New Zealand’s capital will host its 15th Pacific arts festival this weekend. Photo: Wellington City Council The Wellington Pasifika Festival coincides with the city’s anniversary weekend and showcases the region’s diverse Pacific communities, cultures and cuisines. Wellington City Council’s events producer Suzanne Tamaki said since its beginning in 2005, the festival has grown and morphed …
Media release from Guardians of the Bays A decision by the Environment Court to proceed with Wellington International Airport’s runway extension application is disappointing given the length of delays, increasing costs and strong public opposition, according to community groups opposed to the proposal. Richard Randerson, Co-Chair of Guardians of the Bays representing more than 600 concerned individuals …
Runway extension process “protracted and flawed;” increasing costs to ratepayers Read More »
The Wellington City Council’s Summer City programme kicks-off its 40th year on New Year’s Eve, with more than 90 events over the next three months – and something for everyone. For 40 years, Summer City has been entertaining locals and visitors with a huge variety of events and activities, and its history is equally …
Wellington City Council’s 40th Summer City starts on Monday Read More »
New Zealand skaters will be launched on to the world stage via Bowlzilla Wellington 2019 on March 9 at Waitangi Park. Big returns are coming for the skaters of New Zealand with the maturation of their skateboarding Capital Assets. Photo: RNZ / Nicolas Bennett The road to the Olympic Games for skateboarding begins this …
Bowlzilla offers international opportunities for skateboarders Read More »
The man who died while diving off the Wellington coast on Christmas Eve has been named. Photo: Worser Bay, Seatoun Photo: Supplied / Wikimedia Commons / Pseudopanax He was 58-year-old Gary Hibbs, from Upper Hutt. Emergency services were called to Seatoun on Monday shortly after 4pm when the man – who it’s believed was free diving – …
Man who died while Freediving in Wellington named Read More »
A High Court judge has dismissed an appeal against a plan to build a Chinese garden in Frank Kitts Park on Wellington’s waterfront. The lobby group Waterfront Watch had argued the garden would take away green space, block harbour views and make the park less safe. The Environment Court threw out its appeal in April, …
High Court judge approves Chinese garden on waterfront Read More »
Fifty children and adults will be receiving free shoes this Christmas to assist them with their health and fitness journey. Round the Bays Wellington – Photo: Ari Bakker / Flickr Shoe Clinic and Sport Wellington have joined forces to provide families involved in Sport Wellington’s Green Prescription Active Families programme with shoes to help support their …
New Zealand is a nation of weather watchers, and even more so on Christmas Day. Plans for Christmas dinner, camping, swimming and so much more hinge on the weather playing the game. So, without further ado, here’s a brief summary of what to expect: Rain in the north and dry in the south. NIWA meteorologist …
Christmas Day weather: What it’ll be like in your patch Read More »
Wellington City Council went against engineering advice when it approved a major waterfront building that ended up irreparably damaged in the Kaikōura earthquake. RNZ story by reporter Phil Pennington BNZ Harbour Quays building. Photo: RNZ / Phil Pennington Engineers who appraised the building raised multiple concerns about the BNZ Harbour Quays including about how much it might …
Engineers warned council over quake-damaged building’s design Read More »
The Wellington City Council will decide on Thursday whether to proceed with a new Convention and Exhibition Centre. Artist’s impression of the proposed convention centre on Cable Street It will consider a proposal that the centre be developed on Council-owned land on Cable Street, opposite Te Papa, at a cost of $154.3million. The building with …
The North Kumutoto public space on Wellington’s waterfront was officially opened this week by Mayor Justin Lester, following a blessing from Taranaki Whanui. Kumutoto North opening with Mayor Justin Lester and dignitaries The ceremony acknowledged the many contractors and consultants who collaborated with the Wellington City Council to create the $7 million public space project. …
The Court of Appeal has quashed resource consents that were granted for a $500 million development in Wellington at Shelly Bay. Story by RNZ Artists impression of Shelly Bay development. Photo supplied. The Court of Appeal found that the Wellington City Council made an error of law when determining whether or not to grant the …
Consents quashed for $500m Shelly Bay development Read More »
Hunter Macdonald (28), who was charged with wrecking the Len Lye Water Whirler sculpture in October, pleaded guilty to wilful damage in the District Court last week. Local vandal Hunter Macdonald. Photo by RNZ The Wellington local claimed to be “bored out of his mind” when he swung on the sculpture, snapping it and injuring …
This week, Kings Wharf was mooted as one of two possible sites for a new ferry terminal. It’s also been proposed as the best site for a new indoor concert arena. LINDSAY SHELTON of Wellington.Scoop looks at the options. Only six days after the Regional Council announced that Kings Wharf had been chosen as one of …
All Cook Strait ferries could share one multi-user terminal if a new plan is adopted. Now-retired Cook Strait ferry Arahura loading at the Kaiwharawhara terminal. Photo by John Markos O’Neill A joint programme has been established by Greater Wellington Regional Council to examine the best options for a new ferry terminal in Wellington. As well as …
As part of a new partnership with The Wellington City Mission, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is supporting the charity’s annual Christmas Star Appeal. At the NZSO’s two concerts in December – Christmas Brass and Messiah – audience members can donate food or funds at the concerts to City Mission volunteers. “We’re delighted that our …
