Our Wellington magazine - Autumn edition 2024

Disclaimer: We make this magazine to encourage you to get involved in local events, to demonstrate the great work happening in Wellington, and to show you some of the many reasons there are to be proud of our city. Wellington City Council has, to the best of its knowledge, sourced accurate information. We will not be held responsible for any errors, changes in pricing, or misinformation.

The information in this text version is current as of the date of the original publication of 1 April 2024.

We’re proud to use Aotearoa’s indigenous language in our publications. If you come across a word you don’t know, there’s an easy way to learn what it means – visit maoridictionary.co.nz

This magazine is produced by our Communications and Engagement Team. If you have any feedback, email ourwellington@wcc.govt.nz

Kia ora koutou

Ka nui tō tātou waimarie i Te Whanganui-a-Tara e pae ana i ngā ara, ngā ara hīkoi me ngā ākau tino pai, me ngā ngahere whakakitekite i pēnei ai nā ngā tini kaitūao e whakato nei i ngā tipu māori, te nakinaki me te hopu kīrearea kia momoho ai ā tātou manu tūturu. I te huringa o te wāhanga tau, ā, ka uru atu tātou ki te ngahuru e whakahau ana mātou i a koe kia puta ki te tirotiro haerei ngā āhuatanga o tō tātou tāone nui.

Kei te whakapau kaha mātou i konei i te Kaunihera kia noho ai a Te Whanganui-a-Tara hei tāone nui manaaki ake, tū pakari ake. Kei roto i ēnei mahi ko tā tātou Mahere Wā-roa, e mahi nei mātou i ēnei marama e heke nei.

Ko ngā mahi matua kei runga i a mātou i tēnei wā ko te whakatika i te raruraru mō te wai, me te whakarite he toritori, ā, he kāinga mahana, haumaru, maroke hoki mō ngā tāngata katoa.

Ko tētahi mea hira o te hātepe Mahere Wā-roa ko te whiwhi whakaaro mai i tō tātou hapori mō ngā mea e hiahia ana rātou kia arohia e te kaunihera i ngā tau 10 e heke nei.

Ahakoa e ngākaunui ana koe ki te huringa āhuarangi, tūnuku, ō tātau pāka, mō te āhua rānei o tā mātou kohikohi me te kōmaka para, e whakatenatena ana mātou i a koe kia tukuna mai ō whakaaro mō te mahere hukihuki.

Koinei tō tāone nui, me tō tahua – me mātua kōrero mai me pēhea tōna āhuaki a koe!

Tory Whanau
Koromatua

Laurie Foon
Koromatua Tuarua

Kia ora koutou

We are so lucky in Wellington to be surrounded by stunning trails, walks, beaches, and spectacular bush thanks to the thousands of volunteers who plant native trees, weed, and trap to enable our native birds to thrive. As the season changes and we head into autumn we encourage you to get out and explore what our city has to offer.

Here at the Council we are working hard to make Wellington a more inclusive, and resilient city. Part of this work is our Long-term Plan, which we will be working on over the coming months.

We are focused on prioritising getting our water situation fixed, as well as ensuring our city is vibrant and everyone has a warm, safe, and dry place to call home.

A key part of the Long-term Plan process is getting feedback from our community about what they want to see our Council focus on over the next 10 years.

Whether you’re passionate about climate action, transport, our parks, or even how we collect and sort out rubbish, we encourage you to submit and tell us what you think of the draft plan.

This is your city, and your budget – make sure to tell us how you want it to look!

Tory Whanau
Mayor

Laurie Foon
Deputy Mayor

Did you know you can…

Contact us any time
Phone: 04 499 4444
Email: info@wcc.govt.nz

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We send out newsletters on a range of topics, from news about our recreation sector, to what’s happening in the arts and at libraries, to a weekly guide to life in the capital. Subscribe to our enewsletters.

Tell us when something needs fixing 
If you see Council property that needs fixing – such as a streetlight, leaking pipe, or public toilet – you can report it online or call us on 04 499 4444.

Explore our tracks and reserves
Discover Wellington's walks and walkways, beaches and coast, parks and gardens, playgrounds and mountain bike tracks. For more information, see our recreation section.

Keep your bike safe
There are dozens of bike racks, covered cages and bike boxes scattered across the city so you can ‘lock and leave’ when you need to. Forgot your lock? No problem, find a Locky Dock and secure your bike for free. For more information, see our page about parking and locking your bike.

Find the latest information on water
Find out about water restrictions and get tips on conserving water on the Wellington Water website. 

Join a community conservation group
The work of environmental volunteer groups makes a huge contribution to retaining and restoring nature in Pōneke. Plus reconnecting with nature has huge benefits to your health. Visit our environmental community groups page to find a group to join near you.

Wā tākaro Playtime

The fun of foraging

Foraging is a vibrant act of play many children enjoy. It teaches us to be nature's detectives, helps us learn about the world and look at the things around us in different ways. And the best part? We can do it every day! We can explore our backyard, the park, or a nearby forest. So, put on your exploring hat and try these ideas.

