/news/wellington/rss 九一星空无限 Keep up with the latest news from around the Wellington region with 九一星空无限talk ZB. Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:42:07 Z en /news/wellington/police-investigating-after-person-injured-in-fight-with-home-intruder-in-miramar-wellington/ /news/wellington/police-investigating-after-person-injured-in-fight-with-home-intruder-in-miramar-wellington/ Police are investigating after an intruder was caught in a Wellington home and a person was later found unconscious and critically injured nearby. It’s unclear at this stage whether the two serious incidents, which happened overnight in the suburb of Miramar, are linked. Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said police were called at 2am to reports of an intruder inside a home on Darlington Rd. One person had minor injuries after an altercation with the suspect who had fled before police arrived. “A police dog unit tracked the intruder north of the bus turnaround for several hundred metres until the trail was lost”, Leitch said. Half an hour later, a police patrol found a man unconscious and critically injured near the intersection of Camperdown Rd and Totara Rd. He remains in a critical condition in hospital. Leitch said police were making enquiries into both incidents and working to determine whether they were linked. The intruder may have gone to other addresses in the immediate area, he said. “There will be a visible police presence in the area while we carry out this work and speak with residents. “We would like to hear from anyone with information that may help our enquiries.” Residents on upper Darlington Road and near the intersection of Camperdown Rd and Totara Rd should report any unusual or suspicious activity overnight to police, Leitch said. “We are also asking residents to check their sections and yards for any items that may have been stolen or discarded by the offender, described as a tall man of thin, athletic build, wearing a white cap.” Police are also interested in any CCTV footage that may assist the investigation. Anyone with information should contact police on 105 and reference the case number 250317/6324. Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. Sun, 16 Mar 2025 23:16:38 Z /news/wellington/group-behind-the-wellington-pedestrian-crossing-painted-with-pride-colours-speak-out/ /news/wellington/group-behind-the-wellington-pedestrian-crossing-painted-with-pride-colours-speak-out/ A group added Transgender Pride flag colours to a Berhampore pedestrian crossing last weekend. The council said the paint must be removed due to safety concerns, but Julie Anne Genter hopes to keep it during Pride month. Local residents supported the artwork, emphasising its importance and minimal impact on crossing functionality. By Bill Hickman of RNZ A Wellington woman has come forward as part of a group that added the colours of the Transgender Pride flag to a pedestrian crossing in the suburb of Berhampore last weekend. A council spokesperson said the paint would have to be removed, but Green MP for Rongotai Julie Anne Genter said she hoped to find a way to keep the guerilla artwork in place during Pride month. Longtime Berhampore resident Deb Potter said she and three others elaborately planned the action last Sunday night – setting up traffic cones and donning hi-vis vests as they worked on the road. Deb Potter said she and three others elaborately planned the action of painting colours from the Transgender pride flag into a Wellington pedestrian crossing. Photo / RNZ ‘To show we’re supportive of everyone in the community’ She said the group were inspired by a current case in the High Court where a consortium – with links to Christian fundamentalist political party Vision NZ – were seeking a judicial review of the legality of the council’s rainbow-coloured crossing in the central city. “I just really thought ‘what, why?’ It seemed really horrible and so I was just looking at the crossing that was quite close to me and I thought ‘that would be a perfect place to put something’ and just show that we’re are supportive community of everyone in the community,” Potter said. Deb Potter said the group were inspired by a current case where a consortium was seeking a judicial review of the legality of the council’s rainbow-coloured crossing in the central city. Photo / RNZ Potter said the group read up on the safety objections raised by the legal action to make sure their crossing – dubbed Berhampride – would not be considered unsafe. The group added pink and blue stripes to the white stripe in the centre of the crossing to reproduce the transgender pride flag between two traffic islands that marked the raised crossing in the middle of the street. Locals welcome the unauthorised artwork On the streets of Berhampore, locals and visitors to the area welcomed the unauthorised alteration. “I have no problem with it, I think it’s cool. It’s still a crosswalk, it still works the same and I also have no problem with what it represents,” student Mitarina Tipene said. Another said he enjoyed the presence of guerilla art in communities – provided the work was not destructive or disruptive. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with actual function of the crosswalk it certainly brings visibility to an important cause and isn’t an issue,” James Felker said. Flag a safety risk and will be removed – council A Wellington woman – who did not want to be named – said removing the unauthorised painting would create yet another unnecessary expense for the council to pass on to ratepayers. “I’m a ratepayer. All of these silly things are costing us far too much and they are bleeding us dry. “Trans people are people just like everybody else and they don’t need to be picked out as being more special or less special than anybody else,” she said. A Wellington City Council spokesperson said the flag would have to be removed as the paint could be a safety risk, especially in wet weather. But TJ Tallie – a historian of gender and sexuality, working temporarily in the capital – said he hoped the crossing would be allowed to remain in place for the duration of Pride month. “It would be an absolute shame if they removed it. TJ Tallie hopes the crossing in Berhampore will be allowed to remain in place for the duration of Pride month. Photo / RNZ “I can understand why there are council rules about things being in place to prevent anybody from painting anything at all times.” But Tallie said at the same time – and especially during Pride month and “thinking about a global pushback against both trans representation and existence, that it might be worth thinking about ‘how do we let this moment stand’.” Green MP supports calls to allow the flag to remain during Pride Genter said she hoped to investigate how the colours could be kept in place on the crossing. “If there’s no code issues or safety issues it would be great to keep it for Pride month. If we can’t do that – safely and legally – then I will be advocating with the council to see if we can replace it or find another way to represent something similar that is in line with the code requirements,” Genter said. Wellington City Council said it had not reported the unauthorised painting to the police at this stage. - RNZ Wed, 05 Mar 2025 02:35:05 Z /news/wellington/wellington-s-reading-cinema-complex-purchased-by-primeproperty-group/ /news/wellington/wellington-s-reading-cinema-complex-purchased-by-primeproperty-group/ The Reading Cinema complex has sat empty on Wellington’s Courtenay Place since 2019. To try to incentivise development, the Wellington City Council concocted a controversial deal with Reading that failed in April last year. The site was put up for sale in July and after months of negotiations, a Wellington-based developer is the successful new owner. The derelict Reading Cinema complex on Wellington’s Courtenay Place has finally been sold, with a local developer snapping up the 1.5-hectare plot. The property was at the centre of a controversial deal between Wellington City Council and Reading International last year, after the council tried to buy the land under the quake-prone building to incentivise development. After that deal fell through, the site was listed for sale in July, with Wellington-based Primeproperty Group now the new owner. Company director Eyal Aharoni confirmed the sale to the Herald, but said he was unable to provide any further detail on his plans for the site “due to confidentiality agreements”. The Reading Cinema Complex in Wellington has sat empty since 2019. Photograph / Mark Mitchell The site, which includes the cinema complex and several adjacent sites was listed as an “unmissable opportunity for developers”, after the bid between Wellington City Council and parent company Reading International to revive the complex failed. The proposed deal was for the council to purchase the land underneath the cinema for $32 million, freeing up cash for the cinema to redevelop the building. Reading could buy back the land for the council’s original purchase price within the first 10 years, meaning the council would not make any capital gains. The secrecy surrounding the deal initially divided councillors. As more detail came to light, several councillors criticised the scheme as “corporate welfare”, while others saw it as an unorthodox tool to encourage development. Mayor Tory Whanau championed the proposal as a chance to revitalise Courtenay Place, which has become tired and run down in recent years. The deal was canned in April after Wellington City Council announced it had ended negotiations with Reading International because it was unable to reach the best possible outcome for Wellingtonians. At the time, Reading CEO Ellen Cotter said it would “take time to consider its options”. “We have been wanting to redevelop the site and were encouraged when the council agreed to assist by buying the land for $32m and leasing it back to us. This was not what Reading considered to be a full market price, but was part of a package which included a buyback right. The sale included the cinema complex and several adjacent sites, comprising 1.5 hectares of flat CBD land. Photo / JLL Todd Lachlan, director of commercial real estate agency JLL, declined to comment on the sale. The agency’s Wellington retail leasing director Jim Wana told 九一星空无限talkZB’s Nick Mills in November it was still working to get the project over the line, and a number of parties were engaged in negotiations. Wana said at the time that JLL had been speaking to potential tenants. Asked if a supermarket could go in the site, Wana said it was a “possibility”, as well as floating the idea of car parking and residential development. He suggested the current Reading building would be redeveloped and begin operating again, calling that the “preferred view” of those involved. Market sources told the Herald a number of developers were keen on the site, contributing to the long sale process. The Wellington Company, as well as a smaller Auckland developer and international parties, are understood to have been part of negotiations. It’s unknown what the sale price for the property was, but during negotiations Wellington City Council said the land under the building was recently valued at $31.9m. When the site was first listed for sale, Whanau said she was pleased something was finally happening with the land. “This is a great opportunity for someone passionate about Wellington to do something awesome with such a fantastic bit of real estate. “I urged Reading to continue to explore development deals. This site has great potential and if Reading is unable to do that, I am very pleased that they are opening up the opportunity for others to do so.” Aharoni, who featured on the NBR rich list at a net-worth of $550m, owns a number of prominent sites in the capital through Primeproperty, including a recent purchase of the abandoned Amora Hotel. Wellington businessman Eyal Aharoni has purchased the Reading Cinema site. Photo / Supplied Aharoni is a former Israeli army officer who came to New Zealand in 1988 to further a science career. He told 九一星空无限talkZB in March that he is one of the capital’s largest ratepayers. In 2017 he was investigated and taken to the tenancy tribunal by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment after he admitted housing residential tenants in two empty Wellington office blocks. Reading has been approached for comment. Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined 九一星空无限 in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz. Sat, 04 Jan 2025 02:25:37 Z /news/wellington/state-highway-2-remutaka-hill-in-wellington-reopened-after-serious-crash-police/ /news/wellington/state-highway-2-remutaka-hill-in-wellington-reopened-after-serious-crash-police/ Remutaka Hill is closed after a crash late this morning which injured two people, one seriously, policesay. State Highway 2 was blocked west of the Remutaka Hill summit following the crash, NZTA Wellington posted on X just before noon. UPDATE 12:05PMState Highway 2 is CLOSED over the Remutaka Hill, due to a crash west of Remutaka Hill summit. Closure points are in place at Kaitoke and Featherston gates. Delay travel across the hill at this time. Emergency services are on-site. https://t.co/H05EYhUwP2 pic.twitter.com/FEEAG594H0— NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Wellington (@nztawgtn) January 3, 2025 Emergency services were alerted to the two-vehicle crash on the highway north-west of Wellington at 11.30am, police said. “One person has been seriously injured, and a second person has received moderate injuries. “Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.” The road was reopened shortly before 3.30pm. NZTA said in a post: “Take extra when travelling across it today and expect delays as traffic returns to normal.” Fri, 03 Jan 2025 23:36:18 Z /news/wellington/wellington-zoo-mourns-death-of-capybara-luna/ /news/wellington/wellington-zoo-mourns-death-of-capybara-luna/ By RNZ Wellington Zoo is down to one capybara after the death of one of its huge — and hugely popular — rodents. In an email to customers, the zoo said its capybara, Luna, had been unwell for some time and despite the efforts of carers, had died. “The last few weeks the team have been doing all they could to care for her and help her get better but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.” It said because of this, its up-close-and-personal “Capybara Encounter” would be cancelled for the month of January. The email provided alternative options for customers booked on the experience. According to its website, Wellington Zoo was home to two female capybaras. In addition to being the world’s largest rodent, the species is renowned for its swimming prowess because of its webbed feet. - RNZ Sun, 29 Dec 2024 22:56:51 Z /news/wellington/man-found-dead-in-water-off-breaker-bay-on-wellington-s-south-coast/ /news/wellington/man-found-dead-in-water-off-breaker-bay-on-wellington-s-south-coast/ Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man found dead on Wellington’s south coast. A police spokesperson said they were alerted about 10.40am yesterday to the body of a man in the rockpools at Breaker Bay. The death is being treated as unexplained and inquiries are ongoing to identify the man and determine what occurred, police said. The man is described as European, aged approximately in his 60s, and of average height and build, clean-shaven, with short grey-white hair. “He was wearing blue jeans, black socks, brown walking shoes, a blue t-shirt under a black long-sleeve button-up shirt, and had a grey Kathmandu light jacket with green trim,” a spokesperson said. “If you have any information that may assist Police in identifying this man, or what happened to him, please contact Police by updating us online now or call 105. “Please use the reference number 241227/7181.” Meanwhile, a woman’s body was found in the water around 6.45am today near the Foxton boat ramp. “The woman has been identified and work is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances of her death and notify next of kin,” a police spokesperson said. Fri, 27 Dec 2024 22:27:10 Z /news/wellington/wellington-council-earns-10-000-on-first-day-of-new-bus-lane-cameras/ /news/wellington/wellington-council-earns-10-000-on-first-day-of-new-bus-lane-cameras/ Wellington Council netted nearly $10,000 on the first day of two new fixed bus lane cameras going live in Newtown. The new fixed cameras went live on Riddiford St and Adelaide Rd northbound on Monday, with anyone caught using the bus lane getting an immediate $150 fine. On day one, 55 infringements were issued on Riddiford St and 11 on Adelaide Rd - a total of 66 infringements. A camera also went live at the same time on Chaytor St South in Karori, but no fines were issued there. Wellington City Council has launched a number of bus lane cameras across the city this year, including a southbound camera on Adelaide Rd back in June. The council has also had “tripod” crews monitoring some of the bus lanes ahead of the cameras being turned on What to know about bus lanes to avoid getting a ticket All bus lanes are clearly marked with signs and green on-road markings. Always check signs for bus lane operating hours and whether it’s a regular bus lane or a bus-only lane. Bus lanes can be used by bikes, mopeds, motorbikes, and in-service taxis. Other vehicles can use a bus lane briefly (up to 50 metres) to turn left into another street or driveway. Bus-only lanes can only be used by buses. (An exception is emergency service vehicles, which may use both types of bus lanes when responding to an emergency.) It is illegal to park in a bus or cycle lane. Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:25:01 Z /news/wellington/wellington-bakery-myrtle-announces-closure-a-week-after-winning-top-award/ /news/wellington/wellington-bakery-myrtle-announces-closure-a-week-after-winning-top-award/ Wellington bakery Myrtle will close before Christmas, with its last day of trade on December 21. Owners Sarah Bullock and Jacob Brown say they’ve made the decision with a “heavy heart” as their “cherished site” is set to be turned into apartments. Myrtle won Outstanding Bakery at the Welly Hospo Awards, held on Monday last week. Popular Wellington bakery Myrtle has announced it will be closing down before Christmas, one week after being crowned the capital’s best bakery. Operating at the foot of Mt Victoria on Kent Tce since 2021, the small-batch bakery has become popular for its handmade bread and baked goods. In a statement on social media, owners Jacob Brown and Sarah Bullock announced the venue will close just before Christmas, with its last day of trade being December 21. Myrtle on Kent Tce will close before Christmas. Photo / Google reviews. The couple said they’ve made the decision because their “cherished site” is no longer available to them. “Over time, we’ve come to realise just how deeply intertwined our identity is with the place and community that surrounds us [...] we feel it is impossible to simply relocate and remain true to who we are”, the post said. Customers have been sharing their disappointment at the news, with comments on the post including “This one stings” and “Everything you make is superb! This is such a loss”. But the pair, who also own and operate The Larder restaurant in Miramar, say it’s not necessarily the end of the bakery. “Having some downtime will undoubtedly inspire new ideas and who knows where that might lead.” It’s been a tough year for Wellington’s hospitality industry with a number of eateries closing, including Concord restaurant, Egmont Street Eatery, and bakeries like Pandoro and Bordeaux. Last week it was confirmed Alamir Bakery, which has been producing Lebanese food for 32 years out of Wellington, had been placed in liquidation. In a further blow, the awards celebrating industry success - the Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards - were cancelled for 2024 with organisers blaming the challenging year. Disappointed, a group of operators fundraised to hold their own celebration - the Welly Hospo Awards - with the winners announced at an event last Monday night. Myrtle won Outstanding Bakery at the awards, beating five of the capital’s other top operators. The small-batch bakery’s become popular for its handmade breads and baked goods. Photo / Google reviews. When contacted by the Herald, Sarah and Jacob declined an interview, but said they were “honoured and humbled to have been awarded Best Bakery”. They said their site is going to be developed into apartments. “We were always aware that this was going to be a possibility, and it was a risk we decided to take,” the pair said in an email. Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined 九一星空无限 in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz. Sun, 08 Dec 2024 22:21:10 Z /news/wellington/man-s-body-recovered-from-the-water-in-eastbourne-lower-hutt/ /news/wellington/man-s-body-recovered-from-the-water-in-eastbourne-lower-hutt/ A man’s body has been found in the water in Eastbourne, Lower Hutt. Wellington police said in a statement the body was recovered off Muritai Rd at Point Arthur. “A member of the public discovered the man in the water about 9.40am. A formal identification process is under way and may take some time.” Inquiries are ongoing, police said. Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. Sun, 27 Oct 2024 23:06:37 Z /news/wellington/vivian-st-in-wellington-flooded-with-muddy-water-after-water-main-bursts/ /news/wellington/vivian-st-in-wellington-flooded-with-muddy-water-after-water-main-bursts/ A water main has burst in central Wellington flooding State Highway 1 with muddy water. Wellington Water reported a 150mm cast iron main burst on Vivian St this afternoon. “We are currently assessing the shutdown area and water will soon be turned off. We’re working as quickly as possible and expect water service to be restored this evening”, the water company said on social media. Last week a large pool of brown wastewater spewed onto Featherston St near Parliament and into Wellington’s harbour. That overflow was due to a burst pipe that carried wastewater under pressure. Warning signs were put up at five sites along the waterfront advising people not to swim. Last week a large pool of brown wastewater spewed onto Featherston St. Photo / Mark Mitchell Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. Thu, 17 Oct 2024 02:32:14 Z /news/wellington/wellington-city-council-clarifies-plans-to-allow-mosques-to-broadcast-call-to-prayer/ /news/wellington/wellington-city-council-clarifies-plans-to-allow-mosques-to-broadcast-call-to-prayer/ Representatives of Wellington’s Kilbirnie Mosque have confirmed plans to broadcast the call to prayer three times a year – not five times a day as some commentators have previously claimed. Mayor Tory Whanau introduced an amendment during District Plan discussions earlier this year to review noise limits for music venues and prayer calls in the capital. One change the mayor wanted council staff to investigate was whether calls to prayer should be allowed to be broadcast from loudspeakers on mosques and other religious buildings. The amendment prompted concern from some in the community about how often - and how loud - such a broadcast would be. The decision even featured on an anti-council leaflet recently delivered to houses across the city, calling for Wellingtonians to “take back your city!”. Wellington City Council documents now show the Kilbirnie Mosque has requested to broadcast calls to prayer on the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks, once during the Festival of Eid al-Adha, and once during the Festival of Eid al-Fitr. “At each broadcast, the call would last about a minute and a half to two minutes,” the council document confirms. Councillors will discuss the request this Thursday at an Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting. The agenda says the broadcast is not intended as a call throughout the neighbourhood or suburb. Instead, it would take place at a mosque forecourt and be amplified using a sound system “for the benefit of those assembled there”. Under the current proposal, noise coming from an outdoor speaker system for up to two minutes would not require a resource consent. “Should the intent change in the future and mosques seek to broadcast call to prayer on a more frequent and regular basis, resource consent would be required,” the agenda states. Daily broadcasted calls to prayer are not permitted under the district plan. Tory Whanau previously told 九一星空无限talk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills the purpose of the amendment was for events like March 15, or one-off events. “We can commemorate the events that happened on that day and mosques won’t have a noise restriction, much like church bells.” Whanau had said a request to allow religious venues to broadcast calls to prayer multiple times a day would “probably not” be reasonable. Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined 九一星空无限 in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform and transport. Mon, 09 Sept 2024 02:35:49 Z /news/wellington/wellington-off-duty-police-officer-caught-in-public-sex-act-at-train-station-carpark/ /news/wellington/wellington-off-duty-police-officer-caught-in-public-sex-act-at-train-station-carpark/ An off-duty police officer who engaged in a sex act in a public car park in Wellington has avoided charges.  The IPCA oversaw the investigation into an allegation that an off-duty officer was seen engaging in consensual sexual activity with a civilian acquaintance inside a parked car in a train station car park.  The behaviour was observed by a member of the public crossing a footbridge overlooking the vehicle who reported this to police.  The liaison occurred around 6pm while it was still daylight and lasted approximately 15 minutes. It is unclear if it occurred in a police vehicle.  The officer and the other participant both admitted to the sexual activity, saying they thought they had taken necessary steps to avoid being seen.  A criminal investigation and the Independent Police Conduct Authority [IPCA] recommended the officer be prosecuted, but the Police Criminal Charging Panel decided not to follow through with charges.  The officer has been sanctioned for their behaviour and the pedestrian who saw it unfold has been apologised to.  The investigating officer and the IPCA determined there was sufficient evidence that both parties committed an offence under section 125 of the Crimes Act 1961 – Indecent act in a public place, and recommended prosecution was in the public interest.  The matter was referred to the Police Criminal Charging Panel, which determined that prosecution was not in the public interest, therefore no one was charged.  “While the authority disagrees with the charging panel’s determination on the public interest of prosecution, the Authority acknowledges that the decision on whether to charge their staff [or any member of the public] is solely a matter for Police. The authority cannot intervene in those decisions,” the IPCA statement said.  Police undertook a confidential employment process and determined the officer breached their Code of Conduct.  “The officer was sanctioned for their behaviour, and they apologised to the notifier for the distress caused.  “The authority is satisfied police undertook an appropriate process to consider the issues in the circumstances,” the IPCA said in a statement.  Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.  Mon, 09 Sept 2024 00:59:33 Z /news/wellington/transport-accident-investigation-commission-seeks-witnesses-in-wellington-plane-fire/ /news/wellington/transport-accident-investigation-commission-seeks-witnesses-in-wellington-plane-fire/ By RNZ The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) wants to hear from anyone who saw an Air New Zealand plane on fire at Wellington airport on Sunday, including those on board. All 40 passengers disembarked on the runway after the plane arriving from Christchurch landed trailing smoke and fire. Dramatic video posted on social media showed the plane arriving with smoke billowing behind it, and one passenger told RNZ “people were scrambling, terrified”. TAIC launched an investigation into the cause of the engine fire. A team of investigators were examining the plane, extracting electronic and hard copy data, and interviewing the crew on Monday and Tuesday, senior communications adviser Simon Pleasants said. TAIC also wanted to hear from anyone who saw anything, including passengers – especially if they had video footage, he said. “Getting the facts straight is really vital.” TAIC would be contacting passengers directly, he said. It would be some time before the cause of the fire was understood, as aviation inquiries currently took an average of 18 months to two years to complete. It was unlikely the plane would be impounded, but investigators may remove items that could be later examined at TAIC’s technical facility in Wellington, or sent overseas, he said. Mary Longmore was travelling on the plane with her daughter, and said it was “incredibly scary” seeing sparks, then a lot of smoke, then flames coming out of the engine. She said she told the steward the engine was on fire, and he called the captain. “They hadn’t said anything to us probably because they didn’t want to panic people. Clearly the steward didn’t know because I saw their faces when I told them that the engine was on fire.” Longmore believed she and her daughter were the first to see the flames. “We were sitting literally right next to it, so the flames were just a few inches away outside the window, shooting out in a jet. It was smoke in the cabin, and you could smell it, it was quite acrid and then they said ‘evacuate’.” Video showed passengers jumping from the emergency doors. Anyone who saw what happened or has pictures or videos should email info@taic.org.nz. - RNZ Mon, 02 Sept 2024 02:40:59 Z /news/wellington/wellington-airport-plane-fire-aircraft-makes-emergency-landing-as-smoke-billows-from-engine/ /news/wellington/wellington-airport-plane-fire-aircraft-makes-emergency-landing-as-smoke-billows-from-engine/ An Air New Zealand aircraft has made an emergency landing at Wellington Airport this afternoon after its engine caught fire. Dramatic live video captured the aircraft’s approach with thick smoke billowing from an engine just after 4pm. Fire and Emergency were advised of the incident but were stood down upon arrival, saying “Crash Fire” teams extinguished the blaze. A livestream video of the incident shows passengers having to jump about a metre from the plane’s doors onto the tarmac. A witness says passengers are all standing to the side of the runway on a grass verge. “Ambulance is leaving the scene now, two large fire trucks still there and a couple of other small emergency vehicles”. Nathan Culevski posted on Facebook about seeing the dramatic incident. “Just arrived as we watched huge ploom of smoke come from the ATR. Everyone has safely evacuated.” An Air New Zealand spokesperson said the flight involved, NZ5366, was travelling from Christchurch to Wellington. The cause of the incident is not yet known. A Wellington Airport spokesperson said: “The runway is now open so flights can operate normally. There may be some flow-on disruptions so passengers are advised to contact their airlines.” A plane has had an emergency landing in Wellington this afternoon. Photo / Romeo Wellington Fire and Emergency were advised of an ATR aircraft engine fire in Wellington this afternoon. Photo / Supplied It comes after a June 17 drama when an aircraft made an emergency landing in Invercargill when flames were seen coming from its engine over Queenstown. Members of the public reported seeing flames coming from an engine and heard loud bangs, as the Virgin Airlines VA148 flight to Melbourne ascended from the southern airport. One witness who took footage of the incident wrote: “Sounded like it was coming apart over our house. One engine was throwing flames and sputtering out.” More to come. Sun, 01 Sept 2024 05:01:54 Z /news/wellington/thousands-of-wellington-buildings-at-risk-from-rise-in-sea-levels-including-hospitals-and-schools/ /news/wellington/thousands-of-wellington-buildings-at-risk-from-rise-in-sea-levels-including-hospitals-and-schools/ A new report has raised serious concerns about how a sinking Wellington region will deal with rising sea levels, with “one-in-100 year” floods potentially becoming an annual event. The report, prepared by climate scientists for several local councils in the Wellington region, states “the key areas that will be impacted