Letters from the Wellington City Archives
For more than a century, people have written to Wellington City Council to share their concerns, ideas, complaints, and hopes for the city they live in. These letters
capture everyday moments and major turning points alike, offering a unique window into Wellingtonians’ evolving relationship with their local government.
Together, they remind us that the city has always been built not just by policies and plans, but by the people who took the time to write.
A letter home
“We have three pretty cows, which I call Charlotte, Violet and Strawberry […] I do not regret leaving England for I am comfortable and happy!”
The oldest item held in our collections is a letter from an early settler, Chauncey Townsend, to a friend in Staffordshire. To save money on postage, the page is used twice, turned 90 degrees.
Chauncey paints an idyllic picture of life in the colony, describing how he and his wife are growing vegetables and shooting native birds to use their feathers for pillow stuffing.
Though the spirit of the letter is buoyant, it illustrates the darker side of early settlement in Pōneke, where land was purchased in rushed and exploitative deals from the local Iwi. Chauncey’s letter betrays no qualms about his part in building a ‘little England’ on land acquired by the New Zealand Company.
Carnival time
1949’s Cuba Street carnival ran for three weekends, but it wasn’t very loud. A last minute memo from the organisers warns that a loudspeaker will be in use tomorrow – for 15 minutes maximum.
In recent years, Cuba Street has also been home to the annual CubaDupa festival, an important cultural and community event that revived the Cuba Street Carnival that began in the 1980s. Other galas are recorded in the 1920s.
Devotion and Pride
‘The first Pride was a riot!’ - a saying that references the Stonewall riots of 1969 New York, but did you know that Wellington’s first Pride was also a party? A letter from 1993 lays out the plan.
Wellington’s Pride festival and parade grew from the Gay and Lesbian Fair which began 1986, community advocacy for the Homosexual Law Reform campaign, and the 1991 ‘Devotion’ Festival, held five years after the Reform Act had passed. The Pride Festival today brings communities together to celebrate the lives and achievements of the queer community with people of all sexualities and genders.
Wellington continues to celebrate our LGBTQI+ community, and in 2016 installed new pedestrian crossings inspired by icon, entrepreneur, advocate, sex worker, performer and mayoral candidate, Carmen Rupe.
Squeaky clean?
In 1972, an extraordinary complaint landed on the council’s desk, leading to prosecution by the Health Department: a dead mouse allegedly delivered inside a bottle of milk!
The incident sparked immediate testing - detailed in this tongue-in-cheek letter from the management - which ultimately proved the department’s processes would have washed out any such contamination, but not before the accusation had caused quite a stir.
A new marae
The New Zealand Company acquired much of Wellington in 1839, and the new settlers quickly began claiming land from local Iwi in exchange for remote, rural sections. By 1857, only 63 Māori remained in the town of Wellington.
Generations later, during the “silent migration” of the 1930s and 50s, young Māori relocated to the cities. It wasn’t until the 1960s that marae reappeared in the urban centres.
Pipitea Marae, opened by Ngāti Pōneke in 1980, was built below the site of the Pipitea Pā, and was significant in re-establishing Te Ao Māori in the capital.
This letter is a request for support from the Wellington City Council, noting the “unique national interest and importance” of the marae and Ngāti Pōneke’s tradition of cultural preservation, community service, and harmonious relations with all who call Pōneke home.
Save the St. James!
“Some of you here today may even be fortunate enough to attend a celebration of the theatre’s 100th birthday, in 21 years’ time.”
All the world's a stage, and the people of Pōneke banded together to save this one - after the St James Theatre risked being demolished in the 1980s and '90s, the Save the St James group were instrumental in getting it heritage status and saving the historic theatre. This speech and the poster on the next page demonstrate how the campaign was staged.
The St James has undergone significant restoration since being bought by WCC in 1993, and re-opened in 2022 after extensive earthquake strengthening and refurbishment.
Te Wharepōuri Street
When European colonists arrived and began formally renaming Te WhanganuiaTara, place names were often distorted. Pākehā often mispronounced or disregarded iwi-specific dialects and conventions.
In March 2020, the Wellington City Council voted unanimously to correct the name of Waripori Street to Te Wharepōuri Street. This letter from Morris Te Whiti Love, was a part of that effort.
This decision was made in consultation with Wellington Tenths Trust in recognition of their tupuna, Te Wharepōuri, a Te Āti Awa Rangatira and a signatory of Te Tiriti o Waitangi who was also an important figure in Wellington’s history.