Flashback

Have you explored toys and games of days gone by? Hunt out spinning tops, ball-and-cup, and marbles, or try hopscotch, sack races, blind man's bluff, and leapfrog.

Engineering

Have you tried creating your own contraption? Try making a water wall using your recycling or check out the Rube Goldberg machine for some inspiration.

Nature

If you are happiest outside, give one of our scavenger hunts or nature challenges a go.

Movement

Create an obstacle course with objects lying around, learn a new game like gaga ball, or have a dance party.

Tākaro Māori

Play a game of Ki-O-Rahi at Pukehuia Park, give making and using poi toa a go, or get creative with some arts and crafts using harakeke (flax).

Experience

Make musical instruments with found objects. Excavate items from ice. Rummage through op-shops or family wardrobes to create cool costumes. Head to Island Bay Aquarium and pretend to be a marine biologist.

Pārekareka is a movement to promote and advocate for children’s rights to play in Pōneke.

Kōrero mai Have your say

Have your say on our city's Long-term Plan

Formal consultation on the 2024–34 Long-term Plan will open on 12 April and close on 12 May.

We’re updating Wellington City’s next 10-year plan and budget.

We can continue to invest in making Wellington thrive but need to balance the pace of our investment with what we can afford.

As a community, we need to make some tough decisions about what to prioritise.

The 2024–34 Long-term Plan will set out the Council’s priorities, including information on the activities, service sand projects the Council intends to deliver, what that delivery will cost, how those costs might be met, and the impact on rates and other fees and charges.

Providing feedback is an important way to have your say on the future of our city.

For more information visit our Let's Talk website.

Ngā pitopito kōrero News

Central Library: A place for all

The earthquake strengthening and reconstruction of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, our Central Library, is tracking on time and budget.

One of the key areas progressed in early 2024 was the creation of a seismic gap – a rattle zone – on Victoria Street.

The rattle zone, effectively a trench around the building, is set to be completed in early 2025. In the event of an earthquake, the building, separated from the ground on its base isolators and sliders, will be able to move into this space.

Within the building, the next phase will see work on levels 3 and 4, which will be extended to create a larger floor area, and the installation of structural frames for the mezzanine extension.

Te Matapihi is planned to open in the first quarter of 2026. Wellingtonians love their libraries, and Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui will be a modern, uniquely Wellington library, delivering integrated Central Library, City Archives, Customer Service Centre, and Experience Wellington’s Capital E services.

It will celebrate the unique cultural identity of Pōneke and strengthen the story of mana whenua and the history of Te Ngākau Civic Square. When reopened, Te Matapihi will be the first of multiple projects within the Te Ngākau precinct that will bring our communities together for shared learning and discovery, and creative, cultural, democratic, and arts experiences. For more information, see Te Matapihi.

No changes to recycling in Wellington

The Ministry for the Environment standardised kerbside recycling across New Zealand in February. This means the same materials are accepted for kerbside recycling nationwide. These changes will reduce confusion over what can and cannot be recycled, in turn reducing contamination and waste to landfill.

The new standards will help Aotearoa create a circular economy, where materials have strong and sustainable end markets and can be recycled multiple times. Luckily for Wellingtonians, there are no changes to how we recycle, but this is a good opportunity to make sure you are recycling right. For more information visit what can go in kerbside recycling.

Building communities with colour and creativity

Vibrant new murals have popped up in several suburbs over the summer, enlivening our community spaces. Communities can initiate murals, like the central Karori mural by artist Ash Sisson that was organised by the Karori Business Association. Council supports communities to develop murals that make visible the histories, people, and stories of our places and that add a pop of colour and creativity to our cityscape.

The 90-metre-long mural in Island Bay, by artist Greta Menzies, was inspired by workshops with senior students from Island Bay Primary and St Francis de Sales, for a laneway connecting their schools to the village.

Murals are great opportunities for artists to diversify their creative practice. They give places a sense of identity and are a proven proactive approach to reducing graffiti.

Watch these spaces – new murals are being created in Berhampore, Wadestown, and Kilbirnie! For more information about how to develop murals, please have a look at the Mural Toolkit.

Permanent bus lane camera on Adelaide Road

We will gradually be installing permanent cameras to monitor key bus lanes to help keep our buses and city moving, starting with Adelaide Road shortly. Nobody wants to be caught using a bus lane at the wrong time – be sure to check signs for the hours a bus lane operates. To brush up on how to use bus lanes correctly, see how bus lanes work.

Update on the Moa Point sludge minimisation facility

You may have seen a bit of construction activity at Moa Point, where we are building a sludge minimisation facility. The facility is the first of its kind in New Zealand, and will reduce the amount of sludge created through our wastewater treatment process by up to 80 percent. It will process what's left into a safe, non-odorous and stable product that is acceptable to mana whenua and can be purposefully reused. It will also allow us to reduce our carbon emissions and waste to landfill.

Since construction began in May last year, we’ve made excellent progress. A hillock has been removed to give space to store construction equipment, and it will become the new ground support facility for the airport. The previous one had to be moved to make way for the sludge minimisation facility’s construction.

The material from the hillock was recycled by being used in a housing development in Silverstream, and at the Southern Landfill. Piling works have also begun on site.

