
Nine minutes of fireworks cost cash-strapped council $175,000
Do you support the council paying for fireworks?
Wellington City Council spent more than $175,000 on a fireworks display that exploded over a city facing a funding crisis, a rates hike, and a range of controversial cuts.
The council is considering a rates rise of up to 17 per cent and is scrambling to save money as it deals with a wave of big costs such as ageing pipes, a Central Library refit, and the Let’s Get Wellington Moving transport package.
The council last week ditched an idea, proposed by Mayor Andy Foster, to save $120,000 in the coming year by getting rid of a programme of free pool entry for under-fives. But others remaining in the queue for possible cuts include a new Chinese gardens, cutting of some library funding for books, and some capital replacements.


Dog re-registration is coming up!
Attention Kuri owners!
Re-registration invoices will be sent out at the end of May this year, so if you've moved house or changed your email address, please let us know.
You can contact us at:
📩 dogs@wcc.govt.nz
☎️ 04 499 4444.


Do you back a ban on parking in footpaths?
Parking on footpaths could soon become an offence in Wellington, following public complaints about increased risks to pedestrians and a lack of space for emergency vehicles.
The change is being proposed as part of Wellington City Council’s new parking policy, introduced in August, which aims to reduce reliance on private vehicles, manage increasing parking demands and make it easier to travel around the city.
The proposed new law would instigate a city-wide ban on parking on, or partially on, footpaths across the city, with infringement notices to be issued at the discretion of parking wardens.
It would overturn a 2005 council decision which permitted footpath parking anywhere in Wellington apart from the central city and suburban centres, provided at least one metre of footpath space was left for footpath users.


Way Back Wednesday
What are your thoughts on the great flag debate that gripped the country in 2015?