What to do with the Town Hall?
The Wellington Town Hall was closed in 2013 after being deemed earthquake prone. The following decade has seen much debate on the merits of restoration or demolition.
However, this was not the first time the town hall had prompted these discussions. This letter from 1978 urges the council to appreciate the building’s acoustics and versatility – and to consider adding a tower block.
Public voices have always been an important part of the discussion around heritage buildings but the Town Hall in particular draws passionate opinions. Debate around the fate of the building was especially strong during the renovations in the 1940s and the construction of the Michael Fowler Centre in the 1980s.
Raising a stink
In the 1880s, Wellington was growing faster than its infrastructure could keep up with, of particular concern was the sewage and wastewater.
This 1885 petition to the Town Clerk includes a map of the areas in Newtown of greatest concern drawn by C O Rosenberg, including cartloads of rubbish and a "concentrated essence of filth" near the school and hospital. This map is included on the next page.
The accompanying letter demands that Wellington City Council immediately undertake drainage work to improve Newtown sanitation. This is an early example of
public outcry forcing issues onto the city council's agenda.
Nice try – now pay up!
“… he managed to get away with it a few weeks ago …”
Trams served Wellington from 1878 to 1968, evolving from steam to horse-drawn and later electric. As the city grew, the expanding network made everyday travel affordable and accessible long before most people owned cars. Managed by the City Council, trams remained essential until buses replaced them.
Fare evasion was taken seriously. In one 1950s case, a determined conductress brought a passenger to court over an unpaid four-penny fare, showing that even small acts of dishonesty didn’t go unnoticed.
Wahine condolences
On the morning of the 10th of April, 1968, the inter-island ferry Wahine ran aground at the entrance to Wellington Harbour, with the loss of 51 lives.
Along the south coast, people rallied to rescue the stranded passengers. Small boats and large came to help, with many people risking their own lives in the storm. Blankets and food were readily given to the survivors by those on the shore.
This telegram of condolence was sent by the Union Steam Ship Company Chairman and the Board of Directors of William Coward & Co. Ltd., the company 's London agents.
On behalf of a friend
“He cannot possibly make a garden where he is presently located …”
In 1844, under pressure from the Provincial Government, six Rangatira signed a deed of purchase for the Te Aro Pā allotments. This sale allowed for the extension of Taranaki Street down to the waterfront. The deeds were considered proof that Māori landowners had no further legal claim to the land.
Forty years later, S Waters, a European settler, wrote this letter to the Town Clerk on behalf of his friend Ihikiera Waikapoariki. He argues that the Town Acre his friend had been given in exchange for his land at Te Aro Pā was greatly inferior to the land lost, which included cultivation grounds crucial for his livelihood.
The sale of Te Aro Pā was declared invalid by the Waitangi Tribunal in 2008.
A letter home
Chauncey Townsend wrote to his friend James Marsh in Staffordshire in 1842, not long after he arrived in New Zealand. Townsend's letter describes meeting his future wife, his life in early Wellington, the Wellington environment, the Māori people and events he experienced since arriving.
To save on postage, which was often charged per sheet of paper, Chauncey used cross-hatching. This was a 19th-century practice of writing text over existing text at a 90-degree angle. It allowed correspondence to fit more information onto a single page, resulting in a unique, sometimes difficult-to-read document with two layers of text.
Carnival time
The two letters on this page and the previous show how Cuba Street has long been a place where people have come together in celebration.
This letter gives details for the proposed carnival being organised by shopkeepers in Cuba Street, including band performances, the erection of bunting, and the opening of the carnival by the Mayor.
Devotion and Pride
Held on December 12th, 1991 at the Naked Angel venue (8 O'Reilly Avenue), the "Rage Lust GLO" party was the inaugural Wellington GLO (Gay and Lesbian Organization) party. Billed as a celebration of the "spirit of the gay and lesbian nineties" in Wellington, there was a $5 entry fee, and it ran from 9pm until late.
See the poster in full resolution hereSqueaky clean?
In 1972 a shocking discovery was made by a Northland resident; a mouse in a milk bottle! The Council was prosecuted under the Health Act for selling the bottle "containing an extraneous thing to wit a mouse which was offensive".
An investigation into the matter failed to replicate the problem and it was determined that the mouse had been added to the bottle after it left the bottling plant.
Follow the link below to browse the full file, and see more pictures of the offensive mouse in question.