Those of you who receive rates bills will have recently seen a message about the new levy being introduced to all Wellington ratepayers in the new financial year. For more information about the facility and the levy visit our Moa Point sludge minimisation facility page.

Te Tai Ohinga: A space for our youth

This autumn, we’re excited to be opening Te Tai Ohinga – a brand new space for young people aged 13–18.

Designed with young people to create a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment, Te Tai Ohinga works to address the gap in spaces for young people in the city.

Soon to be located at 203 Willis Street, Te Tai Ohinga will be a dedicated space for young people to come together, create and connect. It will have study spaces, a podcasting studio, and an accessible kitchen available for use free of charge.

Gifted by Kura Moeahu, ChairmanTe Rūnanganui o Te Āti Awa, thename Te Tai Ohinga refers to the tides of the sea and to the ebb and flow of young people in Wellington.

Visit Te Tai Ohinga on Instagram to learn more.

Moving over 11,000 commuters a day? Absolutely

Thorndon Quay is being transformed to provide a range of reliable travel options, enhance safety and create attractive spaces for all.

About this project

Thorndon Quay is one of the busiest commuter routes in Wellington, used by more than 11,000 Wellingtonians every day.

The project will install peak hour bus lanes in both directions to improve bus travel times and reliability, making it more convenient to take the bus. It will also be a significant step toward completing the walking and cycling link from the central city to Ngauranga and Petone, which will enable more people to bike between the Hutt Valley and Wellington safely.

Work is underway to transform the area, and this will enable:

• Safer streets for everyone
• More reliable bus services at peak times
• A connection for cyclists into the wider cycle network from the north
• A more attractive street environment.

Features taking shape through 2024

Construction started late in 2023 and is being undertaken in sections, to enable traffic to continue to flow easily and safely.

• Five new raised pedestrian crossingsto help safer crossing at busy points along the route.
• Increased mobility, loading and motorcycle parking within thepart-time bus lanes.
• Four cargo cycle parking bays.
• Seating, planting, and lighting along dedicated footpath space.
• Art reflecting the local landscape suchas awa (streams) and cultural heritage.

Construction on Thorndon Quay is expected to be complete by April 2025.

Your guide to kerbside recycling in Wellington

What can go in recycling

Items below can be recycled as long as they are washed but not squashed, and all lids removed.

Plastics numbered 1, 2 and 5

• Drink and milk bottles
• Food containers and trays
• Bottles and containers from your bathroom, kitchen or laundry
• Clear and coloured glass bottles and jars

Glass

• Clear coloured glass bottles and jars

Paper and cardboard

• Cereal boxes and egg cartons
• Office paper, domestic junk mail, newspapers and magazines
• Flattened cardboard boxes, includes pizza boxes (remove scraps and cheese residue)
• Aluminium drinking cans, steel food and pet food tins

If in doubt, leave it out. If an item isn't listed above, it should go in the general rubbish.

For more information visit sorting your rubbish and recycling.

Ō tātou wāhi Our Places

Double the fun for tamariki

This autumn, tamariki in Wellington have two revamped play areas to enjoy. Playgrounds at both Frank Kitts Park and Botanic Garden ki Paekākā have been given a makeover.

Te Aro Mahana, the new playground at Frank Kitts Park, replaces the park’s former play area.

The new design includes a number of changes to make the playground more accessible, including removing all walls and steps, providing an accessible carousel, an accessible swing seat and an accessibility education board. The picnic table furniture is accessible as well as all the pathways and entry points.

Te Aro Mahana has been designed as a series of interconnected play spaces, with a maritime and coastal landscape theme. There’s a brand-new lighthouse, a special carved waka named Whetuu Maarama by artist Matthew McIntyre Wilson (Taranaki, Ngā Māhanga, and Tītahi) and a series of climbing nets and swing sets.

A shaded seating area sits in the heart of the playground, with many other benches and picnic tables nearby so parents and caregivers can watch over their children.

The new Botanic Garden play area design was shaped by public input and includes a modern dual flying fox, a large climbable tower, three long slides and an all-ages swing set. A seesaw, monkey bars, and springers were also added.

Synthetic safety surfacing has been installed to the more accessible equipment, which includes a transferable carousel, talk tubes, musical panels, and a sensory play module. The play area’s new ‘flora’ theme ties in with the gardens and the bees which pollinate them.

The two new play areas were blessed and opened to the public earlier this year. For more information, see play areas.

A passion for plants, kai, and kōrero

Imagine heading out into the wilderness and surviving on nothing but the food you can find along your path. Food foraging – and then finding creative ways to prepare the kai – is Bart Cox’s passion.

Wellington foodies may recognise Bart as one of the founding owners of Sweet Mother’s Kitchen.

But after 20 years in hospitality as a business owner and chef, he’s branched out – these days working as a threatened plant species specialist.

After studying ecology and biodiversity and working for the Department of Conservation and Greater Wellington Regional Council, he joined Wellington City Council’s Urban Ecology team, building the partnership with mana whenua to support the city’s wonderful and sometimes rare, threatened plant species.

