Ben McNulty

Another amazing Newtown Festival today 🎉.

Wellington's best street festival IMO (sorry Cupadupa).

Week 14 Update:

The Revenue and Financial Value Working Group has delivered its first report as council prepares to vote on what we consult on for the 2026/27 budget.

The cycleway cuts you're referring to are not in the scope of the Working Group. Officers have put them up for consideration as part of the Annual Plan paper.

Can you please go read the council paper and understand the difference between the Working Group and an officer recommendation? Link below for you:

wellington.govt.nz/-/media/Your...

My ears most certainly are. Govt changing the law shortly to mandate they ride in bike lanes where available, good call I reckon.

Lime eScooters and eBikes have rolled into town 🛴🚲

It was great to meet the team today and have a chat about their approach to safety as well as raise the types of concerns that we hear as councillors from the public.

Funny you should say that, another working group recommendation:

Given the campaign regarding climate cuts from the Working Group report I thought it best to share the actual recommendation:

✔️ Continue doing things with demonstrable emissions reductions and adaptation work.

Degassing our pools = demonstrable emissions reductions.

Perfect day to sit outside and take in the beauty of the harbour. Certified YCBWOAGD™️

I got married at Ngā Hau E Whā o Paparārangi. I'm glad you're looking at giving the land back!

🏢 Setting up an Urban Development Office to facilitate developments in places like Johnsonville, Newtown and Tawa
👥 The creation of an External Capital Advisory Group to run oversight of major council projects
📝 Reviewing Building Consents to ensure faster processing

Some personal highlights:

⚖️ A $50,000 annual legal fund for councillors to access external independent legal advice
👷‍♂️ Keeping Wellington City Council a Living Wage Employer
🏞 Transferring the land on which Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi is situated

The Mayor has worked extraordinarily hard to find a pathway through for all councillors to be in a position to support the plan and ensure they are able to see their own priorities reflected within the plan.

Wellington council releases first triennium plan in almost a decade Fixing the failed Moa Point plant has quickly become a key part of the council's three year plan.

This morning the Mayor has released the Triennium Plan for our council.

These are 74 commitments ranging across governance, housing, Mayoral advocacy, transport, community safety and mana whenua that will let council get on with the job of delivery.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

🚨🚨🚨 BIG NEWS: I've just publicly released my promised Triennium Plan for Wellington City Council. You can’t beat Wellington on a good day, and delivery of the plan will secure more good days ahead

🔗 www.andrewlittle.nz/trienniumplan

Add this to another (tiny) green shoot for Wellington.

Jobs growth is on the cusp of recovering into positive territory. 2024 and 2025 were absolutely brutal for Wellington so this is an incredibly welcome sign.

Not the result we wanted but after last week the boys can definitely hold their heads up high. A genuinely respectable game of football from the Nix.

New stadium, new Phoenix.

Watch this space.

W13:

🌊 Wellington beaches are open (check lawa.co.nz first!)
🏢 Updated projections on population growth for Wellington
🔍 Council contracts have been poorly controlled and risky
📈 The Economic Growth and Development Subcommittee kicked off its work

We are also awaiting the government to confirm their Terms of Reference for the independent inquiry into the plant failure.

After storms and heavy rains, the usual advice about staying away from beaches for 48 hours applies.

The top priority for council remains getting the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant fixed. Experts from Australia and New Zealand have been assessing the plant since the weekend.

Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) New Zealand's most comprehensive source of water quality, water quantity, air quality and estuary health data.

That doesn't mean there's no risk, but it's up to individuals to make a call.

As a result, we're reverting back to the LAWA system.

🤳 Before heading out to the beach check lawa.co.nz for the latest information on water quality and public health guidance.

Wellington's South Coast beaches are open 🌊

With three weeks of water testing data, we've got a pretty clear idea of what's happening with enterococcus bacteria across the coastline.

Outside of storm conditions when there have been discharges at Tarakena Bay, results have been consistently low.

Yes I'm a Labour councillor, not just endorsed

By the government's own criteria as it looks to implement rates capping, these services are 'nice to have'.

Move-on powers are a tool, but until the government properly tackles the issues that create roughsleeping and homelessness, they'll achieve basically nothing.

Maybe some more funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services to help break the rough sleeping cycle like Te Pā Maru?

At the moment Wellington City Council funds all of these initiatives because our residents rightfully expect our city to be a safe place.

I think the government forgot a few things to go alongside the announcement:

Any funding boost for the frontline services that support rough sleepers getting into housing such as DCM?

Any more new social housing to increase capacity such developing Arlington?

The Police Minister was kind enough to mention me on Facebook when it comes to move-on orders. Pity it was done without context so my response follows:

Vibrancy in a city comes from its people. Not (decaying) buildings.

www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3609...