Wellington City Council

Ever wondered about the unique world of Te Ngākau? 🤔 Meet Farzad Zamani, PhD, the Programme Manager who describes this space as a "city within a city." 🌆 Te Ngākau features a complex network of buildings, including the Michael Fowler Centre, the Town Hall, and the Te Matapihi Central Library, all connected by underground corridors. This makes it both fascinating and challenging to redevelop! Farzad’s role involves overseeing the entire strategic direction of Te Ngākau, from daily operations to coordinating with project managers, contractors, and stakeholders. His background as a commercial architect is crucial in navigating this intricate space. The redevelopment will enhance the area with more natural elements and cultural stories, including revitalising the Town Hall with creative, cultural, and civic spaces! Despite the challenges, Farzad and his team are committed to turning Te Ngākau into a vibrant hub for all to enjoy. Want to know more about the project’s milestones and vision? Click the link below to read the full story and see how Farzad and his team are shaping the future of our city! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gDR-sAP9 #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke #WorkForWellington

We're thrilled to announce that our innovative initiatives and creative works in Pōneke have received a series of awards! 🏆 Our Freyberg Street neighbourhood street trial has won the Urban Connection Award at the Golden Foot Walking Awards! This project has made Lyall Bay School safer for tamariki and created a lovely community space. Kudos to the Berhampore and Miramar Central School's walking school buses and the installation of pedestrian improvements for also being recognised. We are also proud of our City Arts projects, which have been acknowledged for their significant contributions to placemaking and urban activation! 🎨 Waimapihi mural on Garrett Street by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, was celebrated in the Placemaking category for its vibrancy and cultural significance. 🎭St James Theatre mural, Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua, by Keri-Mei Zagrobelna and Tina Rae Carter, was recognised for its stunning contribution to Wellington's urban landscape. 👫 The Courtenay Place Lightbox exhibition, "Kō Te Reo O Ngā Tāngata - The People’s Voice," curated by Mark Amery and David Cook, was nominated for the Bert Roth Award for its powerful community storytelling. 🚌 The ‘Lesbians are everywhere’ bus back, designed by Neneh Browne, was honoured for its impactful Pride month message and social significance. These accolades showcase the power of public art in celebrating our history and culture, making Wellington vibrant and welcoming! Learn more about these awesome achievements, in the story below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gnx_JjS9 #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke

From early August, Wellingtonians will be receiving their first rates notice for the new financial year. We’ve seen your questions on social media and have created this article to answer them. Rates help us deliver over 400 day-to-day services! These include essential services like drinking water, recycling, roading, social housing, and safety. Plus, they support things that make our city vibrant and enjoyable, such as parks, recreation centres, pools, libraries, and community centres. We mentioned that average rates increases will be around 16.9%, with an additional sludge levy of about 1.6%. But why might your rates seem higher? That’s because your total bill includes rates for both Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council, as well as the sludge levy. Check out the story below for answers to: 💧 What do rates pay for? 🏭 What is the additional sludge levy? 🧾 How are rates set? 🔍How do I find out what my rates will be this year? 📈 My rates have a higher percentage increase. Why? 📊 This year there is a rating valuation – what is that? 💸 How do revaluations affect rates? 🤝 What help is there for people who are experiencing financial hardship? #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke

What was once an empty Council lot is now a vibrant marketplace thanks to Karori locals Sharon Powick and Joanne Thorlby! 🙌 Located at Campbell Street and Karori Road, the space hosts 'Food Truck Friday' every week from 4pm to 8pm, attracting up to 2000 people, and a farmers' market every Saturday from 9am to 1pm. This initiative, which started at the end of January, was organised through Council’s development group to utilise an unoccupied lot while its future is decided through a tender process. Sharon, an event planner, revived the beloved Karori market, which had closed due to the pandemic. Most items, like plants, seating, and turf, were donated by the Council, local businesses, and the wider community, adding to the market's charm and sustainability 🌍 Learn more about this awesome community initiative below! 👇 https://lnkd.in/gj5Kd-MR #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke

The final layer of concrete has been poured into the Wellington Town Hall basement. This marks a significant step towards revitalising this historic gem, originally built in 1902 🏛️✨ Here’s the scoop: 💪 The pour was an around-the-clock effort! 🚚 They used 280 m³ of concrete in this final pour, about 70 truckloads! 🏗️ Over three separate pours, a total of 1,200 tonnes of concrete has been used in the basement! This milestone is part of our mahi to strengthen the Town Hall, ensuring it stands strong for many years to come. The basement will be home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra offering a top-tier space for rehearsals, performances, and teaching! From retrofitting base isolators to the intricate sheet piling process to this huge concrete pour, our teams from Council and Naylor Love have tackled every part head-on. They’re blending heritage with cutting-edge construction techniques to secure this landmark’s future. We appreciate your patience as we continue this important work 💛 Learn more about the Town Hall redevelopment project in the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/g6kn5xEn #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke

James Mallett’s regime is not for the faint-hearted! 💪 As an NZ Army Reserve Force soldier, senior lifeguard, and full-time commerce student, his weeks are challenging and jam-packed. Straight out of college, James was looking for roles that would complement his army training and help him earn a living. Becoming a lifeguard at Karori Pool in 2021 was a perfect fit, allowing him to stay in peak physical condition while serving the community. Around the same time, he went into basic training for the NZ Army. James finds that lifeguarding complements his army career, teaching him leadership and service skills that he carries into every role. From the pool to the parade ground, James embodies dedication and hard work. We’re proud to share his inspiring journey, check out the Our Wellington story below! 👇 #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke #WorkingForWellington

Want to help us transform Wellington's cycling infrastructure? 🚲 Last year, Wellington was one of ten cities selected to receive the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure grants by the Global Designing Cities Initiative. This grant aims to help build more innovative, connected, and expansive cycling infrastructure to serve as many people as possible. As part of this grant, we’re thrilled to announce our new Street Innovations Challenge! We’re looking for designs for a new form of cycleway separation that is safe, flexible, durable, affordable, and aesthetically fitting for Wellington. The winning designer will have the opportunity to work with local manufacturers to produce a prototype! The challenge is open until 29 September. Join our webinars with industry experts to get inspired and informed. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/gZUaYaxZ. #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke #BICIcities Global Designing Cities Initiative

Did you know there are hidden streams beneath Thorndon Quay?🤔 In pre-European times, six awa flowed into the harbour along Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road. While these streams are mostly hidden in culverts and pipes today, we're bringing them back to light with beautiful etchings. As part of our upgrades to improve one of Wellington's most important commute routes, we're marking their locations with stunning designs by Taranaki Whānui cultural expression artist Len Hetet’s studio, Baked Design. Using a vapour blaster, these etchings create darker patterns in the pavement that stand out after rain. The first etchings, opposite Pipitea Marae and Function Centre, are on show now! In addition to these beautiful etchings, the upgrades to Thorndon Quay include: 🚴 A two-way cycle lane on the eastern side 🚌 Peak hour bus lanes in both directions 🚶♂️ Signalised on-demand crossings for pedestrians 💡 Improved lighting and planting Check out the full story below to learn more 👇 #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke

It's been a year since we unveiled the stunning upgrades to Swan Lane and Garrett Street, and we're excited to share the community's response 🎉 The goal was to create a safer, more inviting environment that enhances community interaction and enjoyment. The addition of new surfacing, rain gardens, lighting, and seating has not only beautified the area but has made it more useful for locals and visitors. From dog walking to dance classes, this space is buzzing with life. Nearly 200 survey responses highlighted a 94% satisfaction rate, with many praising the improved walkability and enhanced safety. Businesses and residents in the area have also noticed the positive changes, noting that the general ambience and vibrancy have significantly improved. Stephanie O'Shea, our Senior Urban Designer, reflects on the project's success, “It has been awesome to get this feedback on the finished space from businesses and the community and to hear how we can improve our processes for upgrading our city." Curious to learn more about the results of this transformation? Read the full story below 👇 #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke

This year alone, we've lost 8 kororā to dog attacks. Te Whanganui a Tara is the only capital in the world home to these adorable little blue penguins, and we must all do our part to keep them safe! 🐧💙 Here’s what you can do to make a difference: 🦮 Keep dogs on a lead unless you’re in a designated off-leash area. Even then, keep an eye on your pups 🎣 Discard fishing gear responsibly to prevent penguin injuries. 🚗 Drive carefully around coastlines at night and watch for our waddling friends. 📞 If you see roaming dogs, call our Dog Control team at 04 499 4444. 📋 New signage is up around known nesting areas to help protect our kororā, so please follow the signs. We’re working with mana whenua, Places for Penguins, the Department of Conservation, and penguin ecologists to protect these special taonga. If you have spotted a sick, injured, or deceased kororā, please call DOC at 0800 362 468. They might direct you to take the penguin to The Nest Te Kōhanga at Wellington Zoo for expert care or to see what happened. We’re rolling out even more signage across our city to keep our kororā safe, so keep an eye out. For more information on how you can protect our kororā, visit the link below! https://lnkd.in/gqba3YqF Let’s work together to make sure our kororā can thrive! 🐧💙 #OurWellington #TōTātouPōneke