Bart works closely with mana whenua, ensuring meaningful engagement takes place when liaising on projects. Often these discussions, or wānanga, take place away from the corporate world on a marae. Beyond his work at the Council, and to complement this mahi, Bart has built an initiative that brings his love of food to these events around Pōneke.

“We take an extra step, where we respond or cook to the kaupapa. So we write recipes that reflect the nature of the kaupapa, and of course indigenous ingredients are often the stars. In preparation we forage for a whole range of mostly native ingredients to use.”

Bart began foraging in his younger days, taking “epic walks around the coast”.

“I just wanted to access that spirit of nature and get out of the built-up environment. After a while it just occurred to me that I'd just try and get all of my food on my travels. On these trips I would only ever bring a few kūmara, just to make sure that I had something in case.

“And I'd start learning by just talking to locals I bumped into, finding out what's edible and what's not. My dad was a hunter and gatherer too, so I’d learnt from him. I'd bring a few hooks, I even had a bow and arrow at one point for rabbits and possums. And then sometimes a mask, so I could dive for a kai as well.”

Bart, who also has an arts degree in te reo Māori and linguistics, says he’s always been a natural cook.

“Cooking for people – that's one of my great pleasures in life. And you can bring just a few ingredients together that you've managed to find in the environment, and it's like, wow, that was so delicious. One thing I love is when people try my cooking and then say ‘seriously, can you really eat that!?’”

But Bart says foragers must be mindful when heading out into the bush to gather kai. Some foods may be unhealthy to harvest due to pollution levels, disease or toxicity, and overcollection could harm the ecosystem.

“Do a bit of homework before taking things, as there can be significant damage to populations through over harvesting or not realising they are threatened already.

“There can be pressures on our reserves and our special places like our forest ecosystems, and that can be the case for foraged kai as well. We don't necessarily have an official guide around that sort of stuff, so it's on us all to research and find out whether the species that you want to forage is on the threatened species list.

“And maybe rather than eating it, if you really want to get involved and you want to eat it at some point, if you've got the time and resource then you could join a group who wants to try and bring it back. Or see if it's available at the garden centre and then start growing it in your backyard.”

Check out the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network website to find different species and their conservation status.

Working for Wellington

We're always looking for people who share our passion for Wellington, and want to help us make our city an even better place to live, work and play. Find out about job vacancies, employee benefits, and what it’s like working for Wellington in our careers section.

Ngā mahi whakangahau Put it on the calendar

Check out some of the exciting events the Council is supporting over the summer months. For more information, visit our events and festivals page.

Note: This information is current as of the date of the original publication of 1 April 2024. Please check the individual event websites and social media pages to see whether an event is on, has moved online, and for up-to-date venue and entry information.

WHITE FERNS v England

Monday 1 April | Cello Basin Reserve

Catch the WHITE FERNS ODI as they take on England. For more information, visit the NZ Cricket website.

NZSO Mahler 5

6.30pm, Friday 5 April | Michael Fowler Centre

For more information, visit the NZSO website.

Community Gardens Open Sundays

Sundays 7, 14, 21, 28 April | Various locations

Community gardens across the city will host visitors each Sunday in April. For more information, see Community Gardens Open Sundays.

Music at the Begonia

11am–12noon, Sunday 7 April, 5 May, 2 June | Botanic Garden ki Paekākā | Free

Join the Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden for music in the Begonia House Foyer. For more information, visit the Wellington Gardens website.

Glow in the Dark Titiwai Tours

7pm & 8pm, Friday 12 April, 10 May, 7 June | Botanic Garden ki Paekākā

Join the Friends of Wellington Botanic Garden for a fascinating tour into the world of titiwai, NZ's glow worms! Space is limited so bookings required. Tickets $10. For more information, visit the Wellington Gardens website.

NZSO Testimony Shostakovich & Tchaikovsky

6.30pm, Friday 12 April | Michael Fowler Centre

For more information, visit the NZSO website.

WWI Memorial Walk

Saturday 13–Sunday 28 April | Bolton Street Cemetery ki Paekākā | Free

Embark on a self-guided tour through Bolton Street Cemetery to discover the stories of local ANZAC soldiers laid to rest. For more information, visit the Wellington Gardens website.

Chinese Footprints: Wellington History Walking Tour

1pm–3pm, Saturday 13 April | Poon Fah Association, 150 Vivian St

Trace the footsteps of Wellington’s former Chinese quarter with historians Lynette Shum and Nigel Murphy. For more information, visit the Wellington Museum website.

Thaumatropes: Magical Moving Images

10am–2pm, Monday 15 & 22 April | Cable Car Museum

Draw a picture, spin it, and watch it come to life at Cable Car Museum’s free drop-in whānau school holidays activity. No bookings required. Donations appreciated. For more information, visit the Cable Car Museum website.

Mahi Toi with Tayla Hartemink

Friday 19 & Tuesday 23 April | Wellington Museum

Toi Māori workshops for tamariki to create their own artworks inspired by tikanga, whānau and pūrākau. For more information, visit the Wellington Museum website.

