Wellington's Alive and Well

There’s no denying that Wellington has faced its fair share of challenges recently, with steep public sector cuts, water infrastructure woes, and council rates potentially rising by 15.9% in the year ahead. But much like 1991 and 2008 before it, the headlines suggesting Wellington’s demise are overstated. It was a hard year, but Wellington is far from dying. In fact, much like those prior cycles of economic wilting, the Capital will bounce back.

That was why Wellington Alive was created. It serves as a platform for celebrating the great things about the Capital, a city I love. It’s not an attempt to ignore the problems Wellington faces, but to highlight the successes and opportunities that often get overlooked in the daily news cycle.

This isn't about sugarcoating reality. It’s about balance.

The media’s role is vital. To inform the public, to hold decision-makers to account, to shine a light on issues that need fixing. But when the overwhelming narrative is one of crisis, controversy, and catastrophe, it can distort perception. Wellington is not just a city of problems; it’s a city of people, culture, innovation, and potential.

Consistent negativity in a city, or for that matter, a workplace or family, creates a self-fulfilling cycle that can lead to disengagement, reluctant investment, and, consequently, economic decline. This is a well-documented psychological and sociological effect, seen in phenomena like the Pygmalion Effect, or negativity bias.

Negativity in cities often discourages investment, drives away talent, and lowers morale among residents. A prime example of this is Detroit’s decline between the 1960s and 2000s. While real economic and social issues existed, the persistent narrative of crime, corruption, and decay discouraged businesses from reinvesting. Even as some areas saw improvement, the perception of decline delayed recovery. As Edward Glaeser stated in Triumph of the City, “The stories we tell about places shape their fate as much as any economic or political force.”?

Can you imagine for a moment being consistently told in the workplace, school or your own family that you weren't good enough and your prospects weren't improving. While there might be some truth to it, repeated negativity would discourage effort and potentially turn failure into a self-fulfilling prophecy.?

The Pygmalion Effect illustrates how higher expectations lead to improved performance. A 1968 study by Rosenthal and Jacobson showed that students labelled as “intellectual bloomers” performed better simply because teachers subconsciously gave them more encouragement and opportunities. The same principle applies to cities: if a place is constantly framed as “failing,” people disengage, businesses hesitate to invest, and the decline becomes reality.

This is a significant factor in many Kiwis now avoiding the news entirely.

A 2023 survey conducted of 1204 New Zealanders found that 60% reported they sometimes, often, or almost always avoid the news. This is the highest level of news avoidance reported in any national study - anywhere. This trend highlights how persistent negativity in media can drive people away, making it harder to engage the public in meaningful discourse and solutions.

Negativity, when unchecked, becomes self-reinforcing. Whether in cities, workplaces, or teams, it drives disengagement, suppresses innovation, and slows growth. If we constantly focus on what’s wrong with Wellington without acknowledging what’s right, we risk creating a doom spiral that becomes reality. Focusing on positive, local storytelling can help engage audiences and grow readership.??

So, to those who say Wellington is in crisis, I say this: Take a walk down Cuba Street, visit a local café, or take in some live music. You’ll see what I see - a city that is full of life, full of promise, and very much alive and well.