Ko te Tau kua pahure A Year in Review

Partnering with mana whenua

Greater Wellington continues to make meaningful strides in strengthening partnerships with mana whenua. Highlights include signing a MOU with Te Rūnanga O Toa Tangatira that sets out the intention to work in partnership to explore the opportunity to redevelop their land located at Kenepuru Landing into an electric bus depot, supporting the establishment of mana-whenua led plant nurseries which in turn support environmental restoration work.

Record-breaking patronage and integrated ticketing

March 2025 saw the highest-ever monthly bus patronage, with 2.5 million boardings, reflecting strong public engagement and utility services. The hikoi to Parliament on 19 November 2024 was the busiest single day on record for Wellington’s public transport network, with an estimated 84,000 rail journeys and 80,000 bus trips. The Airport Express (AX) bus service has reached the milestone of carrying one million passengers.

A recent innovation of integrating event tickets with public transport fares is showing a high appeal, with 38 percent of ticketholders to a Fat Freddy’s Drop event in Upper Hutt in January 2025 using public transport.

Major projects completed and work progressed that protect the environment

Projects associated with the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands and Major Rivers Riparian Planting projects are completed. Over the last five years these projects have successfully planted 400,000 native plants, protected by more than 30km of fencing across South Wairarapa.

Great progress continues to be made with Recloaking Papatūanuku – a total of 320,000 stems were planted in the 2024/25 financial year, and the completion of the Te Horo wetland re-creation. Community groups and volunteers have also made this ambitious project possible.

Purchase of Gollan’s Valley Station

This acquisition protects the entire Parangarahu Lakes catchment – a site of national significance and cultural importance to mana whenua – and unites East Harbour Regional Park, enabling expanded recreation and tourism opportunities.

Improving our region’s flood resilience  

Water treatment plan optimisation work has been completed, allowing the plant to treat 120 million litres of water per day, with instantaneous flows up to 140 million litres – up from the plant’s previous limit of 80 million litres.