The ‘apolitical’ positivity battle for Wellington – Editorial

Two separate groups – Vision for Wellington and Wellington Alive – are trying to bring some positivity back to the capital. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Editorial

Wellington residents keen to put public sector cuts, rates rises, plummeting house values and a dysfunctional council behind them in 2025 appear to be in luck, with positive thinking the topic du jour.

Two separate groups of “talented friends” and “local thought leaders” are now in operation, promising to create some pride and positivity and drive bold change by shining a light on the good things happening in the city.

As one so kindly puts it, no more “Debbie downerism” allowed in this absolutely, positively, coolest little capital.

Each claim to be apolitical – if you can look past the fact both include former mayors with known links to our two main political parties.

Vision for Wellington was the first to launch last year, including former mayors, Dames Kerry Prendergast and Fran Wilde, former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and property magnate Sir Bob Jones.

Prendergast is National Party-aligned, Wilde is a former Labour Cabinet minister and Jones founded the right-leaning New Zealand Party in the 1980s.

It’s planning to facilitate expert-led panels this year to co-create a new “vision” for Wellington.

Not to be outdone, another former Wellington Mayor, Justin Lester, seems to have cooked up a similar venture over the summer break.

Just over a week ago, Lester announced he was turning his personal Facebook page into Wellington Alive to “celebrate the things that make Wellington truly special”.

“Our beloved capital has had a rough run lately and sometimes local media hasn’t been all that kind to us,” Lester posted online about the new page.

“From uplifting stories of local heroes to uncovering the best spots to eat, drink and chill, this will be a space to highlight Wellington’s culture, creativity, and community.”

The launch has unsurprisingly raised questions about Lester’s political ambitions, and whether he’s once again eyeing up the mayoralty.

He says while that’s not his intention currently, Labour has approached him about his potential candidacy and he’d “never say never”.

There’s no denying Wellington attracted a lot of negative headlines last year between Government-driven job losses, questionable council decision-making, the appointment of a Crown observer at Wellington City Council, ongoing water woes and a flurry of business closures.

There’s also no denying the city could do with a healthy dose of positivity and entrepreneurial thinking that delivers real solutions to the issues Wellington still faces.

Because regardless of how much you promote the city to try to ignore the negatives, the issues are real and 2024 was a tough year for those who lost their jobs, their businesses and are still facing financial uncertainty. They need more than just an uplifting vibe.

It is a curious situation to now have two separate “apolitical” factions competing to achieve the same positive outcome – a healthier Wellington economy with better prospects and more worth celebrating.

Perhaps as local body elections near, Wellington Alive will become the Vision, or the Vision will swallow Wellington Alive.

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.