Ben McNulty
@ponekeben.bsky.social
Deputy Mayor and Wellington City Councillor for the Takapū/Northern Ward. linktr.ee/ponekeben
Amalgamation vote tomorrow. For those that care about Māori representation in an amalgamated Wellington council, the only option is to vote in support of submitting a headstart proposal to government. The Iwi in our region have been resolute in their support of such.
Five heritage listings in Wellington are stopping new housing, delaying life safety features and costing ratepayers hundreds of thousands in maintenance costs. Here's the detail and why the govt is stepping in 👇
Before filming this update I thought I'd go touch some grass. Felt good after a hectic few days in the comments talking Tiaki Wai. 🗣 This week a bit more on water including what happens if you're facing financial hardship and the latest on council amalgamation before we vote come Thursday.
I didn't expect yesterday's video on Tiaki Wai to garner so much interest so thought I would jump in with a Part 2 covering more themes I've seen across social 🤳 1) Water meters 2) Political spin 3) Installments 4) Disconnecting Happy to answer more questions below 👇
Water bills have landed in your inbox. 4 key things: 1) Why the separate bill & how much you'll be paying 2) Why bills are calculated on the capital value of your property 3) If renters are responsible for water charges 4) Is it affordable?
22,000 tickets pre-sold, three hotels booked out (with more on the way) and 70% of sales coming from outside the Wellington Region. This is exactly why the council has its Major Events Fund. Make sure you get in bang on 11am on Friday morning as tickets will sell out!
Toured the new Moa Point Sludge Minimisation Facility yesterday. It's a phenomenal piece of engineering and its environmental impact for Wellington will be transformational. Just wish it didn't cost $500m.
Make sure you WAKE UP on Friday before 11am because that's when tickets go on sale for the best concert of 2027. System of a Down and Faith No More. February 7 at Hnry Stadium. See you there 🎸🏟
Our City Safety Plan is starting to pay off ✔️ Last year Wellington City Council signed off on a $40m, 10 year plan to address roughsleeping in our CBD. It's fantastic seeing some recognition of it by @thepost-nz.bsky.social this morning.
Back from Beer & Braids at Waitoa Hataitai this arvo. Stoked I'm now able to do more than a basic ponytail for my daughter.
Absolutely empathic win for Mills Albert Wellington Saints over the competition leaders. Peaking just before the playoffs 🏀
Tough match ahead for the Saints but I reckon we've got it 🏀🏀🏀
Wellington, it's raining if you haven't already noticed 🌧 If you see surface flooding or need to report a water issue, contact Tiaki Wai. 📞 0800 842 549 🔗 tiakiwai.co.nz
Update 33 is all council amalgamation (with a quick side of nature): 📉 Financial analysis = very expensive initially but long-term savings 📝 Wellingtonians overwhelmingly want us to submit a headstart proposal ✅️ Who's in/out is clearer but final call is up to government
Your 2026/27 rates info for WCC is now online 👇 services.wellington.govt.nz/property-sea... You'll need to then go to the Tiaki Wai website and scroll down to use the calculator to get your 'approximate' water bill. Actual charges for WCC area should be live on 29 July: www.tiakiwai.co.nz/billing
services.wellington.govt.nz
Vic Uni have been replanting this 26ha section of Outer Town Belt in Ōhāriu Valley since 2021 and are almost done. Council just provides land + plants. Awesome to get out there this morning and help plant.
Every council in the country could articulate the rates impacts of forced amalgamation tomorrow but the figures would be close to garbage. The 10 week timeline your governmnet has mandated is the problem here.
Long update on where all things amalgamation are currently sitting.
Hat tip to Anna McMartin/The End is Narnae who’s been chasing this down for a while now
+1. A public body should be running our local elections, volume 382.
Ben McNulty@ponekeben.bsky.social · 2w agoThis entire affair really just reinforces the fact that the electoral commission should run local elections. S138 is crystal clear that the Chief Electoral Officer must pass on a complaint relating to expenses to Police. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3610...
This entire affair really just reinforces the fact that the electoral commission should run local elections. S138 is crystal clear that the Chief Electoral Officer must pass on a complaint relating to expenses to Police. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3610...
Former Upper Hutt mayor Wayne Guppy’s returns referred to police
Wayne Guppy claimed Graham Bloxham’s involvement in the election was off his own bat. Emails paint a different picture.
thepost.co.nz
If the government are sticking with regulatory relief (dumb when trying to put together regulatory reform that has to last decades) then they need to make explicit that there will be the ability for councils to walk back protections that incur the relief in the first place.
Acting Mayoral Update this week. 🏙 The latest on council amalgamation 🐦 Bird flu has made its way to New Zealand but Zealandia/Zoo have been preparing for three years 🖼 The future of the Wellington Museum given massive strengthening costs
I'm picking up the wrap from @andrewlittlenz.bsky.social this week. Whatever your interests, this weekend Wellington has you covered! There's Zealandia, late nights at Space Place, basketball, Lego Star Wars or find a place to watch the All Blacks beat Ireland 🏉
Amalgamation Update 📢🏙 Elected members are currently considering a model which would have a regional mayor and unitary council with five community councils sitting underneath.
Man it's cool* how basically every piece of infrastructure in the country is essentially rooted. *not actually cool
