The 2026 Residents Monitoring Survey (RMS) – conducted in February 2026 and released today – is Wellington City Council’s annual check-in with residents to understand their views on a wide range of topics and help guide future decision-making and investment.

The survey asks residents about their experiences and satisfaction levels on a series of key services like pools, recreation centres, libraries and kerbside collections, as well as provision of events, arts and culture, decision-making, communication, and how it’s tackling the big issues like safety in the city, infrastructure and rates.

Respondents continue to agree Wellington is a great place to live, work and play, and are still very happy with the frontline services like libraries, parks and pools. While there is generally more positivity amongst those surveyed compared to last year, the areas of dissatisfaction reflect the challenges being faced in the city, around the country, and globally.

Mayor Andrew Little says early signs of improvement are assuring, but it is also a clear message to everyone at council that the work to restore public trust and confidence must continue.

“Restoring trust and confidence in the council starts by ensuring communities feel their voice matters and that the council makes good decisions in the interests of Wellingtonians.

“The Residents Monitoring Survey shows that we’re making steps in the right direction, with a big job ahead to keep moving in the right direction.

“Wellington is a place full of big ideas, with talented people leading the way; it’s our job at council to listen, support and enable Wellingtonians to thrive.”

Wellington City Council Chief Executive Matt Prosser says the RMS data clearly shows what Wellingtonians care about and where the organisation can do better.

“Wellingtonians value the services and events our kaimahi deliver, but the survey shows there’s more to do. We are reducing costs while prioritising essential infrastructure and aligning to the direction set by Mayor Little and elected members within the adopted Triennium Plan. Change won’t happen overnight, but residents will start to see it in our decisions and how we deliver.”

RMS summary and full report, plus previous surveys, available here: https://shorturl.at/rhRzQ

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