Wellington

Living with ‘the stench’: the smelly New Zealand city with an air of despair

The odour from a wastewater plant comes and goes, but locals say it’s worsened after an equipment breakdown that authorities warn could take years to fix

Eva Corlett in Wellington

29, Nov, 2024 @2:50 AM

New Zealand mayor clarifies there’s no need to ‘stop pooing’ amid town’s sewerage stench crisis

Local council near Wellington struggles with foul odour from sewage plant that has left locals gagging and unable to open windows

Elias Visontay

26, Dec, 2023 @5:46 AM

Wellington divided as Peter Jackson land purchase halts housing plan

Controversial development proposed in New Zealand capital, which faces a housing crisis, scrapped after film-maker purchased block of land

Charlotte Graham-McLay in Miramar

12, Sep, 2023 @12:48 AM

‘It can be quite Dickensian’: life in New Zealand’s boarding houses

After a fire at Loafers Lodge left at least five dead, attention has turned to Wellington’s hostels and the housing crisis they embody

Tess McClure and Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington

19, May, 2023 @8:00 PM

New Zealand hostel fire: suspect remanded in custody after Wellington court appearance

Man charged with two counts of arson and police say they have not ruled out more serious charges relating to deadly blaze

Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington

19, May, 2023 @5:19 AM

Man arrested and charged with arson after fatal Wellington hostel fire

Police not ruling out ‘further, more serious charges’ after boarding house blaze that killed at least six

Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington

18, May, 2023 @10:48 AM

Deadly Wellington hostel fire being treated as arson, police say

New Zealand police open homicide inquiry after at least six die in Loafers Lodge blaze

Charlotte Graham-McLay in Wellington

17, May, 2023 @5:08 AM

New Zealand hostel fire: at least six dead and 11 missing in Wellington blaze

Emergency services called to 92-room Loafers Lodge hostel just after midnight and a number of people remain unaccounted for

Tess McClure in Wellington and agencies

16, May, 2023 @10:50 PM

‘Manifestation of a crisis’: Wellington hostel fire puts spotlight on dire state of New Zealand housing

Blaze that left at least six dead comes amid severe housing shortage in the New Zealand capital

Tess McClure in Wellington

16, May, 2023 @12:26 PM

Six people dead and 11 missing in New Zealand fire – as it happened

This blog is now closed. You can read our full story on the fire here:

Helen Sullivan

16, May, 2023 @3:11 AM

Every street lamp in Wellington at risk of falling down, residents warned

Residents in New Zealand’s capital urged to report ‘drooping’ lights as council starts work on fixing all 17,000 lamps, which weigh more than 11kg each

Tess McClure in Auckland

12, Apr, 2023 @4:47 AM