About the Long Term Plan 2024-2034
Consultation happened - and it closed on 21 April 2025.
Here are the results that went to Council to inform their decision-making.
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From the WCC Consultation Report prior to decision-making
The Council is making an amendment to the 2024-34 Long-term Plan which required public consultation. The Council is also updating its Annual Plan via the usual yearly process which also required consultation.
On top of this, councils across the country must submit a Water Services Delivery Plan by 3 September 2025 under Local Water Done Well legislation. Therefore, we consulted on three possible models for water service delivery in Wellington to ensure future sustainability and reliability. The consultation encouraged all residents to have their say on these three major issues impacting the future of Wellington.
The formal consultation went live on Thursday 20 March and closed at midnight 21 April. The public could submit in multiple formats – online, email, hardcopy, verbal, video and audio etc. The intention was to accept feedback in as many forms as possible to remove barriers to participation. Individuals/Groups/Organisations could only submit once. This year we received our first video only submission and also had an increase in the submitters requesting to have an oral hearing only. Many also chose to submit on single issues via email.
ICW Summary of the results of the consultation
Three simultaneous consultations on water reform, long-term plan amendment, and annual plan.
Total submissions: 3,715 plus 563 representative survey responses.
Key results
Water Reform (Local Water Done Well)
Consultation Results (n=676):
72% Option 1 (Multi-council organization - Council's preferred)
15% Option 2 (Wellington-only organization)
13% Option 3 (Modified Wellington Water)
Representative Survey (n=563):
82% Option 1 (Multi-council organization)
8% Option 2 (Wellington-only)
10% Option 3 (Modified Wellington Water)
Long-term Plan Amendment
Both consultation and survey preferred Option 1:
Consultation: 36% Option 1 (Council's preferred - large debt headroom, $68m investment fund)
Survey: 37% Option 1
Key Capital Decisions
Begonia House:
Consultation (n=1,191): 61% Option A (Demolish), 18% Option C (Do minimum)
Survey (n=563): 50% Option C (Do minimum), 26% Option A (Demolish)
Clear reversal between consultation and representative sample
Karori Event Centre:
Consultation (n=2,469): 62% Option 4 (Do repairs), 20% Option 1 (Sell - Council's preferred)
Survey (n=563): 24% Option 4 (Do repairs), 46% Option 1 (Sell)
Strong community opposition to Council's preferred option in consultation
Paneke Pōneke Bike Network:
Consultation (n=1,121): 34% Option 2 (10 years), 25% Option 1 (20 years - Council's preferred)
Survey (n=563): 36% Option 1 (20 years), 19% Option 2 (10 years)
Different preferences between consultation and representative sample
Annual Plan Budget Support
Consultation: 38% support (9% strongly + 29% somewhat)
Survey: 40% support (11% strongly + 29% somewhat)
Other Issues
Mātai Moana Reserve: 60% consultation, 64% survey supported partnering with Taranaki Whānui
Short-term accommodation: Mixed results on commercial rates
Parklet fees: 46% consultation, 40% survey supported new charging structure
