Green Space

Living in the inner-city is a different experience from having a home in a leafy suburb street. For many, home is in the ‘vertical streets’ we call apartment buildings. Without a garden of our own to enjoy, we are reliant on the green space such as parks that the Council makes available. We are also reliant on architects and building developers to incorporate green space for residents into the new builds they design and create.

Existing green spaces are managed and protected through the Wellington City Council’s District Plan zoning, which provides direction on how the spaces and any potential development can be suitably managed. These Open Space zones include the Natural Open Space Zone, Open Space Zone, Sports and Active Recreation Zone and the Wellington Town Belt Zone. Consultation on updating the District Plan is currently underway.

An associated document particularly relevant to ‘green space’ is the Council’s Green Network Plan.

Contact us if you have suggestions for this page or are interested in more information.

2024 ICW Submission

Te Ngākau/Civic Square
In November 2024, ICW took the opportunity to respond to the Council’s engagement relating to development plans for Te Ngākau/Civic Square. The MOB and CAB buildings were being demolished as earthquake prone, and our view was that this provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use the space for much needed green space for inner-city residents.. In our submission we referenced the Council’s own 2022 Green Network Plan that acknowledged there was a deficit of green space for the inner city. With intensification of the inner-city both a local and central government goal, the need for green space must be addressed.

Key Wellington City Council and Central Government documents

Wellington City Council - Development Contributions Policy Review

  • The Council invited feedback on changes it wishes to make to its Development Contributions Policy.

  • ICW considered the changes and provided this submission.

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Wellington City Council - Green Network Plan

  • ICW has provided a range of submissions focusing on the importance of green space when we have responded to the Council’s Annual Plans, Long Term Plans and Spatial Plans.

  • We believe it’s essential that green space is incorporated into any inner-city development planning. We endorsed this report Green Space in Wellington’s Central City to support the thinking.

  • In response to an invitation by Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett for suggested green space ideas, we provided an idea that would enhance Te Niho Park. See our suggestion here