The Wellington Local Labour Party has today unveiled A City that Works for Everyone – a practical, progressive plan to deliver change at council and build a more affordable and vibrant city.

The plan tackles the affordability pressures facing Wellingtonians today while putting in place the transport, infrastructure and housing changes that will set the city up for the future.

Key priorities include:

• More affordable housing and more vibrant communities through streamlined consenting and new urban development initiatives
• Protecting our social housing and taking action on homelessness
• Faster, more reliable public transport through increased bus priority
• Introducing fare caps on buses and trains to make transport more affordable
• Prioritising investment in community facilities such as libraries and swimming pools
• Fixing Wellington's ageing water infrastructure with stronger accountability for delivery and affordability
• Championing Māori representation and partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including providing opportunities for iwi and Māori businesses.
• A more transparent and accountable Council, with stronger financial controls on major capital projects
• Keeping public assets including Wellington Airport in public hands

Labour’s Pukehīnau / Lambton ward candidate Afnan Al-Rubayee said the plan was designed to tackle Wellington's biggest challenges head-on.

"Wellingtonians want our local council to fix our ageing infrastructure, make transport cheaper and more reliable, and say ‘yes’ to more housing so everyone can afford a decent place to live," Al-Rubayee said.

"Labour’s plan is focused on making our city more affordable while putting in place the housing, transport and water infrastructure that will get our city working again.”

Labour’s Paekawakawa / Southern ward candidate Nureddin Abdurahman said the plan gives a clear indication of where Labour candidates stand.

"Over the last term Labour councillors have been clear in our values. We've voted for investments in social housing, supported the Living Wage, protected our community facilities, demanded greater council transparency and stopped the airport sale,” Abdurahman said.

"Often in local elections it’s hard to know what candidates actually stand for,” added Labour’s Takapū / Northern ward candidate Ben McNulty. “We believe it’s important to give voters a clear idea of the values and priorities that Labour candidates will be bringing to the Council table if elected.”

Mayoral candidate Andrew Little said the Labour manifesto aligned with his campaign's focus on rebuilding Wellington's infrastructure and making the city more affordable.

"These are all good, practical policies that align with my values and complement the policies I've already announced, including my focus on making the council more transparent, delivering more housing and making public transport cheaper, faster and more reliable. I'm more than happy to support them," Andrew Little said.

Labour-selected candidates for Wellington City are:

Andrew Little
Mayor (WCC)

Nureddin Abdurahman
Paekawakawa / Southern General Ward (WCC)

Joy Gribben
Wharangi/Onslow-Western General Ward (WCC)

Ben McNulty
Takapū / Northern General Ward (WCC)

Sam O’Brien
Motukairangi / Eastern General Ward (WCC)

Matthew Reweti
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward (WCC)

Afnan Al-Rubayee
Pukehīnau/Lambton General Ward (WCC)

Daran Ponter
Pōneke / Wellington constituency (GWRC)

Tom James
Pōneke / Wellington constituency (GWRC)

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