A new marae
These plans were prepared by architects Stapleton, Edridge and Associates in July 1975, but it was not until 1978 that the proposal was finally given planning approval to proceed. Follow the link below to see more plans from the proposal.
See the full file hereSave the St. James!
A public campaign to save the theatre was established in 1991, following years of neglect. In 1993 after huge public pressure the St James was purchased by the Wellington City Council, and restored.
See the full resolution poster hereTe Wharepōuri Street
Thomas Ward's map of Wellington was drawn on 88 sheets covering the 1,100 original town acre sections. This sheet shows a section of Te Wharepōuri Street with its old name, Waripori Street.
See the map at full resolution hereWhat to do with the Town Hall?
The main entrance to the Town Hall originally faced Cuba Street, when the street continued further north to the waterfront. This elevation by architect Joshua Charlesworth shows the original facade of the building; the tower, portico and external detailing were removed in 1934.
See the plans at full size hereRaising a stink
Plan drawing by C O Rosenberg dated 15 June 1885, which shows areas of concern to the residents of Newtown. Note the proximity to the hospital and the "Artificial lake frequented by frogs" as well as a concentrated essence of filth" among other areas of poor sanitation. The map was included with the letter and petition.
Read the full letter and appended newspaper clippings hereNice try – now pay up!
One of the early officials, Stuart Richardson, used this hefty stamp to sign and authorise his regular correspondence.
See more images of the stamp hereWahine condolences
At the time of her loss the Wahine had been in service for just over 20 months. The ship was named “Wahine” on her launch day by her sponsor Mrs Elsie Macfarlane, wife of the Union Steam Ship Company's Managing Director Mr F K Macfarlane.
See the image at full resolution hereOn behalf of a friend
This plan showing allotments within Te Aro Pā was used by the City Engineer to show where the extension of Taranaki Street would run, and the land the Council required to take to complete the work. The plan shows where some of the structures of Te Aro Pā were located at the time, and annotations give lease details.
See the map at full resolution hereA letter home
Drawn around 20 years after the first European settlers arrived, this map shows buildings and land owners in the Thorndon and Lambton area. Chauncey built his house on Town Acre 621, which is far left near the bottom - possibly Chauncey lived in one of the two houses shown on the plan.
See the whole map in full resolution hereCarnival time
This poster for the Summer City "festival of fun" in Cuba Mall boasts fun for children of all ages, with face painting, music, clowns, mask making, and puppets. Warnocks, a menswear shop founded in Wellington in 1886, and Hannahs, of the Hannahs Shoe Factory, were sponsors.
See the full poster hereDevotion and Pride
Green and red crossing signals were installed on four Cuba Street crossings in 2016 to mark 30 years since the Homosexual Law Reform Act. The crossing signals depict Carmen Rupe, a trailblazing transgender woman and entertainer, a larger-than-life personality, sex worker, and celebrated LGBTIQ+ icon.
See the full-size stencil hereSqueaky clean?
In 1922 the Council's Milk Department purchased the Rahui Factory at Ōtaki. Along with contracting supplies from all dairy farmers within a 25-mile radius of the City, this ensured a winter supply of milk and dairy products.
Se the wrapper in full resolution hereA new marae
A letter thanking then Mayor Michael Fowler for his donation towards the construction of the new Pipitea Marae, noting it will be "a very worthwhile civic amenity for the benefit of all citizens". Follow the link below to read more about the work to build Pipitea Marae.
See the full file hereSave the St. James!
This image shows the St James before the Wellington City Council bought the theatre in 1993. While it was still in use, unlike today it was mostly used as a cinema.
See the full resolution image hereTe Wharepōuri Street
In September 2020 the name of Waripori Street was corrected to Te Wharepōuri Street. The Wellington Tenths Trust, Mana whenua, Mayor, Councilors and tamariki from South Wellington Intermediate and Berhampore Kindergarten took part in the ceremony.
See the image in full resolution hereWhat to do with the Town Hall?
The foundation stone for the Town Hall was laid by the Duke of York, later King George V, on June 18th, 1901. The 1901 Royal Visit to New Zealand by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York was a major imperial event held to mark the Boer War victory, and the opening of the Australian Commonwealth Parliament.
See the image in full resolution hereRaising a stink
This photograph, possibly taken from above Adelaide Road, shows that Newtown in the early 1880s was still relatively sparse; in 1879 there were only 270 households in the area. However the extension of the tram system saw rapid growth; by 1900 there were 15,770 residents living in the suburb.
See the phot in full resolution hereNice try – now pay up!