Flight Club: School Holidays Science Workshop

9am–1pm, Tuesday 16–Wednesday 24 April | Space Place

Tamariki aged 8–12 explore the forces of flight in hands-on science experiments each Tuesday and Wednesday of the school holidays. For more information, visit the Space Place website.

Let's Get Digital!

Wednesday 17 & 24 April | Nōku te Ao Capital E

During the April school holidays tamariki can practice their digital skills in Capital E's Media Lab. Workshops for ages 8–10and 11–13. For more information, visit the Capital E website.

Ōtari Raranga Weavers

Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush

Learn about traditional Māori weaving and healing practices using native plants, at weekend and evening classes. For more information, visit the Ōtari Raranga Weavers website.

Embroidery 101

10am–12.30pm, Thursday 18 April | Nairn Street Cottage

Tamariki aged 9–12 learn the basics of embroidery and cross stitch inspired by the cottage and its beautiful garden. For more information, visit the Nairn Street Cottage website.

Family Day

11am–3pm, Saturday 20 April | City Gallery Wellington

A range of activities and pop-ups happening throughout the Gallery that the whole whānau can do. For more information, visit the City Gallery website.

Faultline Ultra

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 April | Various locations

This celebration of Wellington trails offers runners and mountain bikers events from 5km to 160km. For more information, visit the Faultline Ultra website.

Anzac Day

Thursday 25 Apr | Pukeahu National War Memorial

With support from Wellington City Council, the Wellington RSA marks Anzac Day with several commemorative events around Wellington on 25 April. For more information, visit the Wellington RSA website.

City Nature Challenge

Friday 26–Monday 29 April

Join this citizen science project to identify and document the wild things in our city. It’s easy! Explore wildlife between 26–29 April, take a photo of what you find, and share it to the iNaturalist app. For more information, visit the City Nature Challenge website.

MARVEL: Earth’s Mightiest Exhibition

On now until Sunday 28 April | Tākina

Celebrate and explore Marvel’s 80-year history, with a behind-the-scenes look at some of Marvel’s most iconic characters. For more information, visit the Wellington NZ website.

Astronomy on Tap

8pm–10pm, Tuesday 30 April | Space Place

Sit back and relax in the full-dome digital planetarium. For more information, visit the Space Place website.

Wellington Museum Low Sensory Hour

4pm–5pm, first Thursday of every month | Wellington Museum

Featuring low light and sound throughout the museum. For more information, visit the Wellington Museum website.

Nairn Street Cottage Tour

12pm–4pm, weekends | Nairn Street Cottage

Gain a fresh perspective on Pōneke past with an interactive tour of one of Wellington’s oldest homes. For more information, visit the Nairn Street Cottage website.

Urban Dream Brokerage Enlivens Our Streets

April | Te Aro precinct

Featuring a projected housing bubble, vibrational pou and a listening walking parade. For more information, visit the Urban Dream Brokerage website.

It’s creativity gone wild at Zealandia

April | Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne 

Tamariki, let your artistic side shine these school holidays with activities to let your imagination run wild. For more information, visit the Zealandia website.

Light Cycles

Saturday 11 May–Sunday 9 June

Experience nature’s rhythms come to light at Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā. For more information, visit the Festival of the Arts website.

Kids Night Walks

April–September | Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne

Kids’ Night Walks are an adventurous experience for younger tamariki to meet wildlife that only come out at night. For more information, visit the Zealandia website.

Give a Meal in May

Support Kaibosh Food Rescue throughout May. Make a donation and look for pop-up events including at Harbourside Market. For more information, visit the Kaibosh website.

Jane's Walk Wellington

2pm, Saturday 4 May

Join Living Streets Aotearoa for a walk following in the (imagined) footsteps of Jane Jacobs, who fought to save her 1960s New York neighbourhood from motorway development. For more information, visit the Living Streets Aotearoa website.

Sci-Fi Sundays: Star Wars

6pm, Sunday 12, 19 & 26 May | Space Place

Feel the force this May with the Star Wars prequels screened in Space Place’s planetarium. Tickets includes a movie, popcorn, and a star talk. For more information, visit the Space Place website.

Waste-Ed with Kate

6pm–8pm, Tuesday 14 May | Sustainability Trust

Learn what happens to our waste, get tips, and be challenged to reduce your waste. Space is limited so bookings essential. Tickets $10, includes goodie bag. For more information, visit the Waste-Ed with Kate website.

Staying Safe Refresher Driving Course for Senior Drivers

10am–2pm, Wednesday 15 & 22 May & 12 June | Various locations

Join Age Concern for a classroom-based refresher workshop for senior road users. For more information, visit the Age Concern Wellington website.

Food Lovers Masterclass with Kate

6pm–8pm, Thursday 16 May | Tawa Community Centre

Learn to make the most of your food. For more information, visit the Waste-Ed with Kate website.

NZSO Tchaikovsky 5

7.30pm, Sat 18 May | Michael Fowler Centre

For more information, visit the NZSO website.

Road Safety Week

Monday 20–Sunday 26 May

We’ll be holding a Yellow Shirt Day and other events around the capital. Share your road safety hero story and inspire positive change on our roads, creating a safer city for all. Send stories to roadsafety@wcc.govt.nz and find events near you. For more information, see our road safety section.

