Actions

The Wellington of the future won’t happen by chance.

It will take focus, discipline, and the courage to act. That’s where the 6 Bold Actions come in: practical steps to turn shared aspirations into visible progress.

Many of these ideas may feel obvious rather than radical – and that’s what makes them powerful. They’re practical, proven, and achievable, with clear precedent in Wellington and other cities.

Become a City That Listens

Wellington will be the best-governed small capital in the world — a city that’s clear, respectful, and accountable.

By bringing empathy into the way we engage, building respectful relationships with residents and creating a trusted, transparent city-wide plan, we’ll move from box-ticking governance to genuine partnership. Wellington will once again be a place where the pipes work, the vision is clear, and trust goes both ways.

As the nation’s capital, Wellington should lead the way in building mature, constructive relationships between local and central government. The Beehive is in our backyard — we can be the model for how cities and government work together.

1

Agree the process up front, keep it simple and consistent, and show respect by making clear how input will shape decisions.
Establish a flagship, barrier-free space (e.g. in Te Ngākau) for proactive, inclusive public engagement — integrating storytelling, real-time decision feedback, transparent trade-offs, and open channels to influence. Support this with a simple, citywide digital platform or app and a clear and understandable timetable for engagement and reporting.
Continue to respect the essential role of mana whenua in council activity, with authentic collaboration at the heart of key strategies, budgets, and planning.
Ask elected members and city leaders to commit publicly to Wellington’s long-term success — not political advancement — with built-in accountability.
Establish a bold new rhythm of accountability and reporting — sharing progress, lessons, trade-offs, and citizen contributions in plain language at regular points throughout the year.
Co-create an end-to-end, architecturally-led, independently stewarded and easily understandable urban master plan — integrating infrastructure, housing, transport, and public realm, while staying agile and responsive to change.
Strengthen Wellington’s ability to lead by rekindling effective, mature partnerships with central government — including capacity to lobby, negotiate, and co-invest with confidence. Prioritise a ‘city deal’ to help stimulate necessary change.
From clean streets to water pipes, make performance and maintenance data public, engaging the community in care (e.g. via gamified dashboards or kaitiakitanga tools like SimCity-style visualisations).
Build public understanding of the trade-offs involved in good governance — and empower council to transparently say no to proposals that don’t align with long-term value.
Bring civic pride back by consistently delivering visible basics: clean streets, working lights, maintained parks, responsive service.

Get Back in Business

Wellington will be economically vibrant – affordable, creative, and buzzing with jobs.

We’ll double down on sectors where we already lead, and make it easier to start, grow, and sustain a business here.

From long-standing local firms to new ventures in retail, hospitality, and beyond, we’ll make Wellington an easy place to do business. An enabler, not a blocker.

By backing local innovation, supporting young entrepreneurs, and making smart long-term investments, we’ll turn decline into momentum — and grow a city where everyone can thrive.

2

Focus on sectors where Wellington leads or can lead globally — such as gaming, climate tech, digital, fintech, creative industries and govtech.
Reorient and focus spending where it reduces long-term fiscal pressure — and supports meaningful job creation and wage growth.
Reinforce the startup ecosystem with a clear mandate and funding, backed by a Startup Advisory Panel of local founders, funders, and academics — aiming for 100 new startups a year and a top-100 global ranking.
Identify and act on the real drivers of affordability, including housing costs, transport costs, and income; and address them with evidence.
Move from commentary to action by addressing the real levers of affordability: cost and income. Reducing transport, rates and insurance pressures will make it cheaper to live here, while growing jobs and wages will make it possible for more people to stay and invest.
Make it easier to start, grow, and stay in business in Wellington, with clear processes, streamlined approvals, and an attitude of civic partnership. Provide a ‘turn-key’ business hub for small and start-up businesses that leverage the expertise of successful business operators keen to give back.
Launch new programmes for young people to start businesses here, expand funding for Creative HQ and other incubators, and embed startup culture into education – focused on the sectors we double down on.
Connect students with local employers and non-profits to grow talent, boost vibrancy, and keep young people in the city.
Empower leaders to stimulate investment, promote stories, and attract talent in priority industries — acting as “growth champions” in the sectors we choose to double down on, for Wellington.
Create a “Wellington Works” narrative that wraps our infrastructure, startups, and sector wins into a strong, positive brand.

Build a Compassionate Capital

Wellington can be a city that looks after people and places — working together to end rough sleeping with dignity, while also setting clear expectations for how we share public space.

It’s a partnership between council, community, and frontline services, backed by real action on public safety: clean streets, working lights, active spaces, and the right support for those who need it.

By combining practical basics with joined-up care, we can create a city that feels safe, fair, and welcoming for everyone.

3

A high-trust, cross-organisation commitment (Council, mana whenua, NGOs, City Mission, Police, MHUD, Oranga Tamariki, Health, community) to resource and deliver joined-up solutions for rough sleeping, safety, and dignity.
Commit to resourcing housing-first approaches and outreach models that centre whānau, cultural safety, and person-centred support — not punitive or contingent responses.
Co-design a city-wide safety and care strategy that prioritises harm prevention, community wellbeing, and rapid response — with visible accountability.
Build this commitment in partnership with those most affected and most involved — especially iwi, outreach teams, residents, retailers, youth services, and health workers.
Increase the cleanliness of our streets and footpaths, eliminate graffiti, and leverage council resources and volunteers to give central city streets a spruce up.
Set measurable targets, fund frontline action, and establish shared governance to deliver sustained, citywide impact.
Treat civic safety as a combination of care for people and stewardship of places — combining street cleaning, lighting, maintenance, and activation with social service investment.
Celebrate successful housing journeys, caring interventions, and space activations to build pride and public understanding.

