A mood for change in Wellington

Curia did a poll for Better Wellington of a 1,000 Wellingtonians in January 2025. The results of Part 1 are here.

The first question asked was:

Overall would you say that things in Wellington today are generally headed in the right direction or off on the wrong track?

Only 27% of Wellingtonians said Wellington is headed in the right direction with 54% saying it is off on the wrong track.

There was no difference by gender, but a large difference by age. Net direction is -10% for under 40s and -54% for over 60s. So all age groups are negative, but older Wellingtonians much more so.

The breakdown by ward (caution small sample sizes) for net direction was:

1. Māori +18%
2. Lambton -5%
3. Eastern -29%
4. Northern -35%
5. Southern -37%
6. Onslow/Western -50%

So Lambton ward is mildly negative, the other four general wards strongly negative and those in the Māori ward were positive.

Also of interest is that of those who voted for Tory Whanau in 2022, only 37% said Wellington is heading in the right direction and 46% the wrong direction.

The breakdown of net direction by party vote was:

1. TPM -5%
2. Greens -9%
3. Labour -27%
4. NZ First -38%
5. National -41%
6. ACT -60%

So voters from all six parliamentary parties think the net direction for Wellington is negative. TPM and Green voters only mildly so, but Labour and other voters strongly so.

Then we asked more specifically about Council satisfaction:

How do you rate the overall performance of the Wellington City Council over the last year. Would you say it was very poor, poor, average, good or very good?

Only 15% of Wellingtonians said the Council is performing above average and 51% below average for a net rating of -36%.

Net performance by ward was:

1. Māori +1%
2. Southern -24%
3. Lambton -26%
4. Northern -39%
5. Onslow/Western -48%
6. Eastern -55%

Of those who voted first preference for Whanau is 2022, 31% said WCC was doing a good job and 28% a poor job.

Labour voters are dissatisfied with the Council with only 12% saying it is doing a good job and 48% a poor job.

The final question in Part 1 was on the Mayor’s performance:

How do you rate the overall performance of Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau over the last year. Would you say it was very poor, poor, average, good or very good?

17% of Wellingtonians rate the Mayor’s performance as above average and 46% below average.

Under 40s give Whanau a net rating of -10% and over 60s a net rating of -64%.

Net performance for the Mayor by ward is:

1. Māori +2%
2. Lambton -13%
3. Northern -33%
4. Onslow/Western -34%
5. Southern -41%
6. Eastern -43%

Labour voters are again unhappy with only 16% saying the Mayor had done a good job and 42% a poor job.

In Parts 2 and 3 I will detail some of the responses to issues and policies.