WellingtonNZ signs MoU with Wellington council

WellingtonNZ, the Wellington region’s economic development, events and promotion agency, has signed an agreement with the Greater Wellington Regional Council aimed at reducing visitors’ carbon footprint.

The memorandum of understanding will seek to get visitors to the region on board with Greater Wellington’s plan to become carbon zero by 2050.

Under the agreement, the two organisations charged with overseeing tourism and public transport in Wellington will seek to develop a strategy for visitors to use public transport as their primary choice for travelling.

The project will involve expanding public transport services to key destinations, starting with Greater Wellington’s new Airport Express bus service.

Greater Wellington CEO Nigel Corry said Wellington already has the highest number of residents per capita using public transport in New Zealand. “We want to translate that to our visitors too,” he said.

“It is imperative the two organisations work together on this, because it will only be successful if we share knowledge and information to bring everyone along with us.”

Under WellingtonNZ’s Destination Pōneke: Destination Management Plan 2021–2031, WellingtonNZ is also supporting the development of a nationwide integrated ticketing system for public transport, and seeking to ensure all public transport options can accommodate mode-shift transport.

Image credit: iStock.com/Andrew Chambers