This map showing public transport routes was published by the Council to help people get to the Centennial Exhibition. By the 1940s buses were running in some suburbs as well as trams.
See the map at full size hereWahine condolences
Salvage workers cut holes in the Wahine's hull to remove the 60 cars trapped inside. Two cranes were attached to the ship's side on metal rails to do the heavy lifting.
See the image at full resolution hereOn behalf of a friend
In 2005, as part of archaeological work related to demolition work in Taranaki Street, the remains of three ponga structures were unearthed, dating back to the early settlement of Te Aro Pā
See the full file regarding this work hereA letter home
This chart was drawn by Edward Main Chaffers, who commanded the New Zealand Company ship 'Tory' on its expedition to New Zealand in 1839. Although produced for colonisation efforts, the chart shows the then current landscape of Māori occupation around the harbour.
See the chart in full resolution hereCarnival time
The February 2004 issue of Absolutely Positively Wellington highlighted the Cuba Street Carnival, declaring it 'New Zealand's biggest street party.'
Follow this link to read the issue in fullDevotion and Pride
This nomination for the Mayoralty of Wellington was filed under the name Carmen Tione Rupe and refers to two businesses related to Carmen; Carmen's International Coffee Lounge and Carmen's Balcony Nite Club Ltd.
Read the full nomination hereSqueaky clean?
Milk men and women would deliver bottles of milk and cream to householders who'd leave their empty bottles and coins (and later, tokens) at the gate. With supermarkets permitted to sell milk from 1986, household deliveries declined and finally ended in the mid-1990s.
See the photo in full resolution hereA new marae
This clipping from the Evening Post details a loan made to the Ngāti Poneke Māori Association to ensure the project will be completed. Follow the link below to read more about the work to build Pipitea Marae.
See the full file hereSave the St. James!
This image shows the interior of the St James Theatre, with two layers of seating and private booths.
Te Wharepōuri Street
Students from the South Wellington Intermediate School performed a haka at the event held in September 2020 where the name of Waripori Street was corrected to Te Wharepōuri Street.
See the image in full resolution hereWhat to do with the Town Hall?
The Town Hall was well received when it opened, with the acoustics of the concert hall being especially praised. This booklet includes the order of proceedings, and photographs of the Town Hall and dignitaries. Follow the link below to read the booklet in full.
See the full pamphlet hereRaising a stink
Disposal of night-soil from earth closets was initially arbitrary. Weekly collection by contractors began in the 1880s, and in 1902 the Council took over collection.
To give an idea of the work involved, during the first six nights of June 1902 workmen visited 2,700 premises, their eight carts collecting 12,000 gallons of soil. The soil was transported to dumping grounds amongst the sandhills of Lyall Bay.
Nice try – now pay up!
At its peak, the electric tram network covered almost 53km of track, with overhead wires spanning these routes. The intricate details of the connecting tram routes can be seen in this 1950s photograph, with the Town Hall in the background.
See the image at full resolution hereWahine condolences
In 1990 a memorial to the Wahine was erected at Churchill Park in Seatoun. Designed by landscape architect Peter Kundycki, it is comprised of the original anchor chain of the Wahine, replica funnels and a plaque.
See the full photo hereOn behalf of a friend
By the 1980s Te Aro Park was known as Pigeon Park, nicknamed for the pigeons it attracted. In the early 1990s it was redeveloped into a functional sculptural space that would encourage public use, and sensitively address the cultural and historical nature of the site.
The project was envisioned as the first bicultural public art project, and four Māori artists were asked to submit proposals for the development. The concept put forward by ceramic artist Shona Rapira Davies was constructed.
A letter home
Based on a drawing made in September 1841 by Charles Heaphy, draftsman to the New Zealand Company, the image shows the view from Clay Point hill above the junction of modern Willis Street and Lambton Quay. The beach in the foreground is lower Willis Street, while upper Willis Street passes up the rise on the far right. The beach in the background is modern Mercer and Wakefield Streets.
See the image at full size hereCarnival time
This clipping from The Wellingtonian shows photos of Cuba Carnival attendees and celebrations. Follow the link below to browse the full file, including programmes and planning documents.
Squeaky clean?
The Municipal Milk Department moved to their new premises on Tory Street in February 1931. From here the delivery trucks would make their nightly rounds to deliver milk straight to people's doorsteps.
See the photo in full resolution hereA new marae
While Matariki was only made an official public holiday in 2022, the revival of this celebration began in the 1990s. This photo shows Matariki celebrations at Pipitea Marae in 1999.
