihi | Central Library – due to be complete early 2026
10. Town Hall and Music School
11. Wellington Water Rising Main – due to be complete 2025
12. Wellington Water Pump Station – due to be complete 2024
13. Opera House – in planning
14. The Golden Mile – in planning 

Transforming Wellington map (3.53MB PDF)

Architect’s projection of completed library building exterior.

Te Matapihi Ki te Ao Nui (Central Library)

In 2020, the Council opted to remediate the current central library building to the highest level of earthquake resilience. The refurbished building will deliver an integrated Central Library, City Archives, Customer Service Centre, and Experience Wellington’s Capital E, as well as celebrating Pōneke’s unique cultural identity. It’s due to be completed in early 2026.

Find out more about Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (Central Library) strengthening and modernisation project.

Town Hall and Music School

The Wellington Town Hall strengthening project includes redevelopments to support a new national music centre which is a collaboration between Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa—New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), and the Wellington City Council.

Wellington Water

Wellington City Council are partnering with Wellington Water to upgrade, renew and reconfigure the wastewater network across Wellington. Work is currently underway on Taranaki Street and Inglewood Place. There is also a major wastewater and stormwater project in Hawkestone and Molesworth Streets.

The Golden Mile

The Golden Mile is the main retail and commercial strip from the Parliament end of Lambton Quay, through Willis and Manners Streets, ending at the entertainment hub of Courtenay Place. Work is underway to revitalise the Golden Mile to move more people through the central business district by foot, bike, scooter, wheelchair, and public transport, creating space for thriving and attractive streets.

Frank Kitts Park and Te Aro Mahana

The new look playground is now open and incorporates key elements including the refurbished iconic lighthouse slide, accessible equipment, swing sets and a carousel.

The design has been made in partnership with mana whenua and acknowledges our strong partnership together.

Workers planting trees in Swan Lane.

The Green Network Plan

The Green Network Plan proposes a continuum of green areas to deliver ecological, social, economic, cultural, and public health benefits to the central city. It’s planned to include areas in both public and private ownership. This includes things like new parks and increasing tree and native plantings.

Sustainable transport

The Council is working in partnership with the Government, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and Let's Get Wellington Moving to make it safer and easier for people to bike, walk, and use public transport in Wellington. Work is currently underway on Thorndon Molesworth Street and Murphy Street bike routes, and Thorndon Quay priority bus and cycle lane.

Business support

Wellington City Council recognises the impact that significant construction works can have on businesses. 

We’re partnering with WellingtonNZ who have a dedicated Business Support Manager who can work one to one with businesses to help them manage through construction disruption and change. Learn more about how WellingtonNZ supports businesses.

The Pōneke Promise

The Pōneke Promise brings together community partners to make Wellington safe and welcoming. Focus areas include: reducing harm, improving public and community spaces, and working with business to increase confidence. We have several partners including government organisations and NGOs.

Partners

Contact us

You can get in touch with the Council 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.