Your free guide to Tō Tātou Pōneke life in the capital Our Wellington 1 September— 30 November Rārangi upoko Contents Kia ora koutou 3 15 26 Rejoice, reimagine and return – the theme In July we recognised the two -millionth Did you know you can… Take climate action today Mahi toi | Capital arts for World of WearableArt (WOW) 2021 tree planted in our restoration programme. Our contact details and Ways to help Wellington New exhibitions captures this wonderful show, as well as This is the sustained work of many helpful hints be net zero carbon the transformation and new life of spring. people and organisations working with 29 This edition of Tō Tātou Pōneke your Council. We see and hear the results 5 16 Kaupapa pūtea | Funding Our Wellington showcases the natural of this fantastic mahi every day with Wā tākaro | Playtime Te Wā o te Kōanga Find out how we can help environment. In a world where humanity is increasing native bird life. Low- cost family- friendly Spring Festival your community project putting the environment and other species Among the events highlighted in this activities Events and activities to 31 under unsustainable pressure, we can all edition is Conservation Week – and what celebrate the new season 6 Ngā huihuinga o te be very proud of the restoration journey better time to start working to make an Pitopito kōrero | News 18 Kaunihera, ngā komiti me Wellington has been on for nearly 30 years. even bigger diference. We encourage every The latest news from Ngā mahi whakangahau ngā poari ā -hapori It is no accident, but built on the Wellingtonian to get involved, to get your around our city Put it on the calendar Council, committee and vision and action of our community – hands dirty, trap, weed, plant, and join a Council supported events community board meetings acquiring and protecting the land that is local community reserve or trapping group. 10 now our Outer Green Belt, creating our You’ ll be part of creating a positive, Tautaiao | Eco city 23 32 world- leading eco -sanctuary Zealandia, lasting transformation, and the evidence Ōtari-’ Wilton s Bush, a Hidden gems Te Koromatua me ngā embarking on ambitious control and now clearly shows you’ ll be healthier and jewel in Pōneke ’s crown Secret places to discover Kaikaunihera | The Mayor elimination of introduced predators. happier as a result of time spent in and and Councillors 12 24 Our Miramar Peninsula is possum caring for nature, and with like -minded The people who represent Ō tātou wāhi | Our places Tō tātou hāpori and mustelid- free and on the verge of positive people. you in Wellington Te Wāhi Āwhina brings Our community being the world’ s frst major urban area to Andy Foster support to city centre Absolutely positively become rat- free. Stage 2 of Predator Free Mayor wild about plants Wellington’ s work covering Island Bay to the city is now underway with already well Sarah Free over 2,000 households signed up. Deputy Mayor For more information about anything in Production: Wellington City Council this magazine, visit wellington.govt.nz Communications and Engagement Team No internet at home? You can phone our Email: [email protected] Contact Centre any time on 04 499 4444 or use a free internet computer at one of our libraries. This publication uses vegetable based inks and environmentally responsible paper produced from We ’re proud to use Aotearoa’ s indigenous PLACEHOLDER MUST Forest Stewardship Council® language in our publications. If you come across a BE REPLACED (FSC®) certified, Mixed Source word you don’ t know, there ’s an easy way to learn PLACE- pulp from Responsible Sources. what it means – visit maoridictionary.co.nz HOLDER Disclaimer: We make this magazine to encourage Paper produced using you to get involved in local events, to demonstrate Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) the great work happening in Wellington, and to and manufactured under the show you some of the many reasons there are to strict ISO14001 Environmental be proud of our city. Wellington City Council has, Management System. to the best of its knowledge, sourced accurate information. We will not be held responsible for any errors, changes in pricing, or misinformation. J013044 Did you know you can… Contact us any time Switch out weeds for natives Phone: 04 499 4444 Many of the weedy species that are Free text: 3400 invading and damaging our natural areas Email: [email protected] are ornamental plants that have ‘jumped the fence’ from gardens and gone wild. Stay up-to-date on social media Check out the Plant Me Instead Wellington facebook.com/wellingtoncitycouncil edition to avoid some of the culprits. @wgtncc wgtncc Visit tinyurl.com/w7xue69w Find out more about rubbish and recycling To fnd out your collection days, how to get a new green crate or wheelie bin, and