See the file this photo comes from hereSave the St. James!
This booklet was produced by the St James Campaign in 1991 to celebrate 77 years of the theatre, as part of efforts to raise support to save the building. Follow the link below to view the whole booklet.
See the rest of this brochure in the file hereTe Wharepōuri Street
This letter from the City Planner in 1987 provides a selection of "Māori works" approved for street naming. As they note, the majority of street names in Hataitai are of Māori origin, and it was recommended this theme continue.
See the full file about street naming hereWhat to do with the Town Hall?
Before the construction of the Michael Fowler Centre, Cuba Street used to run through to Jervois Quay. As this image shows the Town Hall was built so the main entrance portico faced on to Cuba Street.
See the image at full resolution hereRaising a stink
In the late-nineteenth century Wellington had the highest death rate from filth diseases of the four main centers in New Zealand. Outbreaks of typhoid were annual, reflecting the insanitary conditions.
This map, showing cases of typhoid in Te Aro between 1890 and 1892, was part of an investigation into the cause of typhoid carried out by Dr Chapple.
Nice try – now pay up!
After the steam-powered trams came the horse drawn trams, operated by a team of men (and their faithful dog). Horse drawn trams were used in Wellington from 1882 until the Council purchased and electrified the system. The first electric tram ran in 1904.
See the full size photo hereWahine condolences
A promotional image used when the Wahine II was newly launched. The new luxury ferry was hoped to appeal as a cruise-type experience.
See the photo at full resolution hereOn behalf of a friend
From the mid- to late-nineteenth century the area that is now Te Aro Park was known as the Market Reserve. Police, Fire Brigade and electrical stations were situated there, as well as the Council's building yard, complete with sheep dipping section. By the early 1900s a Turkish bath house and later a pub (The Royal Oak) were built at the perimeter.
See the map at full resolution hereA letter home
This watercolor landscape sketch drawn by Charles Decimus Barraud shows a, possibly idealised, view of European settlements in the area around the time of Chauncey's letter.
See the sketch in full resolution hereTe Wharepōuri Street
In 2019 Council revised its naming policy, which ensures names are appropriate and provide ease of identification for the Council, the public and key services. Names are also important as the help us recognize and reflect culture, history and landscape, and they help tell stories about how we got to where we are today, and what has gone before.
Follow the link below to read the Policy in full.
What to do with the Town Hall?
The Town Hall has been recognized for the quality of its acoustics, and the organ especially takes advantage of the space. Tenders were called in England for an organ, with a number of companies submitting proposals. This unsuccessful proposal was submitted by William Hill & Sons, with the winning proposal coming from Norman and Beard.
See the plans in full resolution hereRaising a stink
Construction of a citywide drainage scheme was started in 1891, and by August 1898 more than 5,500 houses had been connected to the new system, with about 2,000 still to go. The old drains became part of the city's stormwater system, and all houses had to connect up to the new drainage system.
See the full plan hereNice try – now pay up!
The last electric tram in Wellington ran on the May 2nd, 1964, marking the end of an 86-year era. The tram was driven by the Mayor Frank Kitts, and travelled the Thorndon to Newtown route, ending at Wellington Zoo.
See the ticket at full resolution hereOn behalf of a friend
In 1889 Thomas Ward approached the Council and proposed producing a detailed map of the city. His offer was accepted and on the 2nd February 1892, the map was completed. The map shows a footprint of every building in the city, showing bay windows, verandas and out-houses. The number of storeys and rooms is shown, and the type of structure - whether the walls were of brick, wood or iron, and section boundary measurements are given. The height above sea level is indicated and even streetlights and fireplugs are shown.
This section of the map shows "Te Aro Pah", and the footprints of the buildings there at the time the map was created.
What to do with the Town Hall?
A Town Hall had been proposed for the corner of Featherston and Brandon Streets in 1879, but due to lack of funds only the office portion of the building was built. When the Te Aro reclamation took place in the 1880s, a block of land was set aside for a future town hall to be built, marked on this plan as "Reserve for Town Hall".
See the map in full resolution hereOn behalf of a friend
Te Aro Park as it stands today was commissioned by Council in 1988, envisioned as the city's first bicultural public art project to address the cultural and historic nature of the site. This image shows the park before the current sculptural park was created.
She the photo at full resolution hereOn behalf of a friend
This plan shows a 1920's proposal for garden plots in the section of Te Aro Pa now known as Te Aro Park.
See the plan at full size here