the most by flooding are Petone, where the stormwater system is already under pressure, suburbs in Wellington City including the CBD and historical infill areas Miramar and Kilbirnie, and parts of Porirua such as the CBD and recreational areas”. It warns flooding will have an impact on low-lying industrial areas and will deal a particular blow to the manufacturing sector. One climate scientist has also warned sea level rise could mean one-in-100-year floods taking place annually within the next few decades. The Wellington Regional Climate Change Impact Assessment data shows Lower Hutt is particularly vulnerable to rising seas levels, with 4690 buildings deemed “at risk” of coastal flooding impacts and coastal storm events — predominantly in Petone. Petone’s stormwater system is already deemed “under pressure” in the report, exacerbating concerns on how the area will deal with severe weather paired with a rising sea level. Flooding in Petone in 2015. Photo / @LanihahL Workers scraping mud from the floor at Ullrich Aluminium in Cornish Street, Petone in May 2016. Photo / Mark MItchell The report recommends councils prioritise work to identify coastal erosion areas, and pick out at-risk communities that need further action. Hutt City Council expects to be briefed on the matter. Climate scientist Dr Tim Naish told 九一星空无限 the land in the Wellington region is sinking. When this is paired with global sea level rise, the risk increases. Naish said in general, land was sinking 2-4 mm a year, and global sea level is rising about 4mm a year. “If you do the maths, you can pretty quickly figure out that it almost doubles the rate of sea level rise”. Climate researchers estimate sea levels could rise by 30cm between 2005 and 2040 — a level Naish warns reaches a “threshold” to raise alarm bells across the Wellington region. He said that would result in flooding becoming a regular occurrence in some suburbs. The report highlights the financial impacts of climate change, alongside the already-mentioned environmental harms. It warns damage to residential buildings from coastal inundation would result in financial costs from repairs and increased insurance premiums. More frequent landslides are another threat highlighted for residential property owners. The Wellington region climate report estimates about 210 buildings, 94% of which are residential, will have a high landslide risk and be deemed vulnerable by the middle of the century. This number is forecast to rise to about 3400 buildings by the end of the century. Porirua School closes after heavy rains floods the property in May 2016. Photo / Mark Mitchell Petone Community Board chairman Mike Fisher said climate change was a concern because it was having an impact on Petone’s image and insurance rates. “There are cases of people having difficulty getting insurance, or facing premium rises,” Fisher said, regarding both businesses and residential properties. Key arterial roads are also said to be at risk of landslides, including State Highway 1 through Ngauranga to Grenada, State Highway 2 connecting Petone and Wellington, and roads connecting Brooklyn to Wellington CBD and Aro Valley to Northland. Flood modelling suggests there are 61,674 buildings “exposed” to a potential flood risk. Of this, the report states 794 are school buildings, 195 are childcare facility buildings, and 45 are hospital buildings. The total number of properties at risk of flooding is set to increase as the years go by. “While the predominate (82%) impact will be on residential buildings, there are more than 2500 commercial buildings and more than 1800 publicly owned buildings that will be exposed to extreme flood events at the end of the century,” the report states. Naish said the risk depended on how the world curbed emissions. He said based on the present trajectory, Lower Hutt’s Petone will see significant sea level rise: “That in itself will flood the front of Petone, that’ll flood the Esplanade. During a storm surge, that will put a lot more water on to Petone and the streets close to Petone — even as far back as the main street.” Naish said “there is still time”, and we have a few decades to put adaptation measures in place. Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined 九一星空无限 in 2022, and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform, and transport. Tue, 02 Jul 2024 01:50:51 Z /news/wellington/drag-king-speaks-out-after-threats-and-backlash-cancel-drag-storytime-it-was-quite-scary/ /news/wellington/drag-king-speaks-out-after-threats-and-backlash-cancel-drag-storytime-it-was-quite-scary/ Drag performer Willy SmacknTush has spoken out about being fearful after “threats” and opposition from Destiny Church forced his drag storytime event to be cancelled, as it could not be conducted safely. The Drag StoryTots event, set to be held in Upper Hutt, will not be rescheduled. Instead, SmacknTush intends to livestream a drag storytime session on Facebook at the same time the event was due to take place. Upper Hutt director of community services Mike Ryan has previously said the council was “unable to ensure a safe and welcoming environment,” following feedback on social media, during meetings, and from emails and phone calls. The now-cancelled event had been slammed by Destiny Church. Earlier this week, leader Brian Tamaki warned if the event was not shut down, he would instruct his supporters to shut it down. In an interview, Hannah, who performs in drag as Willy SmacknTush, said it had been “an awful week,” and comments had been “really disappointing and quite scary.” “Doing an event like this, there’s always the possibility of the wrong kind of people getting hold of it and kicking up a fuss,” Hannah said, adding a change in the political climate has made events like this more public. “What I was not prepared for was the personal attacks,” Hannah said. She alleged there had been violent threats made against her and drag persona Willy SmacknTush. She set the record straight about drag storytime, saying the only difference between it and other story-reading events were that the person doing it is in drag: “The performances are a bit sparklier, and they have a bit more makeup on.” Hannah said discovering drag was a “gateway” in discovering her own identity in the queer community. Being Willy SmacknTush was an “art form”. People in the LGBTQ+ community had gotten in touch with Willy SmacknTush following the backlash saying they felt “unsafe,” and were fearful of what people might do to them. Tamaki posted to social media site X this morning, outraged that Finance Minister Nicola Willis was following the drag performer on Instagram. Willis replied to the comment, saying “No need to be jealous Brian. I’ll follow you on Instagram too if you’ll give lipstick and boas a go.” Hannah hoped the livestreamed storytime, in which her character Willy SmacknTush will read books in drag, would be “eye-opening” to those who had opposed the original event. “They will see a silly little man reading books in his couch.” Destiny Church has been contacted for comment. Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined 九一星空无限 in 2022, and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform, and transport. Wed, 26 Jun 2024 01:30:22 Z /news/wellington/review-under-way-into-anti-trans-event-being-held-at-wellington-s-t%C4%81kina-convention-centre/ /news/wellington/review-under-way-into-anti-trans-event-being-held-at-wellington-s-t%C4%81kina-convention-centre/ Te Papa and the Wellington City Council are reviewing security and health and safety arrangements, to assess whether an event described by a city councillor as “anti-trans” can take place safely. The event, titled UNSILENCED: Middle New Zealand on ideology, is being held at the council-owned Tākina Convention Centre this Saturday. Te Papa manages events at the venue and said it had received concerns about the content and speakers being “hostile to trans people”. Destiny Church Leader Brian Tamaki is due to speak at the event, alongside Family First’s Bob McCoskrie and former National MP Simon O’Connor. Protest groups Queer Endurance In Defiance and the Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition are planning a rally outside Te Papa, in response to the event. “In March last year we proved just how unwelcome this imported, reactionary transphobia is - it’s time to do it again!” the protest call-to-action said, referencing a pro-trans rights rally that saw thousands attend. “We are aware a protest is planned against the event, because of concerns that its content and speakers are hostile to trans people,” a Te Papa spokesperson said. “We are actively monitoring the situation and, along with Wellington City Council, we are reviewing the health and safety and security arrangements to assess whether the event can occur safely.” Wellington City Council Māori Ward Councillor Nīkau Wi Neera has been calling for the cancellation of the event. In a post to social media, Wi Neera said the “hateful event” would be “utterly unwelcome in this city”, confirming he had been working with others to “shut it down” if possible. If Te Papa went through with holding the event, it would expose staff at the venue, who may be part of the rainbow community to “rhetoric which denies their right to exist”. Free Speech Union chief executive Jonathan Ayling said public venues have a responsibility to respect everyone’s speech rights, and confirmed the organisation has penned a letter to the venue “reminding them of their legal responsibility to uphold speech rights”. The FSU leader wanted to see a “diversity of views” and welcomed counter-speech, rather than outright cancellation of the event. “We note Brian Tamaki is one of the speakers at this event and has every right to speak freely. However, it is ironic he’s relying on these rights when he’s recently worked to shut down the voices of those he disagrees with. Censorship tends to backfire,” Ayling said. Wi Neera suggested the cancellation of the event was possible in an interview, telling 九一星空无限 “there’s actually a provision in our governance agreement [with Te Papa] which states that any event which is likely to cause division or otherwise exciting public activity is to be reviewed by Te Papa and Wellington City Council. ”Wellington is a place of many opinions and we do welcome the opportunity for people to share different views but when those views are dehumanising to a part of our community then they are not welcome in Te Whanganui A Tara”, Wi Neera said. Police have confirmed they are aware of the planned protest and will monitor and respond to incidents as required. “Police recognise the right to peaceful protest, but also the right of the general public to go about their normal activities safely,” a Police spokesperson said. Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined 九一星空无限 in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions, public service agency reform and transport. Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined 九一星空无限 in 2023 and is interested in politics, local issues, and the Public Service. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story, he can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz or messaged on X (formerly Twitter) @ethanjmanera Tue, 14 May 2024 02:53:32 Z /news/wellington/chris-bishop-makes-way-for-more-housing-in-wellington-but-keeps-controversial-heritage-listings/ /news/wellington/chris-bishop-makes-way-for-more-housing-in-wellington-but-keeps-controversial-heritage-listings/ Resource Management Act Reform Minister Chris Bishop has sided with Wellington’s left-leaning council on most of its alternative proposals to intensify housing in the city. Bishop disagreed with Wellington City Council on a proposal to remove controversial heritage listings from 10 buildings, including the derelict Gordon Wilson Flats. Earlier this year, city councillors voted through an ambitious new district plan enabling the construction of tens of thousands of new homes, including apartments and townhouses in suburbs where they are effectively banned. In doing so, they rejected recommendations by an independent hearings panel around intensification, character and heritage protection, putting their own alternatives forward instead. The matter was then referred to Bishop as the final decision-maker. His decisions cannot be appealed against. Bishop announced today that he agreed with nine of the council’s alternative plans including reducing the city’s protected character areas from 206 hectares to 85 hectares and classifying the Johnsonville railway line as rapid transit to enable developments of up to six storeys close to stations along this route. “The reasons for accepting these recommendations vary depending on the precise issue but, in general, the council’s recommendations give better effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development in that they provide additional capacity for housing and business land, will better achieve a well-functioning urban environment, will better provide for a competitive development market and provide for a more efficient use of land,” Bishop said. Bishop did not side with the council on the proposal to remove 10 heritage listings from buildings including Gordon Wilson Flats, the Miramar Gas Tank and Star of the Sea Chapel. The Gordon Wilson flats have become a prominent symbol of the contentious heritage debate in the capital. The building has sat empty at 320 The Terrace since 2012 after social housing tenants were kicked out following findings it was unsafe in the event of an earthquake or strong winds. The Gordon Wilson Flats on The Terrace. Photo / Mark Mitchell Demolition of these listed buildings is nearly impossible given their heritage status. In the original District Plan put out for public consultation, the council’s position was that the 10 buildings in question should be on the heritage schedule, Bishop said. “The council’s own heritage expert and planning officer supported this and provided evidence to this effect to the Hearings Panel. The Hearings Panel therefore recommended the 10 buildings be listed or retained on the heritage schedule. “The council has not pointed to any evidence to support its reasons for rejecting the Hearing Panel’s recommendations. No expert heritage evidence was lodged by building owners.” Bishop said that given the evidence before him, and without the ability to seek further evidence in this particular process, he agreed with the independent panel to keep the heritage listings. He also said that he understood the council’s position and that he has received separate correspondence from Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau about making it easier to delist heritage buildings. “I have already asked for advice on this matter and I look forward to conversations with her and other councils regarding the issue of heritage and how it impedes development,” Bishop said. Bishop has also not accepted the council’s request against upzoning the Kilbirnie centre. Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. This article was originally published on the NZ Herald here.  Wed, 08 May 2024 01:21:11 Z /news/wellington/ministry-of-social-development-confirms-funding-pulled-for-wellington-budgeting-service/ /news/wellington/ministry-of-social-development-confirms-funding-pulled-for-wellington-budgeting-service/ A Wellington budgeting service has had its government funding pulled, despite its manager saying they are “busier than ever” as people struggle with high interest rates and the cost of living. It comes as the Ministry of Social Development reviews its contracts with budgeting services. It’s understood other providers across the country have had their funding cut. The Wellington Budget Service, run in conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau, is staffed predominantly by volunteers but requires funding to pay for a part-time manager and office and IT equipment. It has been funded by MSD since 2017. Last year it received $77,000. Manager David Cameron told 九一星空无限talk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills that without funding, it’s possible the service could close. “We’re very disappointed, there is a lot of need out there at the moment.” The service saw around 470 people last year, and demand has grown 60 per cent since the beginning of 2024. Cameron says clients are often deep in debt, or struggling with their mortgage. The organisation helps clients create budgets and negotiates debt payments directly with creditors. All services are free. “There are other budgeting services in Wellington, but we’re all very busy. Other services refer some of their clients to us. “We expect we’ll start to see a few more people as the cuts to the public service start to kick in.” In a statement, MSD’s general manager safe strong families and communities Mark Henderson said the Ministry had recently completed a procurement process for budgeting providers across the country. The total funding available was reduced as a result of a Covid-19-specific fund for budgeting services expiring. But the Wellington Budget Service was funded prior to Covid-19. After further questions, Henderson referred to a general procurement process. “Preferred providers have been identified following a robust procurement process and unfortunately Wellington Citizens Advice bureau were unsuccessful. “We recognise there is a continuing need for support in Wellington and will ensure that [budgeting] services continue to be provided in the region.” Questions asking if the government’s directive to departments to reduce expenditure contributed to the cuts were not addressed. Ethan Griffiths is the Executive Producer of Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills on 九一星空无限talk ZB. He worked for the NZ Herald for three years, mostly as a crime and justice reporter. This article was originally published on the NZ Herald here. Tue, 07 May 2024 03:42:22 Z /news/wellington/could-wellington-be-the-next-region-to-ink-a-water-deal-with-the-government/ /news/wellington/could-wellington-be-the-next-region-to-ink-a-water-deal-with-the-government/ By Nick James of RNZ Porirua’s mayor hopes the Wellington region will be the next part of the country to secure a water deal with the government. Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown announced on Sunday that a deal had been inked with Auckland Council that would allow the city’s water provider, Watercare, to borrow money for infrastructure separately from council. The coalition government claimed it meant council rates would only increase by 7.2 per cent instead of a previously projected 25.8 per cent. It came as councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City prepare to meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. The meeting of council representatives will be chaired by former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker told RNZ the Auckland deal was awesome and reflected her calls for budget-sheet separation between councils and water providers. “It shows the government’s serious obviously, and can pass legislation to get that financial independence, so for Wellington I think it’s really exciting.” Baker said she wanted their region to get its act together and be the next to get a deal. She said it would help councils in the Wellington region facing high rates. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau told RNZ while the details around the Auckland deal were not clear, it sounded positive. “We are working with other regional councils towards a new model for Wellington that we hope can achieve a similar outcome for our residents.” Whanau said she had made it clear to the local government minister what legislation was required for them to achieve balance sheet separation like Auckland. A bill to introduce the necessary changes in legislation to allow the Auckland water deal to go ahead will be introduced later this month. - RNZ This article was originally published on the NZ Herald here. Mon, 06 May 2024 01:27:54 Z /news/wellington/wellington-s-controversial-reading-cinemas-deal-canned-by-council/ /news/wellington/wellington-s-controversial-reading-cinemas-deal-canned-by-council/ Wellington City Council has announced it has ended negotiations with Reading International to re-open the closed cinema complex on Courtenay Place. The council had planned buy the land underneath the cinema for $32 million, money which the cinema would use to redevelop the building. Reading’s annual rent would cover the council’s costs making it fiscally neutral to ratepayers but Reading could buy back the land for the council’s original purchase price within the first 10 years. However, senior council staff now say they have not been able to reach the best possible outcomes for Wellingtonians and the decision was made this week not to pursue the proposal further. Mayor Tory Whanau and elected members were briefed on the decision this afternoon. Whanau called the outcome “disappointing, but the right one”. More to come...   - NZ Herald Tue, 23 Apr 2024 02:43:33 Z /news/wellington/body-found-in-wellington-harbour-no-clues-yet-to-identity-of-woman/ /news/wellington/body-found-in-wellington-harbour-no-clues-yet-to-identity-of-woman/ A woman whose body was found in Wellington Harbour yesterday morning still hasn’t been identified, police say. The woman, believed to be in her 60s or 70s, was found in Māhina Bay near the suburb of Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, on Sunday morning. “She was clothed in activewear including a black hooded sweatshirt with white writing,” police said yesterday. A spokesman today confirmed police were still working to identify the woman, despite a public plea for information the day before. No other information could yet be revealed, including how long she is believed to have been in the water, and whether there was any indication of foul play. Māhina Bay is a small area nestled among popular Lower Hutt suburbs Eastbourne and Days Bay. The affluent area has a rocky shoreline with patches of stony beaches. It has a direct view across the harbour to Wellington city. The woman's body was found in Māhina Bay, Lower Hutt, on Sunday morning. Photo / Melissa Nightingale The woman’s death is one of a handful connected to Wellington Harbour in the past decade, many happening on the busy central city waterfront area. Wellington City Council was last year investigating more fencing along the waterfront to deter people from accessing the wharf edge, after a spate of deaths in recent years. Primary school teacher Isaac Levings was found dead in Wellington Harbour this time last year, having gone missing after a concert by the band The 1975 at TSB Arena. The Elmwood Normal School community in Christchurch remembered him as a special teacher, an incredible sportsman and a respected friend. Isaac Levings died at the Wellington waterfront after a concert at TSB Arena. “Isaac was a much-loved and respected teacher and friend. His loss sits heavy with us and the whole Elmwood Normal School community,” one parent said at the time. In 2021, the body of 30-year-old Sandy Calkin was found in the water near Queens Wharf. He was last seen by friends in Courtenay Place about 1am, and CCTV footage showed him walking north on Queens Wharf near Shed 6 a short time later. Sandy Calkin was last seen by friends in Courtenay Place and was later pulled from the harbour. A coroner’s inquest into his death is scheduled for this year. Later that year three bodies were pulled from the harbour in less than a week, all believed to be from separate incidents. One followed a report of a man missing in the water around Days Bay, while another man’s body was pulled from the water near the Boat Shed at the Wellington waterfront. The deaths followed only two days after 23-year-old Jack Skellett’s body was retrieved from Wellington Harbour after he failed to return home from a kayaking trip that started in Petone. In 2019, Ministry of Education employee Sarah Mayne drowned at the waterfront after an evening of drinking with a friend. Sarah Mayne died during an evening drinking with a friend near Whairepo Lagoon. The friend had gone to get more wine for the pair, but could not find Mayne when he returned. He came back the next day to get his vape juice and cigarettes, and found Mayne dead on the shoreline of Whairepo Lagoon, a coroner’s report said. In 2015, Finbarr Patrick Clabby’s body was also discovered at the waterfront by a family walking near the Queens Wharf/Jervois Quay area. The night before his death, Clabby attended the Super Rugby final at Sky Stadium and was drinking through the evening with friends. Jack Skellett, 23, drowned in December 2021 while on a solo kayaking trip in Wellington Harbour. He died of drowning, but his death may also have been the result of a heart condition and the effects of alcohol, Coroner Tim Scott found. Meanwhile others have also died jumping off a historic floating crane in the harbour. The most recent was Army veteran and dad of three Jarreth Colquhoun, who was killed when he jumped off a historic floating crane in Wellington in January. Finnbar Clabby also died in Wellington Harbour. Colquhoun had jumped off the Hikitia Floating Crane, a 97-year-old structure permanently moored on a boat near the Taranaki St Dive Platform in Wellington Harbour. The 33-year-old failed to surface, and his body was found the same afternoon. His death comes after a 20-year-old man died after jumping off the 45m crane on a night out drinking with friends in 2015. Army vet Jarreth Colquhoun died after jumping off the Hikitia Floating Crane. Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.       Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:42:34 Z /news/wellington/old-wellington-boys-institute-building-gutted-by-suspicious-fire/ /news/wellington/old-wellington-boys-institute-building-gutted-by-suspicious-fire/ A blaze in an abandoned building in central Wellington is being investigated as suspected arson. The fire at the old Boys’ Institute on Tasman St in Mount Cook has been extinguished, but the building has been “virtually gutted”. Firefighters risked their safety to search the interior of the building, despite fears it could collapse, as they were concerned squatters could be inside - but nobody was found. The fire is being treated as suspicious, and police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) are investigating. Emergency Services on the scene of a fire at the Old Wellington Boys’ Institute on Tasman St. The derelict building is owned by the Chinese Government. Photo / Ethan Manera The blaze was first reported at 12.23am. The building was “well alight” on arrival, and a second alarm was raised, Fenz central shift manager Murray Dunbar said. Crews from Newtown, Brooklyn, Wellington City, Kilbirnie, Thorndon, Remutaka and Karori responded. Dunbar the building, which is made of brick and concrete or stone, had been abandoned for some time and was significantly damaged. “It’s virtually gutted inside. There are fears that the integrity of the building has been compromised,” he said. There was a fire at the derelict Old Wellington Boys’ Institute on Tasman St this morning. Photo / Ethan Manera “Because it was abandoned and the state of it, and fears of potential collapse, most of the firefighting was external. “However, crews did conduct an internal search because there were fears in the early stages that there may have been squatters in there, but that subsequently proved not to be the case.” Firefighters will likely remain on standby for much of the day. Sun, 21 Apr 2024 21:58:33 Z /news/wellington/cuba-st-businesses-fight-wellington-city-council-proposal-to-remove-20-car-parks/ /news/wellington/cuba-st-businesses-fight-wellington-city-council-proposal-to-remove-20-car-parks/ A group of Wellington business owners are fighting a plan to remove car parks on part of Cuba St, saying it represents a “threat to the survival” of local shops. Wellington City Council is proposing removing 20 of the 25 parks between Vivian and Ghuznee Sts as part of a plan to widen the footpath, increase the street’s appeal for pedestrians and enable outdoor dining for restaurants and cafes. The project is expected to cost $535,600 and would also result in $207,000 of lost metered parking revenue each year. Owner of Cuba St coffee shop Kaffee Eis, Karl Tiefenbacher, has started a campaign calling on the council to “park” its proposal, due to fears it will reduce the number of customers visiting businesses. Tiefenbacher, who unsuccessfully ran for the council earlier this year, says his customers comprise “a real mix” of pedestrians and those who drive to the business, and says removing the car parks will reduce the number of people visiting the area. ”It’s about accessibility, I can’t see how a wider footpath will make the area any more comfortable,” Tiefenbacher said. Kaffee Eis owner Karl Tiefenbacher started the campaign, calling on Wellington City Council to “park” its car park proposal. Photo / Ethan Manera Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau supports the plan, saying she’s “always been for pedestrianisation of Cuba St”. “You don’t build a city around cars, you build it around people [...] if people really need their car parks there are still going to be carpark buildings.” She says the weekend’s CubaDupa festival showed the positives of what pedestrianisation could bring. “It was vibing, there were so many people, there were lines out of the restaurants, and I think what that festival showed us is the opportunity to make our streets people-focused”. Opposing views on car park reduction were evident during the weekend's CubaDupa festival, with counter-signs being posted on signs in shop windows. Photo / Ethan Manera Fifty businesses on the street have reportedly signed the petition against the plan, with several displaying posters in their shop windows protesting the loss of car parks. Some promoting the petition are located in the already pedestrianised stretch of the street. However, not all businesses in the area are opposed, with Slow Boat records co-owner Steven Hinderwell saying he believes it will help business. ”I think most businesses will benefit from it to be honest, especially shop-fronts [...] the more foot traffic there is, surely more people are going to be around,” he said. Hinderwell disputed the idea the removal of car parks would reduce the number of customers for businesses, saying “very seldom do we get people coming in just because they found a car park outside”. Slow Boat Records supports the removal of car parks on Wellington's Cuba St. Photo / Ethan Manera The project was previously part of Let’s Get Wellington Moving and was set to go to a council vote next week but has been deferred to later in the year as part of Long-term Plan discussions. Consultation with 11 Cuba St businesses in March last year shows 48 per cent supported the project, 16 per cent had concerns and 27 per cent were against the plans. Wellington City Council received 10 submissions on the proposal, with two in support and eight opposed. Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined 九一星空无限 in 2023 and is interested in politics, local issues and the Public Service. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story, he can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz or messaged on X (formerly Twitter) @ethanjmanera Wed, 27 Mar 2024 01:02:36 Z /news/wellington/wellington-mayor-tory-whanau-says-no-intention-to-broadcast-call-to-prayer-five-times-a-day/ /news/wellington/wellington-mayor-tory-whanau-says-no-intention-to-broadcast-call-to-prayer-five-times-a-day/ Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says a review of noise limits in the capital was never intended to allow mosques to broadcast the call to prayer from loudspeakers five times a day. Whanau introduced an amendment during recent District Plan discussions to review noise limits for music venues and prayer calls. One change the mayor wants council staff to investigate is whether calls to prayer should be allowed to be broadcast from loudspeakers on mosques and other religious buildings. Whanau was asked about the amendment during an interview with 九一星空无限talk ZB’s Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills today. She said she wanted council officers to go away and look at volume control for music and religious purposes. “There’s no set decision yet, we still have to do the work and that’s something I support. I’m all for noise in the city centre.” Whanau said the current system doesn’t work for those she’s spoken to. “When you talk to people like Save Our Venues and independent venues they feel restricted by current noise levels, they can’t bring in the acts they want to play gigs. That’s why we’re looking at it.” Whanau was asked why mosques need speakers on the outside of their buildings to broadcast the call to prayer. “The purpose of that amendment is for events like March 15, or one-off events, we can commemorate the events that happened on that day and mosques won’t have a noise restriction, much like church bells.” Mills said there was some commentary about mosques wanting to broadcast the call to prayer five times a day from loudspeakers, but Whanau said that was not the intention of her amendment. When asked specifically if such a request would be reasonable, Whanau said “probably not”. