Halfway there and going strong

As we pass the midpoint of the Council’s term, I just wanted to share some of the progressive achievements we’ve delivered in the past year and a half.

It's not quite everything, but I think it's worth celebrating.

This city is rising to meet the difficult intergenerational challenges we are grappling with. The pride that Wellingtonians have demonstrated in our city throughout it all has been incredibly motivating to me.

Let's dive in.

Transport

• Approved 36 kilometres of new cycle ways.?
• Passed the Golden Mile project to revitalise the central city and improve buses and pedestrian space.???
• Added kilometres of new bus priority lanes, with more planned through the CBD.?

?Housing?

• Established a rental warrant of fitness inspection service to ensure rental properties are healthy.??
• Passed a District Plan that removes character protections and enable tens of thousands more housing units.?
• Put $580m in the Long-term Plan to make our social housing warm, safe and dry for tenants.??
• Completed new Te Kainga office to apartment conversions to provide affordable inner-city apartments.?
• Introducing a rates remission for strengthening earthquake prone buildings.?
• Successfully advocated for government review of Earthquake Prone Buildings.?
• Advocated for the removal of heritage restrictions on Earthquake Prone Buildings.??

Environment, Water and Waste?

• Increased funding for water infrastructure by 67% to fix pipes and reduce wastage of precious water.???
• Increased operating funding three times (against officer advice) to fix more leaks and get on top of the backlog.??
• Approved and started the sludge minimisation project to reduce sewage going to landfill and cut carbon emissions from waste by 60%.??
• Agreed to introduce household organic recycling reducing up to 8,000 tonnes of organic waste going to landfill every year and over 3,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.??
• Funded fix-up of wastewater overflows to restore te mana o te wai of Kaiwharawhara stream.??
• Put $4.5m funding in the Long-Term Plan to roll out the Green Network Plan in the CBD?
• Investing to switch from gas heating of swimming pools to reduce carbon emissions by 3,000 tonnes annually.??
• Planted over 100,000 trees annually in the outer town belt.??
• Put in funding to Capital Kiwi to help reintroduce Kiwi to Wellingtons hills.???
• Endorsed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Social, arts and recreation

• Boosted funding for city safety and social services by $5m.??
• Boosted funding for community arts and events by $6m.??
• Funded the opening on Te Pa Maru (run by City Mission), Aotearoa’s first wet-house.??
• Re-opened Frank Kitts Park on our waterfront.
• Raised over $300,000 to support Loafers Lodge victims and advocated for stronger building safety for boarding houses.?
• Ran first-ever Citizen's Assembly to help guide our Long-term Plan budget.

Economy?

• Opened Tākina to attract conferences and events.?
• Introducing a higher rate on vacant land to encourage development in the CBD.??
• Opposed commercial rates cut that would have increased resident's rates by 4%.?
• Introduced a rates remission for Māori land.??
• Funding top up to pay workers at Council organisations the Living Wage.
• Funded hosting of FIFA Women's World Cup to boost our hospo and tourism sector.

It’s been a challenging and turbulent time around the country, and globally. In that light, speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and establishing a friendly city relationship with Ramallah was incredibly important to me. As was, at a national level, opposing the Government’s moves to remove Māori Wards.?

Around the motu, councils are struggling with inadequate funding and aging infrastructure, and there’s no question that has led to some tough choices.

Despite this, I remain committed to delivering on policies that serve our people, our communities and our environment.

I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about the big things planned for the coming year and a half.