Restore the Beating Heart of the City

Revive Wellington’s central city by making it easy and irresistible to visit — to work, play, shop, and connect. That means cheaper or free public transport, better parking, great events, and creative use of empty spaces.

From pop-up galleries to night markets, better lighting to family-friendly spaces, we’ll work with locals to bring energy and life back to town — quickly, visibly, and together.

4

Run targeted pilot campaigns where free or heavily discounted PT is offered during major events — combining mobility access with reasons to come into town.
Encourage habit change and reduce travel barriers, particularly for families, young people, and those on lower incomes.
Work with communities, creatives, mana whenua, businesses and building owners to identify and rapidly activate underused CBD spaces.
Implement a short-term urban utilisation plan that activates vacant spaces as transitional housing, drop-in centres, creative hubs, or safe zones — with wraparound support.
Reinstate car parking where possible, and reinstate free parking on weekends.
Engage with building owners and landlords to transform vacant shops, buildings, and alleyways into temporary art galleries, community kitchens, retail labs, co-working lounges, or youth hubs.
Offer low-barrier funding and in-kind support for grassroots organisers to host music, markets, food, sport, and cultural events in central Wellington.
Position Wellington as a globally-recognised hub for live music by supporting grassroots musicians with space and stipends.
Reframe the way the council thinks about hospitality businesses and events, and incentivise staff to act as enablers. Work with promoters and event organisers to realise the growth potential of events.
Celebrate the city’s uniqueness with playful branding, digital storytelling, and campaigns that showcase what’s on, how to get there, and what’s free.
Recognise the importance of our 30,000+ students by supporting affordable housing, liveable city precincts, and pathways from study into work that keep graduates here.
Use sensors, event data, and user feedback to measure the impact of interventions and refine the approach over time.

Own the Biodiversity Capital of the World

Building on the success of Predator Free, Capital Kiwi, and Zealandia, we’ll lead the world in urban biodiversity — becoming the first capital city to fully restore its natural environment.

That means removing pests, connecting green spaces, and putting nature at the heart of how we plan and build.

By backing local restoration efforts, supporting wildlife in our neighbourhoods, and embedding nature into everyday city life, we’ll create a capital that’s not just liveable — but alive.

5

Build on existing momentum (e.g., Predator Free Wellington) to scale eradication across all suburbs, supported by community, iwi, and government partnerships.
Formalise Wellington’s ambition to be the most biodiverse capital city, integrating restoration ecology, urban design, and community conservation efforts.
Link Zealandia, Outer Green Belt, urban backyards, and coastline through native planting, wildlife-safe pathways, and stream restoration.
Fund, train, and empower local groups, schools, and mana whenua to lead environmental stewardship at the neighbourhood level.
Ensure every infrastructure or housing development contributes to ecological regeneration — via green roofs, bird corridors, wetland reestablishment, and other biodiversity focused planning enhancements.
Prioritise ecological actions Wellington can lead globally in, including coastal resilience, forest regeneration, and circular waste systems.
Continue to invest in proven initiatives like backyard trapping, native planting, and community science to scale their impact.
Turn Wellington’s biodiversity success into a global story — using tourism, international media, and partnerships to showcase our leadership. Celebrate local wins, attract nature-based visitors, and position Wellington as the world’s most exciting example of urban ecological restoration.

Celebrate our Wild Side

Wellington’s wild weather and rugged landscape aren’t problems to fix — they’re part of what makes us extraordinary. We’ll turn wind, rain, waves, and light into a tourism strength, alongside our cultural vibrancy and creative energy.

From storm-watching and sculpture walks to mountain biking, trail running, and adventure sport, we’ll design experiences that embrace the outdoors in all conditions.

By turning our climate into a strength, we’ll stand out globally as a city of urban adventure — and grow local pride in the process.

6

Reframe the narrative: the city isn’t “windy and miserable” — it’s dramatic, energetic, alive. Our landscape, skies, and seas are part of our creative DNA.
Develop iconic weather-immersive attractions (e.g. storm-watching platforms, wind parks, rain gardens, outdoor sculpture walks), building infrastructure and marketing around the elements.
Embrace shoulder and off-seasons with festivals themed around light (winter), wind (spring), water (autumn), and fire/sun (summer) — drawing locals and visitors into nature, art, and culture.
Build resilience and comfort into tourism infrastructure (e.g. heated outdoor shelters, wind-resistant street furniture, waterproof routes, view pods).
Support Trails Wellington to grow a world-class system of walking, running, and cycling tracks in the hills — linking ridgelines, coastlines, and the central city, and making trails a signature part of Wellington’s global identity.
Embed cultural narratives about the forces of nature (e.g. Tāwhirimātea, Tangaroa) into tourism and place identity — making the climate part of living heritage.
Let creatives, venues, and restaurants play with the weather theme – stormy dining, wind-themed cocktails, soundscapes, wearable weather art.
Own our uniqueness. Use global PR, influencer campaigns, and film/tourism content to attract niche travellers who seek nature, art, and edge.

This vision is ambitious — but it’s not a blank cheque

Through this process, finance experts and engaged Wellingtonians have already identified billions in potential savings over the coming decade. The difference will be focus.

These are your ideas. Let’s make them happen.

Grab your copy to get the full story — dive into the details, read it, debate it, act on it, and use it to demand better for our city.

Download