Botanic Encounters

9am–4pm, Friday 24–Wed 29 May & 9am–12noon, Thursday 30 May | Botanic Garden ki Paekākā | Free

An exhibition on surface pattern design, inspired by plant collections at Botanic Garden ki Paekākā. Find the exhibition in the Begonia House foyer. For more information, visit the Wellington Gardens website.

Jubilation Strauss & Shostakovich

7.30pm, Thursday 30 May | Michael Fowler Centre

For more information, visit the NZSO website.

Dr Who | Worlds of Wonder

Saturday 1 June–Monday 28 October | Tākina

Come face to face with the iconic characters and on-screen worlds from across the show's history. For more information, visit the Wellington NZ website.

Confessions of a Sleepwalking Insomniac

6.30pm, Wednesday 5–Saturday 8 June & 4pm, Sunday 9 June | BATS Theatre

Playwright Helen Vivienne Fletcher draws on her lifetime of sleep misadventures in this new solo play. For more information, visit Helen V Fletcher's website.

Lōemis

Monday 10–Friday 21 June

Lōemis festival returns for its ninth instalment of wintery wonder. Explore the unfamiliar with music, film, installations, markets, food, and a Friday night winter solstice celebration. For more information, visit the Loemis website.

Kaupapa pūtea Funding

We have a range of funds available for community groups and projects to help make our city a better place.

Each fund has a web page that includes the name and number of a contact person, who you can connect with to talk through your ideas before completing your online application. Visit our funds section to see what we have funded before, closing dates, and kaimahi (staff) contact details.

Arts and Culture Fund

Support for arts and cultural projects in the city that deliver to our Aho Tini outcomes: Aho Tangata (Our People), Aho Hononga (Partnership with Māori), Aho Whenua (Our Places), and AhoMahi (Pathways).

Creative Communities Scheme Fund

Groups and individuals can apply for projects that encourage participation in the arts, reflect our diversity and creativity and get young people involved in the arts.

Natural Environment Fund

Supports projects and activities that protect the city's indigenous biodiversity, restore ecosystems and connect people to nature.

Climate and Sustainability Fund

Supports community groups, businesses, schools and Māori entities to undertake climate action initiatives in Wellington. Our priorities are projects and programmes that are Māori-led and/or can demonstrate measurable emissions reductions. Reach out to our Community and Funding Advisor Raven.Maeder@wcc.govt.nz for more information, to discuss ideas and alignment with fund criteria, or for support with the application process.

Social and Recreation Fund

Supports community projects which make the city safer, more resilient and connected.

Waste Minimisation Seed Fund

For projects under $2,000 that provide innovative solutions for reducing waste through community projects.

Active Transport Workplace Fund

Available for workplace programmes, infrastructure and services that will encourage employees to actively commute to work.

Tō tātou hāpori Our community

Growing healthy connections

From lush pocket gardens to rambling urban oases, you’ll find Wellington’s community gardens tucked away in unexpected places.

Beside bowling clubs on Mt Victoria or meandering behind the houses on the road to Ōwhiro Bay, they’re as varied as the people who tend them.

But all gardens are great places to learn about growing local kai, connect with your community, and spend some time in nature, says Sustainability Advisor Stacey Gasson.

“Many Wellingtonians aren’t aware of how many community gardens we have. With more than 25 dotted around the city, there’s probably one near you.”

So, what makes a community garden? Most of the city’s community gardens are on Council-owned or managed land, but not all of them. Some have allotments available, but others share all their land and produce. What they have in common is that they’re open to the public and can’t operate for profit.

Stacey says our Community Gardens Open Sundays are your chance to find out more about our community gardens and how you can get involved.

Each Sunday in April (7, 14, 21, 28), gardens in a different area of the city will be hosting visitors.

“We’re holding the open days over a month this year to give people time to walk or cycle, to wander, to relax and chat,” Stacey says.

“Gardeners have created these flourishing shared spaces where you don’t need cash to participate and time just drops away. Gardening is all about natural cycles and nature’s time.”

See community gardens for more information, including how you can get involved, garden locations, contact details, and regular working bees.

Gardening with foraged materials

Building a vegetable garden at home doesn’t need to cost the earth.

Many communities across Pōneke are taking creative and sustainable approaches to gardening with foraged and recycled materials.

Consider creating garden beds using recycled wooden pallets, a herb wall using plastic milk containers, or old washing machine drums as planters to help kickstart your kai-growing journey. Here are some neat examples.

Te Māramatanga/Terrace Tunnel Community Garden, MacDonald Cres, Te Aro

Take a trip to this garden to see how they build raised beds from untreated pallets. Using a double layer of wood, and stakes instead of nails to hold things together, allows rotting wood to be replaced without dismantling the bed.

Northern Community Garden, Jay St Reserve, Paparangi

A worm farm made in a bathtub and florescent light covers repurposed to protect crops from birds are two clever recycling hacks from the gardeners tending this lovely space.

