Policies

Compare the parties’ positions on the key issues this election. Explore their policies and see how closely they align with your own views and priorities.

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Climate change and resilience

Climate change poses a huge challenge for communities as more frequent extreme weather events require us to rethink how we live and where. Local authorities are at the forefront of efforts to respond, with responsibilities for environmental planning and regulation, as well as civil defence. Many councils have plans to reduce emissions in their area and are working to help their communities adapt to a warming world.

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  • Commit to a carbon-neutral council by 2030 through renewable energy, fleet electrification and reduced emissions.

  • Develop a citywide climate adaptation plan to protect against flooding, sea-level rise and extreme weather impacts.

  • Strengthen civil defence and quake readiness by upgrading key buildings and establishing community resilience hubs.

  • Commit to urgently improve Wellington's climate through wind-catching sails in order to provide a warm, windless city for all.

  • Erect a giant umbrella over Wellington city in order to catch the rain before it falls on innocent Wellingtonians.

  • Perform anti-rain and anti-earthquake dances in order to prevent rain and earthquakes.

  • Fast-track strengthening of water mains, bridges and other lifelines to prevent cascading failures in a big quake.

  • Provide financial advice for owners of quake-prone apartments and heritage buildings to meet earthquake strengthening standards.

  • Plan now for at-risk coastal and flood prone properties with funding and relocation support pathways.

  • Work with central government and local building owners to make sure the constant changing of earthquake requirements stops.

  • Bring back the moa and genetically engineer giant tuna as part of the public transport network. Whakaorangia anō te moa, whakatipu i te tuna.

  • Daylight all piped awa such as the Waitangi and Moturoa as future public transport corridors. Huakina ngā paipa awa hei ara tuna.

  • Make the Basin Swamp again. Returning the Basin Reserve to swamp will prepare the city for extreme weather events. Hanga Repo Anō ki Hauwai!

  • Deliver bike lane and bus infrastructure upgrades, enabling mode shift away from cars and addressing our city's number one emissions source.

  • Enable density done well with the switch to land value rates, encouraging intensification to directly reduce transport emissions source.

  • Ensure regional investment provides Wellington with sufficient water security in case of extreme weather event or natural disaster.

  • Adapt to change by building resilience in infrastructure and the city. Drop the virtual signal and put resources into real things that make a difference.

  • Keep storm water systems, including gutters, drains and streams, properly maintained and clear of obstructions to prevent flooding during storms.

  • Maintain trees to prevent collapse onto power lines during storms, avoiding power outages for days and blocked roads.

  • Accelerate rollout of bus priority lanes to make public transport faster and more reliable and encourage greater patronage.

  • Back development of meaningful resilience and adaptation plans for Wellington's most vulnerable communities.

  • Work with the government on earthquake-prone building reform to ease the burden on Wellington and strike a balance between safety and cost.

  • Reset the council's emissions goal as the current target of becoming net zero by 2050 is too extreme.

  • Support Wellington in adapting to the impacts of climate change and build capacity for ongoing climate adaptation planning.

  • Take a practical approach to Wellington's earthquake-prone buildings, balancing citizens' safety with costs.

  • Back practical and affordable emissions reductions in council operations and services.

  • Invest in civil defence readiness so communities have the tools, training and resources needed to respond quickly to disasters.

  • Support public transport that is reliable and available where and when people need it, making it a real alternative to the car.

Get across the policies, candidates and parties

Don’t know who to vote for? Policy.nz is the complete guide to the 2025 local elections. Compare the candidates and policies to see where you stand.

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