A city demanding change
Wellington is a city with enormous potential – a creative, compact capital with strong cultural identity and natural beauty. But that potential is being eroded by a convergence of challenges that undermine liveability, economic confidence, and trust in leadership.
Across a series of panels and focus groups, thousands of Wellingtonians – from business leaders and entrepreneurs to artists, students, and young professionals – have been debating what it will take to make Wellington thrive.
The conversations have been provocative, honest, and solutions-focused, shining a light on what’s broken, what’s working, and what we need to do differently.
Over a period of six months, Vision for Wellington has hosted a series of panel conversations, focus groups, and collaborative events with 35 local thought leaders around topics that matter to Wellingtonians – innovation, arts and culture, events and hospitality, economic growth, transport, funding, infrastructure, civic leadership and distinctiveness.
Over 2,000 Wellingtonians have engaged with these conversations in person, ‘Slidoing’ their questions and comments, and emailing us their thinking. Tens of thousands more have engaged with content from these events online.
From the discussions at these events, data from numerous Wellington surveys, and over 300 written contributions from Wellingtonians, we’ve documented 180 unique problems, opportunities, and ideas. We then engaged an independent research company to ask a representative sample of 500 more Wellingtons for their views.
Themes
There were consistent themes throughout the panel conversions and submissions, helping establish a direction of travel for the city – with the vast majority of Wellingtonians ranking these as high importance.
-
Water pipes, roads, and public spaces are the foundation of a liveable city — and right now, they’re failing. Wellington needs sustained investment, smarter management, and a long-term plan to restore confidence in the basics. Fixing infrastructure is not optional; it’s the platform for everything else we want to achieve.
-
Safety is fundamental to liveability. People need to feel secure in the CBD and neighbourhoods, day and night. Better lighting, cleaner streets, active public spaces, and resolving rough sleeping, intoxication and anti-social behaviour will make Wellington feel welcoming and safe.
-
Wellington needs to be a city that people and businesses can afford to stay in and grow. That means delivering essential services well, managing rates and debt responsibly, and making smarter, more focused choices. Affordability underpins everything else — a city that lives within its means can invest in its future.
-
Public confidence in council has reached an all time low, with too many promises and not enough delivery, ineffective consultation processes and a lack of genuine engagement. Wellingtonians across all sectors, including business and community leaders, are frustrated that they are not being asked for their help to move the city forward. Clear priorities, honest communication, and visible results are essential to rebuild trust. Residents need to feel listened to, but decisions also need to be made decisively and with majority support.
-
A compact city should be easy to move around, but Wellington’s transport system isn’t living up to that promise. We need a more balanced approach — reliable, affordable buses and trains, well-planned roads, safe cycling and sensible parking — so people can get where they need to go, reduce congestion, and keep the city vibrant and connected.
-
Wellington’s future depends on being a city where talent and businesses choose to stay. Growing the economy means supporting startups and innovation, partnering with our universities, attracting investment, and making it easier for existing businesses to thrive. As the capital city, we must build and maintain strong, constructive relationships with central government — of any political stripe — turning that connection into partnerships, investment, and tangible support. A stronger economy will create jobs, fund better services, and help keep the city affordable.
-
Wellington must be ready for the shocks we know will come. Earthquake and climate resilience need to be planned for, sensibly balancing risk and cost – from strengthening critical infrastructure to future-proofing homes and public spaces. Acting now reduces future costs and protects lives, livelihoods, and the city’s identity.
-
Vibrancy is Wellington’s edge — its arts, hospitality, student and creative energy are what set it apart. Supporting these sectors, making public spaces attractive, cultivating more events and encouraging street-level activity will keep the city lively, distinctive, and a place people want to spend time.
-
A great city brings people together. Wellington needs to nurture strong, inclusive communities by supporting public spaces, cultural life, and opportunities for people to connect. Listening to a wide range of voices, while making decisions that reflect a shared majority view, will help build a sense of belonging and pride.
Principles
We know what needs to be addressed – but just as important is how. These principles have emerged throughout the process and have been used to guide development of the vision – and what we need to do to make it happen.
-
Do fewer things, but do them brilliantly. Stop overpromising and underdelivering, be bold and proactive, and stick to what we commit to. Test, learn, and improve – aiming to be world-class at the things we choose to do.
-
Back what makes Wellington unique – our harbour, waterfront, greenbelt, biodiversity, talent, creativity, compact scale, and vibe. Build on these natural and cultural advantages to attract more talent, investment, and visitors, rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
-
Listen widely – mana whenua, communities, businesses, experts, and visitors – but build consensus and act with majority support. Be respectful, transparent, clear, and straightforward in decisions. Make it easy to work with council and to take part in shaping the city.
-
Make Wellington financially sustainable, good at delivering essential services, and attractive to talent and businesses. Welcome innovation, scan for new technologies, support existing businesses and learn from other cities to strengthen jobs, culture, and opportunity.
-
Think long-term and act as kaitiaki for Wellington. Plan for future generations, factoring resilience into every decision and building a city that can afford – and sustain – its future.
Now’s the time to turn ideas into action — to rebuild trust, fix what’s broken, and make the most of what makes us unique.
What follows is a vision co-created by Wellingtonians. Thousands of voices woven into one collective call for change. It reflects the conversations, concerns, creativity and care in our community — and makes an invitation to act.
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.