Contaminated sand ⚠️ I've had several emails asking about where/how to dispose of the Anko kinetic sand sold by Kmart which is potentially contaminated with asbestos. Kmart's guidance thus far is just to "contact your local council for disposal".

Real throwback to the bad old days with TG closed.

Week 3 update! 🚧 Briefing from NZTA on the 2nd Mt Vic Tunnel + Petone to Grenada 🏗 Deep dive on challenge of infrastructure for both council & NZ ⚖️ Visit from the Office of the Auditor General to talk conflicts of interest 🛍 Council papers out for our meeting 20/11

The Countdown livery is being taken down at the Mall. I for one am outraged they could do this to Johnsonville's rich cultural heritage!

Homelessness outreach, housing placement, food bank, physiotherapy, rental assistance, dental clinic, mental health counseling and doctors practice - the team at DCM Wellington quite literally do it all.

The Grenada North Park upgrade has moved to Request for Proposal on the detailed design! Key expectations: year round artifical turf with lighting, drainage improvements for other grounds, refreshed play area, new toilet block and fresh seal on the carpark.

First day of school for Mr 5 and I am so proud. Not a single tear shed all day, he loved his maths and did his homework reading in a minute. Just the best feeling.

Went out with Te Toi Mahana this morning to look at their redevelopment in Tawa. ✔️ 11 units > 36 ✔️ $300k build cost for a 1 bed (vs. $180k maintenance cost on each 11) Some parking issues to manage on match days for the Rugby Club but exciting stuff IMO.

It's been a week since the new Wellington City Council was sworn in and I'm getting stuck in 🔥

Ekta are now doing food distribution in Johnsonville on Sunday afternoons. Te Ara Tauhau, Hindmarsh St, 4:30-5pm. No questions or judgement, just come along if you need some help.

Week 2 update from the Deputy Mayor's office. Waterfront fencing, government reforms (unfunded mandates) and a bus tour:

Went along tonight with a good contingent of councillors to the premiere of Specialty: A coffee story. It's an independent crowd funded doco telling the story of Swimsuit coffee. Great little film with a lot of heart. Public on Friday 👇 youtu.be/TBIWepGjQr4?...

A Week 1 update from the Deputy Mayor's office:

WCC 2025-28 🙂

I’ve appointed @ponekeben.bsky.social as Wellington’s Deputy Mayor for the next 18 months. I know Ben’s going to do a great job working with other Councillors 🏙️🤝

Splashed out on a new watch ahead of Thursday's council inauguration:

Totally with @yadana.bsky.social here. Cities like Sydney have been doing integrated ticketing for over a decade. Also Cable Car retired Snapper in expectation of the 2026 rollout. Another embarrassing example of NZ failing at simple infrastructure. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Through the next decade WCC will spend over $40m on frontline support for homelessness. This despite govt telling councils to get back to basics. To solve and not just relocate the issue, the govt needs to step up on providing housing & funding. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Please can we now have two or more consecutive days with blue sky. That would be excellent 👍

Weather = bad. Stay out of parks and reserves, report damage into council via FixIt/04 499 4444 and avoid unnecessary travel please.

Today Wellington is most certainly beatable with conditions expected to worsen this afternoon. Please stay out of parks and reserves, minimise travel and report any damage into WCC via FixIt App or 04 499 4444.

This year's shitsville is particularly shit.

A Petone to Grenada Link has massive benefits for public transit across the Wellington Region by connecting LH/Porirua + taking traffic out Ngauranga Gorge. Centres Grenada North as the industrial heart of the region. 70% less earthworks sounds promising. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

Another successful year of Spring Into Tawa. Always a good chance for us Takapū councillors to hit the pavement.

Firefighters out in force in Johnsonville today with fierce public support ✊️

Absolutely ridiculous. Thank you so much Takapū.

Preliminary votes have just dropped. No changes to results from Saturday but still 5,300 special votes to process. 48.09% turnout doesn't include SV.

Turns out Wellingtonians came out in force on Saturday, single biggest day of voting. 48% participation which is the best result since at least 2016.

"In Takapū/Northern ward, Labour’s Ben McNulty @ponekeben.bsky.social roared home with a huge margin on first-choice votes, enough to have been elected twice." I like this. #nzpol thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-...

Takapū, thank you for re-electing me you absolute beauties.

First time I find myself agreeing with Better Wellington all campaign!

🚫 DON'T DO THIS 🛑 Yesterday was your last day to vote via post! If you still haven't voted you need to drop off your papers into an orange bin instead. Voting closes midday on Saturday!

One last AMA before election day: www.reddit.com/r/Wellington...

Just move bro. Sure you'll have to pay for expensive short-term accommodation, transport and food costs while you compete with hundreds of other applicants for even entry-level work but you'll just have to figure it out. We're back on track BTW.

Vote before 11 October 🗳 No voting papers? Cast a special vote at Waitohi, Karori, Te Awe, Newtown or Kilbirnie Libraries as special voting hubs are now open ✅️ wellington.govt.nz/your-council...

Interesting campaign to drop one week out from polls. Would love to see the promoter statement on this one!

First Ray last year and now Karl have both said if they don't get their way on council, they'll quit. Karl is worse as he wants the government to overrule voters. What is it with the right-wing and a lack of respect for our local democracy?

One of the most transparent attempts at astroturfing I've seen this election but great to see the community calling it out. Turns out OP is a major volunteer for Ray.

Can you chip in a few spare $ as a microdonation so I can make sure my Get Out The Vote advertising hits as many people as possible? With Māori Wards and Regional Council on the ballot every cent in these late stages can make a real difference: benmcnulty.nz/donate

5 incredibly distinct valedictory speeches from 5 incredibly distinct councillors. Ngā mihi nui to Crs Pannett, Free, O'Neill, Brown & Wi Neera. You all leave with a track record and mana.

According to Ray Chung, WCC's debt is going to quadruple by 2028. You'll be absolutely shocked to hear that it isn't.

Genuinely curious how electionz end up in a situation where they only process 10 returns on a day. Like was there a bag of votes that they found lost behind the copier?

Major shake-up to the EQ Prone Buildings rules coming this arvo. Current rules are well intentioned but have seen little compliance. For residential apartment owners they've often been unable to access finance to do strengthening. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

Went on a sign maintenance run tonight to fix damaged hoardings & clean graffiti. From 3 sites I visited only Labour, Greens + an Alex Baker hoarding were vandalized. Unlike these right-wing snowflakes we just don't throw a pity party every time a sign gets damaged.

A solid contender for the worst geotargeted election ad of 2025.

Meeting the locals while doorknocking in Johnsonville today. More temptations were top of the agenda.

Coward.

Here's my exhaustive list of WCC candidates across the political spectrum I think you should consider voting for this year. See link for justifications/reckons, I'll tl;dr it here: www.reddit.com/r/Wellington...

Ray has a pendulous relationship with the truth at the best of times and this is further desperation to try and tie his opponents to something that we had absolutely no involvement in.

I wasn't planning on sharing thoughts about preferences in Takapū but after some dire meetings with candidates who don't believe in climate change, are anti-housing and/or against Māori Wards, here's my reckons: #2: John Apanowicz #3: Tony/Andrea The rest are deeply unserious.