Wellington is a bright point on the edge of the world.
From the country’s most successful online business, to wines that grace the tables of the world; from research that is changing humanity’s outlooks, to iconic museums and galleries, festivals and rugby games that seem to have the whole place talking - Wellington is a region of contrasts, commitment and culture.
Made up of six cities and districts, it is a region surrounded by natural beauty and remarkable landscapes. At the heart, the capital city Wellington stands on a vast harbour ringed by a natural amphitheatre of hills.
It’s the southernmost capital city and region in the world. The metropolitan region extends into the Hutt Valley and beyond to Wairarapa to the northeast, and Porirua and Kapiti to the north along the west coast. Close to 460,000 people make their home in the Wellington region.
Wellington is a place where intellect, creativity, lifestyle, education, commerce and governance thrive alongside one another and feed each other’s success.
On any given day, some of the world’s most interesting and varied conversations take place here.
Compact
People who live, work, study, do business and invest in Wellington understand that size isn’t everything. They know only too well that it is easy, far too easy, to disappear into the crowd in large places.
Wellington, Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kapiti Coast are geographically more compact than most large capitals and their outer suburbs, and yet within the boundaries of this space stand a dynamic mix of Government, the arts, science, corporates, entrepreneurs and small business. Wellington is small but unique.
Generous Spirit
Wellington's intimacy, the relative ease of moving around the region and the generous spirit of the people means that there is a remarkable cross fertilisation of ideas, discussion and debate. This is leading to new innovations; creative, technological and scientific breakthroughs; and significant new commercial enterprises.
Imaginative people
Wellington is the region of choice for imaginative people. If you are stimulated by fresh ideas and new and emerging outlooks, you’ll find this region totally inspiring.
Wellington telegraphs a person, a business, an education that is sophisticated, clever, individual, reliable, at the heart of the action. When the time is right, Wellingtonians shake things up. Read about the niche sectors causing a jolt or two in the region.
Ambitious
Wellington is a place of ambition. In no time flat, we’ve revolutionised how the world sees cinema, and we’ve done it from the edge. We’ve brought new worlds to life in ways that have left millions gasping. And every day, companies across the region advance the digital possibilities. The ideas radiating from here have the potential to truly change mankind’s experiences across many facets.
Smart Thinking
Wellington loves thinkers. The region offers respected and proven learning. It’s a place of smart young things and older, ambitious minds. Find out more about what Wellington offers students.
It starts in our primary schools and flows all the way through to our world ranked universities. Wellington has a more highly trained and educated population than any other New Zealand city.
Driven by Ideas
Wellington is accelerating. The debate over buildings, over the region’s future, over development and direction, reflect the healthy sense of debate and discussion of lively minds committed to making the most of the place they feel proud of.
It’s no coincidence that in the last 20 years, this region has transformed into a place driven by ideas, by intelligent debate, by innovation and by international competitiveness.
Engaging the Senses
The capital is known as 'windy Wellington' particularly when the equinox winds blow in spring and early summer. The wind invigorates the spirit. The air is fresh, clean and unpolluted. Weather in Wellington engages all the senses. The wind comes from the natural funnelling effect of Cook Strait - the stretch of ocean water that separates the North and South Islands. Yet, it is fair to say that there are only few times in the year when the weather prevents you from being outdoors. The climate is a temperate one, even in mid-winter.