Wellington City Council is launching an anti-bullying campaign this Pink Shirt Day (Friday 16 May) to raise awareness around escalating staff reports of personal conflict and remind the public it costs nothing to be kind.

“In Wellington, our strength lies in our diversity. This campaign is a call to everyone – in our schools, workplaces, and communities – to challenge bullying behaviour and promote a culture of respect,” says Mayor Tory Whanau.

“I encourage all Wellingtonians to join us in this important kaupapa, standing up against bullying and fostering a culture of empathy.”

Personal confrontation is the Council’s highest reported risk – ahead of other critical risks including health/impairment, vehicles, and work-related hazards. Since 2016, reported personal confrontation incidents have increased by 323 percent, rising from around 400 per year pre-COVID, to almost 1000 annually.

The campaign ‘We are Wellingtonians’ recognises the humans behind the jobs most often at the receiving end of the public’s frustration, and encourages everyone to check their own behaviour before lashing out.

Council’s Chief People and Culture Officer Meredith Blackler says our staff are members of our community too.

“Wellington City Council has a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, and supports an inclusive, creative and diverse environment. We provide training and techniques to help kaimahi deal with difficult situations in their roles – but ideally there wouldn’t be a need for this kind of training at all.

“We understand some people are struggling but our staff are Wellingtonians too, and experience similar pressures. They are doing their job in challenging circumstances and are proud to be working for our city. We are reminding everyone just to be more understanding and kinder.

“Every year, about 1 in 10 workers across Aotearoa report being bullied in the workplace. No matter where or who you are, everyone should be able to do their job without harassment, bullying, violence or personal confrontation – but unfortunately that’s not our reality.”

Watch Council staff tell their storiesand listen to the real-world issues facing some of our front-line workers.

Personal conflict video 2025

“These stories, and other experiences of people around the motu is what makes Pink Shirt Day an important event to recognise each year, and a significant issue we all need to address,” adds Meredith.

“Ironically, we’ll probably get bullied for this bullying campaign!”

Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon says: “People who work at Council, and especially those in frontline services, are working for their city, often because they care about it. So, it’s devasting to see that they are also having to put up with increasing bullying or harassing behaviour. It’s not acceptable, so let’s not accept bullying in Pōneke.”

Councillor Teri O’Neill says: “Most of us know what it’s like to feel dismissed or disrespected. Let’s start from that shared feeling – and choose to do better. Being frustrated is valid. But taking out that frustration on someone just doing their job doesn’t help. We can hold high standards and show kindness.”

Council’s Senior Health & Safety Business Partner Chris Brown says the adoption of Pink Shirt Day worldwide has provided a mechanism to raise the awareness of all forms of bullying experienced in our daily lives.

“Wearing pink at least indicates that you are aware of the problem of bullying and intimates your desire to help stop it happening.

“Many of our Council kaimahi experience forms of bullying in the course of their everyday work. Some of the most important things we can do to show our support is to be present, to be active listeners, and to respond with empathy if they seek our help.

“We are all encouraged to stand up against bullying. For some, this might entail a degree of reflection about our own actions, and how they affect others. This does not need to be done with great fanfare, but can be done quietly with care and consideration for ourselves and others at heart.

“Pink Shirt Day is a time to celebrate the good in people, and to show that we are there for one another.”

The ‘We are Wellingtonians’ campaign will include videos, social media, written content and information for internal and external audiences, starting from Pink Shirt Day and leading up to the elections in October.

Pink Shirt Day is an international call to arms for people to help end bullying. Celebrated annually around the globe, Pink Shirt Daybegan in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a peer was bullied for wearing a pink shirt.

In Aotearoa, Pink Shirt Day works to create environments in schools, workplaces, communities and whānau where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.

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