Greater Wellington Regional Council

Pōneke/Wellington Constituency
The Greater Wellington Regional Council makes decisions about managing resources in the region, such as air, water, soil and the coastline. It also carries out plant and pest control, helps prepare for natural disasters, and is involved in regional transport. The council is made up of 13 councillors. Councillors are elected to represent constituencies (areas in the region). Five councillors will be elected from the Pōneke/Wellington constituency. This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Greater Wellington Regional Council election.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

  • Work with central government to increase funding and remove legislative barriers so that councils can better deliver public services.

    Ensure council proactively engages with renters, migrants, students, and disabled people in a way that works for these communities.

    Trial participatory budgeting to give residents a direct say over spending on local projects and issues in their community.

  • Plan for a smaller Greater Wellington Council to reflect its reduced role after government water reforms.

    Explore rate reductions in line with the smaller footprint of regional councils after water centralisation.

    Ensure local accountability by improving awareness of the role of regional and local governance, and so driving greater voter turnout.

  • Commit to partner with mana whenua to improve outcomes for mana whenua and Maōri, by engaging mana whenua in decision-making towards co-governance by 2025.

    Engage the community more in the decision making on projects and plans through residents' feedback and empowering advisory and community groups.

    Support council employee wages and working conditions: at least Living Wage for all employees and contractors and becoming accredited Living Wage Employer.

  • Ensure that regional council has a policy that recognises the value in and need for disabled people to be represented.

    Need regional council to ensure all engagement opportunities are accessible and inclusive of everyone!

  • Community engagement: full community participation in key funding and investment decisions.

    Driver wages and conditions: improve bus driver wages and conditions – a supported workforce equals a reliable bus network.

    Local government reform: reduce the number of councils in our region through discussions with our communities.

  • Continue to and advance community-led initiatives; in particular, water quality, urban growth, and environmental protection programmes.

    Ensure council processes, actions, decision-making are informed and shaped equally by tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti worldviews/ perspectives.

    Continue and maintain Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) as the employer of choice. GWRC is the best and most functional council in NZ.

  • Improve communications and engagement by Greater Wellington Regional Council as a priority. Cut out the spin. Free, frank and honest is best.

    Promote partnering with iwi with regard to our environment in particular.

    Advocate for phased amalgamation and not forced, plus sharing common resources among the local authorities is a priority.

  • Partner with mana whenua.

    Listen to the voices of young people.

    Actively engage with community groups, businesses, central and local government.

  • Make significant improvements to Greater Wellington Regional Council's public transparency and accountability, via better use of technology and communications.

    Champion the power of community engagement and consultation, getting out and talking to ratepayers about what the Greater Wellington Regional Council does.

    Embrace community diversity through changing up the way the council holds meetings, including where they are held.

  • Advocate central government to increase funding and remove legislative barriers so that councils can better deliver public services.

    Ensure council proactively engages with renters, migrants, students, and disabled people in a way that works for these communities.

    Trial participatory budgeting to give residents a direct say over spending on local projects and issues in their community.

  • Work with central government to increase funding and remove legislative barriers so that councils can better deliver public services.

    Ensure council proactively engages with renters, migrants, students, and disabled people in a way that works for these communities.

    Trial participatory budgeting to give residents a direct say over spending on local projects and issues in their community.

  • Plan for a smaller Greater Wellington Council to reflect its reduced role after government water reforms.

    Explore rate reductions in line with the smaller footprint of regional councils after water centralisation.

    Ensure local accountability by improving awareness of the role of regional and local governance, and so driving greater voter turnout.

  • Commit to partner with mana whenua to improve outcomes for mana whenua and Maōri, by engaging mana whenua in decision-making towards co-governance by 2025.

    Engage the community more in the decision making on projects and plans through residents' feedback and empowering advisory and community groups.

    Support council employee wages and working conditions: at least Living Wage for all employees and contractors and becoming accredited Living Wage Employer.

  • Ensure that regional council has a policy that recognises the value in and need for disabled people to be represented.

    Need regional council to ensure all engagement opportunities are accessible and inclusive of everyone!

  • Community engagement: full community participation in key funding and investment decisions.

    Driver wages and conditions: improve bus driver wages and conditions – a supported workforce equals a reliable bus network.

    Local government reform: reduce the number of councils in our region through discussions with our communities.

  • Continue to and advance community-led initiatives; in particular, water quality, urban growth, and environmental protection programmes.

    Ensure council processes, actions, decision-making are informed and shaped equally by tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti worldviews/ perspectives.

    Continue and maintain Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) as the employer of choice. GWRC is the best and most functional council in NZ.

  • Improve communications and engagement by Greater Wellington Regional Council as a priority. Cut out the spin. Free, frank and honest is best.

    Promote partnering with iwi with regard to our environment in particular.

    Advocate for phased amalgamation and not forced, plus sharing common resources among the local authorities is a priority.

  • Partner with mana whenua.

    Listen to the voices of young people.

    Actively engage with community groups, businesses, central and local government.

  • Make significant improvements to Greater Wellington Regional Council's public transparency and accountability, via better use of technology and communications.

    Champion the power of community engagement and consultation, getting out and talking to ratepayers about what the Greater Wellington Regional Council does.

    Embrace community diversity through changing up the way the council holds meetings, including where they are held.

  • Advocate central government to increase funding and remove legislative barriers so that councils can better deliver public services.

    Ensure council proactively engages with renters, migrants, students, and disabled people in a way that works for these communities.

    Trial participatory budgeting to give residents a direct say over spending on local projects and issues in their community.