For a city down in the dumps, with a reputation problem and a previously shocking council, public service issues and any number of surveys talking about negativity, how come Wellington looks so busy?
I was down for dinner Saturday night. The drive from the airport around the Bays was packed. Jervois Quay was packed, bumper to bumper.
If you had told me there was an All Black test down the end of the road at the stadium I would have believed you.
The restaurant was packed. They do two sittings a night and you can't get a table.
The restaurant next door was packed. They got a Michelin star earlier in the week but they told me it was always busy anyway.
The hotel was flat out. It could be because of school holidays. I stood in the hotel room after dinner looking down on the traffic. I have no idea where they were off to but there were a lot of them.
Having lived in Wellington for a decade I think it's probably the best looking of our cities. There is a lot of seriously good architecture, some beautiful buildings and a lot of suburbs with houses with spectacular views.
But it's reputation is still a problem. Katie asked on Instagram where the best place to eat in Wellington was. One person said the Koru lounge while another person said anywhere in Auckland.
In fact a lot of people made those jokes. There is a strong anti-Wellington vibe around the country and yet, and I guess this is the tourist snapshot problem, one night does not a proper impression make.
There were all those international travellers that talked about how fabulous the world was and how miserable New Zealand is when we went around the world the other day. I think we busted that myth because any place, when you are in a hotel or in a restaurant without a care in the world, seems better than home.
But it doesn’t mean they don’t have their issues.
Wellington seems like a good looking town. The hospitality scene, despite all you hear, on Saturday night was overflowing. It was busy, it was bustling and as I sat in the restaurant for breakfast at seven o'clock yesterday morning there was a lot more action out and about than you ever see in a place like Christchurch and Auckland at that time on a weekend.
And that’s before you get to the joggers on Evans Bay Parade running into a southerly and seven degrees. You've got to love that.
Wellington the image and Wellington the reality is not the same thing.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
The restaurant was packed. They do two sittings a night and you can't get a table.
The restaurant next door was packed. They got a Michelin star earlier in the week but they told me it was always busy anyway.
The hotel was flat out. It could be because of school holidays. I stood in the hotel room after dinner looking down on the traffic. I have no idea where they were off to but there were a lot of them.
Having lived in Wellington for a decade I think it's probably the best looking of our cities. There is a lot of seriously good architecture, some beautiful buildings and a lot of suburbs with houses with spectacular views.
But it's reputation is still a problem. Katie asked on Instagram where the best place to eat in Wellington was. One person said the Koru lounge while another person said anywhere in Auckland.
In fact a lot of people made those jokes. There is a strong anti-Wellington vibe around the country and yet, and I guess this is the tourist snapshot problem, one night does not a proper impression make.
There were all those international travellers that talked about how fabulous the world was and how miserable New Zealand is when we went around the world the other day. I think we busted that myth because any place, when you are in a hotel or in a restaurant without a care in the world, seems better than home.
But it doesn’t mean they don’t have their issues.
Wellington seems like a good looking town. The hospitality scene, despite all you hear, on Saturday night was overflowing. It was busy, it was bustling and as I sat in the restaurant for breakfast at seven o'clock yesterday morning there was a lot more action out and about than you ever see in a place like Christchurch and Auckland at that time on a weekend.
And that’s before you get to the joggers on Evans Bay Parade running into a southerly and seven degrees. You've got to love that.
Wellington the image and Wellington the reality is not the same thing.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings - where this article was sourced.
6 comments:
Main issue is all the empty shops in Wellington and suburbs and the increasing number of big ugly buildings. Of course, then there's all the schoolchildren roaming around because they never seem to have classes or homework....
Wellington is OK Mike. It’s the politicians in it, at local and central govt level, that are the problem.
I lived in Wgtn for about 20 years, and agree with your comments, Mike.
I fully agree mike. Aucklander here. I went to Wellington for a week recently and stayed in the cbd area. The waterfront area was packed with people having a good time and there was no dysfunction like you see every day on Queen Strret and Central Auckland. I even caught a public bus in wellington and the bus driver was helpful, the people sitting on the bus wete normal. No one smelled of BO or played their boom box at full volume on the bus or tried to ride for free. There were no hoons woth boom boxes in their cars driving along the streets. It was peaceful. It felt like nz I used to know. There was the cutest suburb in nz called seytoun which I instantly wanted to move to. Auckland really is such a depressing hole in comparison.
I go to Wellington every few months, usually dropping off things for auction. I stay at the Travelodge as it suits me, for four or five days. At 70 I keep fit by walking and Wellington is great for that. I walk, say, from the hotel to down past the Beehive, then uphill through the older houses and along The Terrace, down to Te Papa then along the coast to Greta Point or beyond then back along the coast to the railway station, then usually back to the hotel. Plenty to look at and I never have any hassles from anyone. I like its compact layout and it is scenic. And I do train trips up as far as Waikanae or the Hutt. I have not had any hoon troubles. Good range of restaurants for later. The issue with Wellington (as everywhere) is the cost of funding essentials (let alone debatable nice to haves). My cousin lives out at Aotea, Porirua. His rates are now about 9k and rising. About double mine in NP. I miss the old days of the Dominion and the Evening Post. I was in newpapers here and overseas from 73 to 2015, mine was the Taranaki Herald. As part of the old NZ News group I went to Wellington with others for various meetings. It was a great place for vinyl hunters (jazz, fusion etc). Times have changed but still the odd vinyl shop around.
The compactness of Wgtn is one of its attractions. Suburbs are for living and local shopping. Entertainment is in the city.
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