Wellington City Archives

Kia ora, we'll be taking a break from Twitter/X which means this channel will not be actively monitored We'll still be posting here if we have any big announcements. You can still find us at Facebook and Instagram and of course at Archives Online archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz

This is a service where anyone can request copies of building permits and consents for a residential or commercial property, for a fee. We have now streamlined this so that you can view the permits and consents and choose the exact items you want to order: digital.wellington.govt.nz/services/build…

We launched the new Rapu whakaaetanga hanganga (Building consent search or ‘BCS’) on June 17th and after a few weeks of working with it we can confirm it’s definitely easier for you (and our kaimahi) to use. It also frees us up from the very manual process we previously used.

Thank you so much for your interest in our tours for the Wellington Heritage Festival! They are now fully booked. We're keeping a waitlist, so let us know if you're keen for a tour (archives@wcc.govt.nz). If any spaces free up, we can let you know. wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/event/wcc-arch…

Spots are filling up for our Heritage Festival tours! If you're interested in seeing behind the scenes of Wellington City Archives email us at archives@wcc.govt.nz to book your spot! There are still tours available at: 12-1pm Sat 26 Oct 1-2pm Sat 26 Oct wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/event/wcc-arch…

Wellington Heritage Festival 2024 is coming up! This year we'll be running tours of our collection on Saturday the 26th of October. Spots are limited so email us at archives@wcc.govt.nz to book your preferred time. More details here: wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/event/wcc-arch…

In conjunction with the Wellington City Archives’ upcoming moves to both Jervois Quay and Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, it will enable customers to have a better, faster service in person and remotely. You can see more online at archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz

This digitisation programme makes the collections increasingly accessible, allows us to reach wider audiences and lets us showcase the depth and value of the taonga we are kaitiaki for.

Wellington City Archives has just cracked 20 million pages scanned in our current digitisation project! That means we have over 20 million online pages of archives dating from the 1840s to the present day that can be accessed or ordered through Archives Online.

The WHB was responsible for controlling and maintaining the City's harbour for over 100 years. During this time they compiled photo albums depicting the waterfront, shipping and the harbour. This one covers the years between 1870-1910 and can be seen here: archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/133…

This extremely 90s ad was produced by the Wellington City Council to show off the new “Absolutely, Positively Wellington” slogan as part of the 1990s promotional campaign for the capital city youtube.com/watch?v=UssWFa…

Eventually enough pressure was put on the council to design a “mall” - a place with no vehicular traffic where shoppers could walk at will. The street was redesigned to accommodate pedestrians and embellished with gardens, canopies and the iconic bucket fountain 📂00058-C29517

Cuba Mall began life in 1965 when the Wellington City Council closed parts of Cuba Street to remove the now unused tramlines. The public liked a street where they could walk freely without worrying about traffic and a public campaign to make this permanent began

Protests played across the country throughout the tour including in Wellington. A similar tour in 1973 had been cancelled due to fears that it would result in violence 📜00291-4736-154

#OnThisDay 29th July 1981 police beat protesters opposed to the Springbok tour with batons as they marched up Molesworth Street. The 1981 Springbok tour was controversial as it was seen as condoning South Africa's racial apartheid

#OnThisDay 26th July, 1865 the NZ Parliament moved from Auckland to Wellington. The opening of Parliament on this date also established the city as the new capital of the country 🇳🇿 📸00138-13699 📸00138-13754

The origins of the Wellington Pride festival and parade can be traced back to the Gay and Lesbian Fair (1986) and the ‘Devotion’ Festival (1991) You can read more about the history of Pride in Wellington with this new contextual piece on Archives Online: archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/925…

As he aged he slept in one of the sheds by the wharves and when he passed death notices were printed in the newspaper. His exploits on the Wellington Waterfront are commemorated by a specially designed memorial drinking fountain on Queen's Wharf 💛🐕 📜AC046-3419

#OnThisDay 17 July 1939, Paddy the Wanderer passed away. He was many things: beloved local personality, national celebrity... and an Airedale terrier. Paddy was a common sight at the Wellington Wharves in the 1930s with the locals chipping in to cover his dog license.