We're gaining momentum with just one month to go
Upcoming events, how to cast a special vote in the by-election, campaign updates, and a media round up.
Upcoming City for People events
Ngā mihi nui to everyone who came to hang out with us at Urban Nerds on Tuesday! We’ve never seen Waitoa Bar so packed. It was such a blast, and we’re keen to get everyone together again.
We’re planning to organise a community meeting on 6 March to talk about why the District Plan is so important for our housing crisis - save the date. Come along to hear from an exciting line up of speakers and share some kai (food). We’ll send out a proper invite with the details once we’ve got them nailed down.
Some of our volunteers are also keen to organise a hīkoi (walk) from Civic Square to Newtown some time in early March, to show councillors just how easy it is for those of us who walk to work to walk home too. The Independent Hearings Panel says we don’t need to zone for heaps more housing in Newtown because Wellington is a “amphitheatre” and that it’s not reasonable to assume people who walk to work also walk home. Let’s prove them wrong.
If you’re keen to help out with organising either of these events, reply to this email and we’ll put you in touch with the right people. Don’t have any spare time but do have a little spare cash? We’d appreciate your donation - it could go a long way.
Voting in the Wellington by-election closes noon on Saturday!
If you haven’t voted yet, don’t panic! There is still time. If you live in one of the below suburbs and your papers didn’t arrive, you lost them, or they’re damaged, you can still cast a special vote. Head down to the Arapki Manners Library before 12 noon on Saturday 17. This by-election is critical to the future of housing for our city - whoever we elect will likely hold the deciding vote on the District Plan, so make sure you choose a candidate who is emphatically in favour of building more homes, in the right places.
Less than a month to go
It’s less than a month till the big meeting on 14 March where councillors will vote on the final District Plan for our city. So far the Independent Hearings Panel has released three sets of advice and a lot of it is… not great. Joel McManus from The Spinoff explains why here, here, and here.
We’re not the only ones shocked by the lack of expertise from this “expert” panel. Politicians from the ACT Party, Green Party, Labour Party, and National Party have all criticised the panel’s advice. As have many economists (this piece from Stu Donovan is a must read), and the folks from Te Waihanga/ the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission.
City for People in the media
Our spokespeople have been doing a bang up job spreading the word about our campaign for more housing in Wellington.
Elena had great piece in the in The Spinoff last week, explaining our asks: The five things we want from Wellington’s new District Plan.
“We all want our city to be a community-driven, vibrant, and exciting place to live. But Wellington can’t be the “coolest little capital” with a red-hot housing crisis. It’s oxymoronic, and we’ve got to fix it. We need our councillors to work together and pass a pragmatic District Plan that reflects the real needs of the people in our city. Let’s prioritise people, think of the future, and keep community at the centre of this new District Plan.”
Luke was front page of The Post, reacting to the Independent Hearing Panel’s advice: ‘At our wits’ end’: Group fumes at housing recommendations
““we’re all at our wit’s end” City for People spokesperson Luke Somervell said after reading the latest recommendations that suggest 206 hectares get character protections, up from the draft which had just 85 hectares. The new area is the equivalent of more than 200 rugby fields.”
With these words ☝️, Luke picked up up the dubious ‘Quote of the Day’ award in Bernard Hickey’s The Kākā newsletter: Watching the ladder being pulled up in real time.
“The panel’s rulings fly in the face of evidence in Auckland and Christchurch that increasing housing densification and supply reduces rent and house price inflation. Politicians, economists, most urban planners and housing advocates are gobsmacked and are now pleading for Wellington City Councillors to reject or rewrite the de-densification implied by the IHP’s rulings when they vote to progress the new plan on March 14.”
And Luke was featured on Business Desk too, in Dileepa Fonseka’s peice on The 'rigour mortis' of Wellington and housing.
“City for People – a 'yes in my backyard' (yimby) advocacy group – spokesman Luke Somervell feels there was a “double standard” in the level of evidence required from his group during the Wellington IHP process compared with others who sought to limit development. “When it came to our submission they were basically questioning every single line, not necessarily with evidence … often it was very ‘vibes-based’.””
And Marko and I were on the New Zealand Initiative’s podcast with economist Eric Crampton, reacting to the panel’s advice.
Finally, have you seen our snazzy new posters around town? Send us your pictures and we’ll share them on social media!
Let’s keep the momentum up. With more homes, Wellington can be a city for people. Together, we can make sure our councillors put people first and make sensible choices for all of our futures.
Nga mihi nui,
Eleanor, and the City for People team.
P.S. a wee shout out: friend to the campaign, economist Stu Donovan, is running a three-day course on urban economics in Wellington in June, no prior knowledge needed. Stu is an excellent teacher and we rate him highly. You can find out more info and sign up here (50% discount for students).
