You may have seen headlines telling you that Wellington rental prices are dropping, that it’s a renter’s market, or that with the exodus of public service workers from the capital, landlords are getting desperate. To some extent, that is true, and to a greater extent, it’s not.
Salient asked Trade Me about the current perceptions of the rental market. Year on year, the asking price for a property in Wellington was down 2.9%, and since September 2024, Trade Me saw a 28% increase in the number of rental listings in the city. These figures might lead you to believe that rents are dropping. Well, they’re not (in most places). Between December 2024 and January 2025, the median rental price went from $650 to $675 according to Trade Me’s data.
Last Thursday, Wellington City Council passed what Councillor Nīkau Wi Neera described as “the most pro-housing, ambitious set of amendments that we could”, as the council voted on changes to the District Plan.
The meeting saw the council’s biggest break from the NIMBY-ism which has defined housing policy in the city for decades. W after W for affordable housing flashed onto the council’s voting screens.
So overwhelming were the wins for affordable housing that Councillor Nicola Young may have been left with a mild case of amnesia, saying “I’m so numb about the district plan I can barely remember what [the amendments] are.”
The debate over the future of Wellington’s housing rages on, as Council continues to grapple with the 220 pages of bullshittery brought to it by the Independent Hearings Panel (IHP)
The most recent report brought to council by the IHP contains all of its recommendations for Wellington’s District Plan—the rulebook for urban planning in Te Whanganui-a-Tara—developed via a public consultation process that it has been undergoing since February of last year. However, as pointed out by a number of commentators, many of the recommendations made by the IHP are, frankly, bonkers.
The Wellington Phoenix have kickstarted their Ninja A-League season in record-breaking style. After scoring just three goals in their opening five matches, the Phoenix have recorded the biggest win in the team’s history – beating Sydney FC 7-0 at Porirua... The post Ninja A-League Round 8 Match Review appeared first on Wellington Phoenix.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano insists there’s “real belief” in the squad that they can turnaround their fortunes. After back-to-back defeats, the Phoenix entered the round as one of four teams, alongside Central Coast, at the foot of the... The post Isuzu UTE A-League Round 9 Match Preview appeared first on Wellington Phoenix.
Congratulations to all the members of the Academy who have graded this year. 1 mon (1 yellow stripe): Eric O’Grady, Sam Williams, Kyren Mohi-Waiariki, Joe Williams, Oliver Ye-Xu, Raffa Salisbury,... Source
We need great talent to perform, host workshops and lead our dance programme for the 2026 Wellington Folk Festival. If you’d like to be in the programme in any of these capacities (or know people who might), here is a link to our online application form: Guest applications for the 2026 Festival (23 -26 October … Continue reading Seeking guest applications for Wellyfest 2026
E-NEWS FRIDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2025 Talofa lava, we are edging ever closer to Christmas next week — just six more days until Christmas Eve and seven until Christmas Day. Last […]