MEDIA RELEASE
29 April 2008
Wellingtonians show interest in how to keep city on the move
More than 4500 Wellingtonians have expressed their interest in how to keep the city on the move for the next 30 years in
their submissions on the Ngauranga to Airport Strategy Study’s second stage of consultation.
The stage two consultation report, released today, shows that a total of 4673 submissions were received on the study,
for which consultation ended in February this year. The bulk of these submissions were individual, posted responses,
with 58 received from organisations interested in the study.
Representatives from Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Transit New Zealand, who are
working jointly on the study, say they are pleased with the interest shown.
“It’s positive to see Wellingtonians want to be involved in the future direction of their city,” Wellington City Council
Director of Urban Development and Transport Ernst Zollner says.
“As we have said before, Wellington is a vibrant, internationally competitive city and we want to keep it that way. To
do that means coming up with a plan that’s possible, practical and will fit people’s requirements. We know a mix of
roading and public transport improvements, plus changes to make it easier for people to walk and cycle, are required,”
Mr Zollner says.
Greater Wellington Regional Council Divisional Manager of Transport Policy and Strategy Jane Davis says it has been
invaluable to hear from people who live in the city, commute in or visit on a regular basis to allow the study group to
come up with the right mix of options to address current and future needs before formulating a draft Ngauranga to
Airport Corridor Plan this year for the area between Ngauranga Gorge, the hospital and airport.
“Wellingtonians are the ones who appreciate many of the issues and constraints the city faces and the importance of
having effective roading and public transport systems that will get them where they want to go as efficiently as
possible.”
“The study group wanted the public to consider the range of initiatives we had considered and tell us which they
preferred and why before we draw up a draft plan to address the region’s future transport needs,” Ms Davis says.
Transit New Zealand Wellington Regional Manager Graham Taylor says the consultation report is being considered in the
work to formulate the draft Corridor Plan. This plan will then be reviewed by councillors from Wellington City Council
and Greater Wellington Regional Council as well as by the Transit New Zealand Board in May for before being approved for
consultation in June by the Regional Land Transport Committee.
“Consultation will be carried out by the joint group of Transit, WCC and GWRC, under the umbrella of the Regional Land
Transport Committee. The final corridor plan for the Ngauranga to Airport area, including the hospital, is expected to
be approved by the end of this year,” Mr Taylor says.
ENDS