Preliminary work has started on the old Lyall Bay surf club, in preparation for its demolition, which is due to start within a fortnight. This project is happening as the old building is in a bad state of repair, and Lyall Bay surf club now has a new home in the nearby purpose-built clubrooms designed by …
Much-loved historic wharfs are in need of urgent repairs, say council officers. RNZ story by reporter Laura Dooney @ljdooney [email protected] The East by West ferry still uses the Seatoun wharf which needs repairs. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson Officers are asking the council to sign off on $4 million over 10 years to fix the wharfs. They would …
Historic Wellington wharf recommended for demolition Read More »
Dress in pink, put your walking shoes on and head to Frank Kitts Park tomorrow for the Pink Star Walk, and raise funds for breast cancer education, research and support. Every day, nine women are diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand. That’s over 3000 mothers, daughters, sisters and friends every year. The Breast Cancer …
The royal visit by Harry and Meghan to Pukeahu will cap off a busy day on Wellington’s streets tomorrow, with the Ta Ara Tapere ki Pōneke – Open Streets event in the CBD and the annual Diwali Festival on the waterfront also expected to draw big crowds. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make …
Royal visit adds to Diwali and Open Streets in crowded Sunday schedule Read More »
Wellington’s local Indian and South East Asian communities’ most vibrant cultural celebration, Diwali, takes over the waterfront on Sunday afternoon in a festival of lights. The lighting of lamps at the ancient Hindu festival symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and the renewal of life. The colours, sounds, tastes and spicy …
The man who climbed up, swung on, then broke the wand of the kinetic Len Lye waterfront sculpture near Frank Kitts Park has been charged with intentional damage. Hunter Macdonald, 28, was originally charged with wilful damage, but police confirmed he is now facing the more serious charge of intentional damage. He will appear in …
The kinetic Len Lye sculpture Water Whirler, close to returning to action on the waterfront after more than a year of repairs, was broken yesterday by a man who climbed and swung on it. Screengrab from Facebook video by Sarik Eng. The man in his 20s was filmed climbing and swinging on the iconic sculpture …
It’s always a squeeze trying to get the weekend down to five high-five events, so in a trial exercise we’re running ten tips for what you might do over a spring weekend in Wellington (and extending a bit beyond our usual $20-or-under benchmark). Events exclude the WOW activities we wrote about today – check those …
Your (double) high five events for the weekend of 6 and 7 October Read More »
As the World of WearableArt enters its second weekend (with standby tickets still available for most shows), locals and visitors have a number of ancillary ways to participate – and win – including cocktail and retail trails. Garments from the World of WearableArt historical collection are on show at the WOW Hub under the sails …
Edible art challenge for WoW prompts cocktail trail Read More »
CentrePort will have the BNZ building on Harbour Quays demolished after reaching a $170 million settlement with its insurers. by Paul McBeth Content provided by BusinessDesk, “the only business news source you need”. A ten-day free trial is available at https://www.businessdesk.co.nz/ The building has been vacant since the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and tenant Bank of New Zealand …
CentrePort to demolish BNZ building after reaching $170M insurance settlement Read More »
Wellington’s cruise ship season started this week, with an anticipated 50,000 extra passengers expected to make it the biggest yet, according to CentrePort. Radiance of the Seas berthed on Tuesday, opening the season, and the 330-metre Majestic Princess arrived on Wednesday with 4,900 passengers and crew, playing the theme from The Love Boat on its …
Biggest season for cruise ships anticipated by burgeoning CentrePort Read More »
After a record sell-out festival this year, Jim Beam Homegrown will return to Wellington’s waterfront on 23 March 2019, with the first details of the 42 acts playing the five stages revealed this morning. And for the first time, Homegrown will include a pre-party to start the festival on the Friday night, before Saturday’s main …
Homegrown festival announces first lineup and pre-party show Read More »
A famous explorer who’s been dead for 240 years was resurrected yesterday, leading a walking tour down Taranaki Street and across the waterfront. Story and photos by Mark Cubey Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the arrival in New Zealand of Captain James Cook on HMS Endeavour. To commemorate the anniversary, Tom Clarke and …
The north Kumutoto public space on the waterfront and the He Tohu Document Centre in the National Library were recognised for their design and construction at the NZ Timber Design Awards this week. The Kumutoto project also won a gold pin at the NZ Best Design Awards. The He Tohu Document Centre within the National …
Walking, tai chi, ace ladies, French shorts and synaesthesia. It must be spring. Today’s Tinytown Buggy Walk (every third Thursday of the month), explores Oriental Bay Parade. Park your car or catch the bus to where Evans Bay Parade Road meets Oriental Parade at 9:45am, then stroll along the Parade, a flat and buggy friendly …
A new sign installed at Whairepo Lagoon on Wellington’s waterfront removes any confusion regarding the name the lagoon has held since 2015. From left, Port Nicholson Block Deputy Chairman Peter Jackson, Wellington Deputy Mayor Jill Day and Tenths Trust Chairman Morrie Love, with the new sign at Whairepo Lagoon. Photo: Wellington City Council The new …
New Whairepo Lagoon sign reinforces te reo Māori name Read More »