Rintoul St Villas, Berhampore

Gardeners at the Rintoul Villas and community supporters have put together a big, tiered planter from pallets for herbs, veggies, and sunflowers. This one’s doubly recycled, repurposing pallet seating created by Benchspace’s community woodworkers for FIFA.

Kaicycle Urban Farm, 5 Hospital Rd, Newtown

Little planters on legs and lined with scrap hessian were made for a Kaicycle fundraiser. Small enough to fit on a balcony, raised up to be accessible, and light enough to transport, smart design makes homegrown herbs and salad possible for more of us.

Keen to make your own pallet planter? Visit the Sustainable Trust website to find out how.

And if you’re foraging for materials, the Tip Shop at the Southern Landfill and nz.freecycle.org are great sources of treasure. 

To feed or not to feed? Bringing birds to your backyard

With the urban location of Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, manu (birds) of all kinds are visiting backyards around Wellington.

They bring us joy, but with their return it is important to be aware of how we interact with them. The team at Zealandia recommend planting native trees and shrubs, rather than putting out sugar water feeders or fruit and nuts to attract manu to your gardens. Here are five reasons why:

1. Behaviour issues

Ordinarily, kākā must work for their food, but easy access to high-energy food leaves them with time and energy to burn! We hear of kākā damaging property, and it appears this behaviour occurs where they are being fed.

2. Feed everyone!

Planting trees and shrubs helps everyone in the ecosystem, like lizards, insects and insect-eating birds! Visitors like pīwakawaka (fantail), riroriro (grey warbler) and tauhou (silvereye) will be regulars in your garden.

3. Diseases

Disease spreads when high numbers of manu flock to feeders. These diseases can also pose a risk to humans. Trees allow manu to spread out and attract different species across the year.

4. Predation

Feeders also make manu more vulnerable to predators. A loud group of manu can be a beacon for predators who can take advantage of distracted birds.

5. Nutrients

Manu have evolved alongside our native plants, which provide them with all the nutrients they need. Nuts are like junk food to them and can have negative impacts on their health. Feeding kākā can make them very sick, give them deformities, and even lead to death.

To find out more, visit the Zealandia website.

Mahi huringa āhuarangi pae matua Climate action capital

Communities connecting to make a difference 

Wellingtonians are working together to reduce their impact on the environment, lower emissions and make stronger connections along the way.

This mahi means anything from growing kai to share, finding ways to reduce waste by starting a repair cafe, or having a wānanga about climate change.

Here’s a sneak peek into what three Wellington communities are doing to make an impactful difference.

Voice of Aroha

This group of former refugees and migrants got together to work collectively, amplify their voices, and increase community participation on key issues. Last year, they took on the climate change challenge and hosted three workshops, an educational tour, a 10-day online campaign, and created over 20 climate-related podcasts, stories and events.

It’s all about demonstrating the power of sharing diverse stories to inspire action, says Voice of Aroha founder and CEO Kodrean Eashae. “We love being able to create all these opportunities for people in our communities to become climate champions and share their dreams and plans for the future.”

For more information, visit the Voice of Aroha website.

Little group, big ideas

Ngaio Crofton Downs Going Carbon Neutral is a little group with a big mission to get their suburbs to net zero carbon. They have many different practical projects that come under this kaupapa, including a weekly fruit and vegetable co-op, a monthly recycling drop-off for hard-to-recycle items, a monthly repair cafe, climate conversation events and a Zero Together climate action course. These initiatives complement other climate-positive projects in the community, like the mahi of the long-running Trelissick Park nature protection group.

Group member Ian Turk says one Ngaio whānau has even invited people into their home to share their experience with having solar energy and show how to grow a productive veggie garden in clay soil. “We know that people in our neighbourhoods really want to do their part to tackle climate change, so we are inviting them to join together in this mission with us.”

Want to know more? Visit Ngaio Crofton Downs Going Carbon Neutral on Facebook, and on Instagram.

Haere Whakamua

In Strathmore, the community is building on their strong relationships to work together to take climate action. Haere Whakamua, an initiative led by Strathmore Park locals and supported by EkeRua Rebicycle, is building knowledge, connections, wellbeing, and skills for Māori whānau in Strathmore Park. They are showing how caring for people and caring for the environment is interconnected.

The community is harvesting and cooking local kai together, while at the same time learning about traditional knowledge of the whenua, moana and climate change. The group is also helping people get bikes so they can get around in low-carbon ways. Group member Pauline Johnson says the community has so much to give to this kaupapa. “We work on the smell of an oily rag to make stuff happen, with koha from our community.”

Visit Haere Whakamua on Facebook. 

Keen to do something?

Communities are playing a key role in our city’s response to climate change. If you're keen to do some climate mahi in your community, get in touch with our team to find out more.

Email climateaction@wcc.govt.nz

Mahi toi Capital arts

Note: This information is current as of the date of the original publication of 1 April 2024. Please check the venue’s individual websites and social media pages to see whether an event is on, has moved online, and for up-to-date venue and entry information.

Coming up at Toi Pōneke Gallery

Yumoi Zheng and Isadora Lao: always love xxx

On now until Friday 19 April

always love xxx is an exhibition through Yumoi Zheng and Isadora Lao’s stories. A core focus within this body of work is connection: location, family, queer identity, love and how these overlap.