information about what you can and can't recycle, visit wellington.govt.nz/ rubbishandrecycling Tell us when something needs fxing If you see Council property that needs fxing – such as a streetlight, leaking pipe, or public toilet – you can phone us on 04 499 4444, text us on 3400, or use the FIXiT app on your smartphone. It’s free to download from the Google Play store, iTunes store, or Windows. Get help keeping it clean and green Visit wellington.govt.nz/fxit We support numerous environmental organisations like Mountain To Sea, 200 MILLION YEARS IN THE MAKING Sustainable Coastlines and Bubblebusters, Check out Our Wellington online which work with volunteers to keep our Want to stay up-to-date with the latest An experience like no other VISITZEALANDIA.COM coastlines clear and clean. We provide news from our city and Council? Check grants for environmental groups, as well out Our Wellington online, our news as free bags, gloves and collections for channel which is full of stories about our - Photo by Brendon Doran. Kaitiaki Ngati Koata community clean-ups. Get in touch by people, places, friends and our city. emailing [email protected] Visit wellington.govt.nz/ourwellington 3 Wā tākaro Playtime Make the most of spring in the capital by visiting the new extension of the Matairangi Nature Trail with the tamariki! We’ve recently completed the extension of the Matairangi Nature Trail on Mount Victoria. We may be biased, but we think it’s pretty awesome. To confrm this, we asked some seasoned play experts to give the new trail a whirl. Guided by a friendly pīwakawaka (fantail), Venture a little further and you’ll meet Papili, Adrian, and Sethunya enjoyed a tītipounamu (the rifeman) and kōura fun afternoon exploring, imagining, and (freshwater crayfsh) hiding between the playing, and they ultimately gave the trail stones. These aren’t the only friends you’ll the all-important seal of approval. meet along the way, but you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled to spot them. Stage Two of the Nature Trail ventures down under a canopy of leaves, where Along the trail there are several play you’ll bump into some exciting native stations, all created using natural materials creatures. From the shy pekapeka (short- to blend in with the environment. You’ll tailed bat) to the sparkly titiwai (glow encounter stepping logs, balancing beams, worms), these sneaky creatures prefer to a wobbly bridge, and all sorts of other fun move about under the cover of night. challenges. Three reasons to support kids playing more Researchers say 'free play' and If more than half of a child’s 'outdoor play' can signifcantly playtime is physical, it improve children's problem solving improves their overall skills and connection with nature. wellbeing and resilience. Regularly playing with their nearby Find out more about our playgrounds friends helps kids to build community at wellington.govt.nz/play-areas and a sense of belonging. 5 Pitopito kōrero News Celebrating two million plants Footprint is an app where hospitality and With the help of thousands of volunteers retail sectors can sell surplus, imperfect and over the past 20 years, we’ve collectively short-dated food to prevent waste. Keep an planted more than two million plants and eye out for these climate action innovators trees to make our city greener. In July we in the future! creativehq.co.nz held our annual planting event with Parks, Sport and Recreation staf and celebrated Playground upgrades this milestone. It’s an awesome achievement We're continuing to work through our busy and a credit to the amazing volunteer mahi, programme of play area renewals around but we’re not done yet. The goal is to have the city. The awesome new playground reached three million plants by 2030. It's at Pukehuia Park in Newlands opened in ambitious, but with many hands we know July, and the new extension of Matairangi we can do it! Kickstarting that is our new Nature Trail on Mount Victoria is now partnership with Te Herenga Waka – open as well. We've also recently completed Victoria University of Wellington. Our Pembroke Road and Cummings Park play combined project, Growing our Future, areas - so there are plenty of great new Evans Bay improvements Detailed design for the 600m section will help with regenerating biodiversity in play spots around the city to check out. With the weather warming up, why between Weka Bay and Little Karaka the Outer Green Belt, all while ofsetting Meanwhile, work is well underway with not take the whānau for a stroll, bike or Bay is under way. Decisions have to be carbon and generating new research. the build at Shorland Park in Island Bay, scoot, and check out the walking and made about seawall upgrades, but we and will be beginning at neighbourhood bike paths around Evans Bay.