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau speaks to 九一星空无限talk ZB's Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills. Photo / Mark Mitchell. Mayor says council asked Reading owners not to speak on controversial deal Whanau was also asked about the latest on the controversial Reading Cinema deal, with the mayor revealing the multi-national’s owners wanted to front on it but officials advised them “not yet”. Last month councillors agreed to buy the land beneath the quake-prone cinema complex on Courtenay Place for $32 million. Reading will use that money to redevelop the building, which has been shut since 2019 because of its earthquake risk. The intention is to encourage Reading International to reopen the building sooner rather than later and stop it being an eyesore in the heart of the city. Critics have described the deal as corporate welfare, and questioned why ratepayers should be bankrolling a multi-national company. The Reading Cinema building on Courtenay Place, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell There have been calls for sisters Margaret Cotter, chairwoman of the Reading board, and Ellen Cotter, chief executive officer, to front on the deal and reveal their plans for the future of the site. Requests from the Herald and other media outlets to interview the pair have gone unanswered. Whanau was asked about Reading’s public silence on the deal today, with Mills questioning whether she was concerned the company “won’t even talk to us Wellingtonians at all, they’ve refused to comment on everything”. Whanau responded immediately saying that wasn’t because the company didn’t want to. “No they’ve offered to, but we felt given the sense of people, how they felt, you know the discussion around multi-nationals, we’ve said look just let us deal with this for now. When we’re ready we’ll sing from the rooftops. “They want to be positive and proactive about this, we’ve just asked them - not yet.” The Herald has contacted the mayor’s office for clarification on exactly what Reading had offered to say to the people of Wellington, and when they made the offer. Whanau said the deal was still not signed off but she remained “100 per cent” committed to it. She said the initial $6m had not been handed over as the council wanted to make sure it was legally protected first should anything go wrong. Mon, 25 Mar 2024 01:44:46 Z /news/wellington/person-critically-injured-after-falling-in-central-wellington-lift-shaft/ /news/wellington/person-critically-injured-after-falling-in-central-wellington-lift-shaft/ A person was critically injured following a fall in a lift shaft in central Wellington. Emergency services were called to the address in Wellington’s CBD at 6.45pm on Wednesday, police said in a statement. Emergency services were called to the address in Wellington’s CBD at 6.45pm on Wednesday. Photo / Mark Mitchell A Wellington Free Ambulance spokesperson said crews responded to the incident last night and one patient in a critical condition was taken to Wellington Hospital. The person had an accidental fall at a residential property, but police refused to provide any further details on the incident. “The family of the person involved has requested privacy and for no further details to be released at this time,” police said. Stuff is reporting the incident happened in the lift shaft of a car parking building, with offices above on Chews Lane. It is understood the lift had a fault and that a man opened the door and fell about three floors down the shaft, Stuff reported. Fire and Emergency shift manager Shannon Lucas said two crews from Wellington and Brooklyn provided support for police and ambulance staff following an incident in Wellington’s CBD yesterday evening. Lucas referred any further inquiries to police. More to come. Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:33:06 Z /news/wellington/wellington-s-early-amalgamation-plans-revealed-why-it-won-t-be-a-super-city/ /news/wellington/wellington-s-early-amalgamation-plans-revealed-why-it-won-t-be-a-super-city/ Wellington civic leaders have secured a meeting with ministers to discuss a potential regional deal, and are considering whether amalgamation could be its centrepiece. A Wellington Regional Leadership Committee meeting agenda has revealed the possible options for amalgamation being floated. The three existing Wairarapa councils could be turned into one council. Kāpiti and Horowhenua councils could be combined. Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and Wellington city councils could be merged. It is suggested there would still be one regional council. The committee’s deputy chairman Daran Ponter stressed no conclusions have been made about amalgamation and discussions have so far only happened at a mayoral level. However, it was clear there was no appetite for a super city arrangement, he said. “That is largely because of the blood that was left on the floor, if you like, of the super city proposal last time around and a strong pushback from the community to that proposal. “I think mayors are very conscious of that and are looking to take a more staged approach to amalgamation.” Former regional council chairwoman Fran Wilde was rolled by her councillors in 2015 over the super city idea. Wellington Regional Leadership Committee deputy chairman Daran Ponter stressed the amalgamation question is still in its infancy. Photo / Mark Mitchell Ponter said the amalgamation issue has lingered ever since and was reignited last year when the Future of Local Government report recommended a reorganisation of councils. “This reorganisation is not optional – if councils don’t lead the change, there will need to be provisions for decisions to be made on their behalf,” the report said. The committee agenda said councils shared pressing issues including fragmented ownership models, underinvestment, significant looming investment, lack of rating base and debt headroom. One of the existential issues identified was the challenge of meeting the needs of the current and future population. Ponter said mayors have been asking themselves whether amalgamation could be at the centre of a regional deal or whether it should be pursued separately. Water infrastructure could be another problem to centre the deal around, which was identified as a critical short-term problem to focus on in the meeting agenda. “A water infrastructure package that could include the creation of a new water management entity; the implementation of water meters; workforce skills and training; and Wairarapa water resilience,” documents said. Wellington mayor Tory Whanau said she was open to a conversation about amalgamation. “In the long term, it probably makes sense to consolidate. But we are already working regionally on pressing issues like water and transport and that is my main focus right now.” Wellington mayor Tory Whanau says she's open to a conversation about amalgamation. Photo / Mark Mitchell Hutt City mayor Campbell Barry said all options should be on the table. “With all the challenges local government faces with funding and financing, water and infrastructure generally, we need to be taking a hard look at how to do things differently. “In my view, jumping straight to amalgamation is putting the cart before the horse and all options need to be considered.” Porirua mayor Anita Baker said she was personally open to looking at amalgamation and having a discussion. However, she also emphasised it was early days and something her council was yet to consider. Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy could not be reached for comment. The meeting agenda said ministers had confirmed interest in a regional deal - something National previously signalled on the campaign trail. “At this stage content and timing of regional deals is uncertain. There is no clear timing for when the Government/Ministers will formally commence discussions with regions or which regions will be prioritised. “Nevertheless, Ministers have confirmed they are willing to discuss the option of a regional deal with representatives of this committee.” A meeting has been scheduled for April. When the Government officially announced in December that the $7.4 billion Let’s Get Wellington Moving transport plan was dead, Transport Minister Simeon Brown said he was looking forward to discussions regarding a regional or city deal. “This would mean having strategic objectives for road, rail, public transport, housing and environmental resilience investments for Wellington that are shared by central, regional and local government, along with long-term funding commitments to enable certainty of planning,” Brown said at the time. Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. Sun, 17 Mar 2024 03:37:53 Z /news/wellington/wellington-water-fails-to-meet-performance-targets-cost-to-fix-water-leaks-rises/ /news/wellington/wellington-water-fails-to-meet-performance-targets-cost-to-fix-water-leaks-rises/ A damning Wellington Water performance report suggests the cost to fix the city’s leaks has dramatically increased, as the water authority lags behind performance targets set by the Department of Internal Affairs. The report, covering the three months to January, shows response and resolution times has “deteriorated.” Wellington Water had a target response time for urgent drinking water callouts of 60 minutes or less, and managed 227 minutes. Median resolution times, which were meant to be 4 hours or less, averaged 19.3 hours. The report from Wellington Water states the worsening results are a “reversal of the trend seen in other cities, where urgent response and resolution times have continued to improve over the past three years.” Non-urgent callouts faced significant delays as well. Wellington Water spent 948.4 hours on average to respond to non-urgent drinking water callouts, despite having a target of less than 36 hours. The Council-controlled organisation had a goal to fix non-urgent issues within 5 days, yet averaged 56.1 days to do so. In a statement, Acting Wellington Water Chief Executive Kevin Locke said the agency can only do the work it is funded to do. “Historical underinvestment in the assets has created an increasing backlog of work, which has a direct impact on how quickly we are able to respond to a job. While we would like to improve our response times to meet the targets the council has set for us, we are currently not funded to the level needed to reduce the backlog of work and improve our response times,” he said. In December, Wellington City Council agreed to provide $1 million to Wellington Water, with an additional $1 million by March 15 if the funding had been utilised and performance reports were handed out. A separate report from Wellington Water, from February 29, detailed 74 leaks had been fixed since January 29. Wellington Water had spent $365,000 on leaks as at the end of February - suggesting the cost to repair leaks has gone up. The numbers mean it costs roughly $4,932 to fix a leak, compared to a November estimate of $3,000. Roughly three years ago, the average cost to fix a leak was $1,500.It’s not the first time Wellington Water had failed to meet set targets. In July, 九一星空无限 reported Wellington Water had only renewed 18 kilometres of pipes out of a goal of 100. Councillor Tim Brown, who chairs WCC’S Kōrau Tūāpapa Environment and Infrastructure Committee, told 九一星空无限 he was unsure why costs to repair leaks had risen so much: “In terms of explanation as to how this sort of cost increase is happening - we have none.” Brown added the delays in responding to callouts was “unacceptable.” Tim Brown opposed WCC’s December agreement to provide Wellington Water with more cash, on a performance basis. He suggested Wellington Water should “absolutely” do better, before they get more. The reports come as Wellington has been under level two water restrictions for months, partially as a significant portion of the region’s water is lost due to leaks. Councillor Ben McNulty posted to X saying the Council was trying to work with Wellington Water to engage private plumbers on low priority leaks “but things are moving at a glacial pace on this front.” McNulty said he’s expecting a “bloody good explanation” from Wellington Water, which is set to front up to the report’s findings at a Wellington City Council meeting on Tuesday. Azaria Howell is a Wellington-based multimedia reporter with an eye across the region. She joined 九一星空无限 in 2022 and has a keen interest in city council decisions, social housing and transport. Sun, 10 Mar 2024 16:00:04 Z /news/wellington/corporate-welfare-or-visionary-the-secret-cinema-deal-dividing-wellington/ /news/wellington/corporate-welfare-or-visionary-the-secret-cinema-deal-dividing-wellington/ In the middle of last year, Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau needed a win. She was being criticised for absences from civic functions, she claimed she was booed and heckled at a residents’ association meeting to the point she said “f*** that was rough” on her way out, and voting blocks were hardening around the council table. She hinted she had a win up her sleeve in the form of an upcoming announcement about the Reading Cinema building on Courtenay Pl which has become an eyesore since it closed in 2019 due to an earthquake risk. Eight months later, an announcement on Reading Cinema is yet to be made and Whanau needs a win now more than ever after her personal life went on to become a distraction last year. However, the impending announcement of what has been labelled a “secret deal” has already soured to some extent after details of it were leaked - fuelling public suspicion and aggravation. Whanau has learnt the hard way that secrecy can often be worse than the secret itself. What is the deal? In October 2023, the council met to discuss just one item on the agenda, titled “city activation project”. It was recommended this subject be discussed behind closed doors to allow the council to carry on negotiations, including commercial and industrial negotiations, without prejudice or disadvantage. “City activation project” is the code name for Reading Cinema. Not all councillors agreed the deal should be discussed in secret, but they were overruled by their peers. Nicola Young was one of several councillors who argued they needed to be open. “I’m concerned that we are losing all credibility with Wellingtonians because of the unexpected happenings such as the Town Hall cost blowout.” The day before it had been revealed the cost of earthquake-strengthening and redeveloping Wellington’s Town Hall has rocketed from $182 million to a possible $329m. It didn’t take long for details of the meeting to be leaked to the media. It emerged the council was planning to buy the land underneath for $32m which the cinema chain would use to strengthen and reopen the building and later have the option of buying the land back at the sale price. A debate has raged ever since over whether it’s appropriate for a cash-strapped council to be funding Reading’s multi-millionaire owners to fix one of the city’s most common gripes. Who leaked the information? The following week, Whanau decided to launch an independent investigation into five of her councillors after receiving a code of conduct complaint from deputy mayor Laurie Foon, alleging they breached confidentiality. The councillors were Nicola Young, Tony Randle, Ray Chung, Diane Calvert and Iona Pannett. Whanau appointed high-profile lawyer and former journalist Linda Clark to undertake the probe. Clark found there was insufficient evidence to identify who leaked the confidential information. High-profile lawyer Linda Clark's probe cost the council $43,000. Photo / Michael Craig But Clark did find the councillors had breached the council’s code of conduct. The resulting recommendations were hardly the public telling off Whanau may have hoped for in a bid to draw a line under bubbling tensions. Clark recommended a copy of the council’s code of conduct be provided to all councillors for review, training on when it is appropriate to withhold information from the public, and a private workshop to discuss the complaint and air grievances. The probe cost $43,000 and further aggravated the different personalities around the council table. What’s the latest? The council is again meeting to discuss the “city activation” project tomorrow. This time it’s a notice of motion by Pannett to revoke decisions the council has made on the cinema. No information about the motion has been provided in the agenda and council officials have recommended it be considered in a public-excluded part of the meeting But not a single councillor the Herald has spoken to completely agreed it should be discussed in secret, easily giving Pannett the majority she needs for a vote to have it play out in public. Even Whanau was supportive because of “ongoing misinformation” but she still thinks Wellingtonians will be happy with the deal. Councillor Tim Brown summed up the situation well when he said the confidentiality of the deal has materially increased public suspicion and aggravation about the council. He said it might have been viable to hold information about the deal in confidence for a few weeks but not several months. Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist. Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:58:55 Z /news/wellington/double-tragedy-for-wellington-family-as-otis-hill-s-grandfather-dies-of-cancer-days-after-him/ /news/wellington/double-tragedy-for-wellington-family-as-otis-hill-s-grandfather-dies-of-cancer-days-after-him/ Tragedy has struck twice for a Wellington family with two family members dying from cancer within days of each other. Otis Otto Michael Hill died on Monday last week, two years after he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The 17-year-old was farewelled on Monday at Sacred Heart in Petone where friends and family gathered to say their goodbyes. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, his mother Rachell Hill got the call that her father, Otto John Rasch, after whom her son was named, was dying. She rushed to Te Omanga Hospice - the same hospice where her son spent the last two weeks of his life - to say goodbye to her father and missed his death by eight minutes. Otto’s son and wife were at his side when he passed, holding his hands. He was 74. Hill told the Herald she is numb from the grief of losing her son and her father so close together but takes comfort in her belief they are both looking after each other in heaven. Otis and his grandfather were very close and had spoken to each other about their cancer diagnosis and symptoms when Otto visited his grandson at home after receiving the news his lung cancer had returned and metastasised after being diagnosed five years ago. “[Otis] was their first grandchild, and my Dad said to my brother he would wait three days after Otis’s service, and then he would go which was exactly what he did. We had our family service for Otis on Saturday and then he passed away yesterday morning,” Hill said. Otis’s funeral was held at Sacred Heart in Petone on Monday where Hill spoke to the crowd of mourners about her “strong-willed warrior” of a baby, who grew into a warrior of a man. The Hill family. Tyson, Isa, Otis and Rachel. “After the news, he said, “Mum, I’m not dying, it’s too dramatic,” Rachel told the crowd to laughter. Rachel said the last two years of her family’s lives had been some of the best - despite their heartbreak - as they lived every single day to the fullest and loved as hard as they could. “Otis once said to me ‘I’m not afraid of dying, I’m afraid of not living’” “Otis my darling you have beaten cancer. We love you forever and ever, we will laugh at all your lame jokes forever. “See you in heaven my baby boy, but until then please come and see your mum in my dreams.” Otis is survived by his mum Rachel, dad Tyson and younger sister Isa - as well as a wide circle of family members and friends. Hill said she can’t yet fathom the depth of the loss of her father as she mourns her firstborn son. “It’s really crazy because I’ve just experienced the worst thing that could ever happen to a parent and it’s like my father thought, ‘okay, well, you’re all devastated now, so let’s just get this over and done with and you can be devastated at the same time’.” She said her father was a selfless, incredible man who did everything for her family. “Now he’s gone and he’ll be with Otis and he can look after Otis, which is quite a nice thought that gives me great comfort. He would have wanted it that way.” Seventeen-year-old Otis Hill was diagnosed with a rare cancer two years ago. In line with the family’s Samoan culture, Otto has returned to Hill’s brother’s house where he will stay for a week so that family and friends may visit him. His funeral will be held in the same church as his grandson next week - the same church where he and his wife Emi were married. Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital. She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021. Wed, 21 Feb 2024 01:43:03 Z