Ben Leonard: Breathwork

Sat 27 April – Friday 17 May

2023 Sound Artist in Residence, Ben Leonard, presents Breathwork, a project exploring the acoustic properties of air through spectral decomposition in an immersive ambisonics exhibition.

The project responds to the natural environment, both internal and external, in terms of the role air movement plays in our sonic landscape. This includes breath, wind, and the way air moves through instruments.

Alison Leauanae: Saili – seek

Saturday 25 May – Friday 21 June

Saili – seek explores the journey of navigating one’s path in seemingly uncertain times. Leauanae’s contemporary stitched works on paper are inspired by connections to the past, that propel us forward into a hopeful future, using motif and a visual language informed by her diverse cultural heritage.

For more information, visit the Toi Pōneke website.

Coming up at City Gallery Wellington

Michael Mahne Lamb: Through Points

On now until Sunday 19 May

Te Whanganui-a-Tara artist Michael Mahne Lamb (Ngāti Kahungunu) uses photography to explore the ways we experience the built environment and its state of constant flux and transformation.

Julia Morison: Ode to Hilma

On now until Sunday 19 May

Julia Morison investigates the power that artistic forms and materials hold to convey symbolic meaning. Drawing on a range of knowledge systems, from the arcane to the contemporary, Ode to Hilma presents 10 large-scale paintings which expand these central concerns.

Ahsin Ahsin: Turbo Croc 2.0

On now until Sunday 19 May

Turbo Croc 2.0 is a new series of works by multidisciplinary artist Ahsin Ahsin that riffs off the evolution of his ‘Croc’ character. Drawing from 80s and 90s sci-fi films and skate culture, Ahsin’s paintings are boundary pushing manifestations of big street NRG.

Memory Lines

On now until Sunday 30 June

Memory Lines brings together the workof five contemporary artists – Fiona Clark, Kirtika Kain, Rozana Lee, Sriwhana Spong and Hōhua Thompson – to consider the relationship between memory, knowledge and art-making.

Julian Hooper: Self-referencing Alphabet

Saturday 8 June – Saturday 28 September

Tāmaki Makaurau-based painter, Julian Hooper, celebrates the endlessly iterative nature of the alphabet in this exhibition featuring paintings, works on paper and a new mnemonic alphabet frieze. Hooper is well-known for creating playful and puzzling compositions that slip in and out of geometric abstraction. Prepare to see the alphabet turned on its head.

For more information, visit the City Gallery website.

Light Boxes

Courtenay Place Light Boxes

Swamped: Artist Turumeke Harrington, Curator Chloe Cull

On now until Monday 3 June

Harrington’s tumu (stumps) reference the survey stakes that were used at Te Aro Pā to mark and divide Māori land, and the removal of these by Māori residents in protest. Swamped refers to both the original swamplands that provided food and resources and the overwhelming nature of modern life.

Cobblestone Park Light Boxes

Horizons: Philippe Campays, Jacqueline McIntosh, Bruno Marques, Carles Martinez Almoyna

On now until May

The exhibition Horizons questions how architecture might be shaped by and for the soil on which it is sited as it explores the conditions of the underground. A series of soil samples from the Wellington region takes the viewer into the depths of soil horizons that comprise the unique identity of place.

Masons Screen

Ongoing

Supported by Council and programmed by CIRCUIT Artist Film and Video Aotearoa New Zealand, Masons Screen presents a new artist’s work each month. The screen is located on Masons Lane– a pedestrian walkway between The Terrace and Lambton Quay.

The 12 March–22 April video is Two Stones, by Noel Meek and Jake Kīanō Skinner. It features a bicultural relationship explored through a shared musical material, stone.

Te Whakaaturanga o Te Aro Pā

Another Casualty of Colonisation, the Rise & Fall of Te Aro Pāwhich: Illustrations Nicholas Ahu Gartner (Ngāti Tūwharetoa); Animation Tom Trengrove; Sound Design Bea Gladding (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi) & Benjamin Hunt; Taonga Puoro Byron Hikaka (Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa)

This video exhibition at 115 Manners Street illustrates the impacts of colonisation on the Māori settlement of Te Aro Pā following the arrival of the first European settlers in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Ngā huihuinga o te Kaunihera, ngā komiti me ngā poari ā-hapori Council, committee and community board meetings

Meetings calendar

All meetings take place at Council headquarters, 113 The Terrace, or in the suburbs for community board meetings.

Council and Committee meetings are livestreamed via our YouTube page, so please tune in at youtube.com/WgtnCC. You are also welcome to attend any meeting listed.

Meeting dates and locations sometimes need to change, so please check final details on the meetings page or phone 04 499 4444.

For more information, see: Council and committees.

Te Koromatua me ngā Kaikaunihera The Mayor and Councillors

The people who represent you Wellington City Councillors are elected by Wellington residents every three years. Their role is to represent the views of residents and help the Council make the best decisions for the city.

For more information, see:

• Mayor Tory Whanau
• Councillors
• Mana whenua representatives

Not sure which ward you’re in? See our ward maps and boundaries page.