Te aro Hā
WE ARE BreathING
new life into Te Aro Courtenay

Explore our vision for Aotearoa’s Premier Creative and Entertainment Precinct.

Te Aro Hā - Courtenay is reimagining the city’s liveliest district. Uplifting, reclaiming, redefining. Breathing new life and love into the spirit that has been here for so long.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR VISION

Our plan

We have created a plan to transform Te Aro Courtenay into a world-class creative district and a welcoming place for everyone.

01

Champion Wellington's creativity by building a precinct that celebrates the arts, culture, technology, hospitality and entertainment to create an unforgettable destination.

Night scene of the St James Theatre with neon lights. Signs read "St James Theatre" and "Welcome to Wellington" in blue lighting. The building has classical architecture with ornate details and large windows. A few people are walking nearby.

02

Harness world-class local expertise to shape a bold, practical vision with lasting impact that is delivered through collaborative private-public partnership.

03

Exterior view of Dragonfly restaurant in Courtenay Place. The building has a black facade and large glass windows, featuring a circular wooden sign for Dragonfly Courtyard Bar and restaurant, and a black A-frame chalkboard sign on a brick sidewalk.

Build a united neighbourhood by working with businesses, building owners, residents, mana whenua, council, and the wider community.

04

Transform existing buildings through lighting, painting, signage and façade upgrades that quickly lift the precinct's look and feel.

05

People participating in an Urban Dream Brokerage workshop event. People are gathered around a table, working on a weaving loom in a well-lit room.

Bring vacant spaces to life with creative, cultural and technology-led activations, also providing spaces for artists and creatives to showcase their work.

06

Build momentum early through practical ‘quick win’ improvements that inspire further investment in long-term transformation.

07

A view of the co-work space in The Exchange in Te Aro Courtenay. It shows modern office with people working at desks, large windows, and industrial ceiling pipes.

Deliver a defining Big Move that positions Courtenay as Australasia's leading creative neighbourhood and a must-visit Wellington destination.

08

Commit to a three-year programme with clear priorities, measurable outcomes and sustained investment that delivers lasting change.

The St James could become a living cultural anchor, a welcoming daytime gathering place alive with theatrical energy after dark

The St James could become a living cultural anchor, a welcoming daytime gathering place alive with theatrical energy after dark

Makers meet hospitality with greener lanes and courtyards where public art and renewed façades complement the area’s restaurants and bars.”

Makers meet hospitality with greener lanes and courtyards where public art and renewed façades complement the area’s restaurants and bars.”

Historic streets reimagined through contemporary creativity, with businesses, markets, public art and distinctive lighting

Historic streets reimagined through contemporary creativity, with businesses, markets, public art and distinctive lighting

The St James could become a living cultural anchor, a welcoming daytime gathering place alive with theatrical energy after dark

The St James could become a living cultural anchor, a welcoming daytime gathering place alive with theatrical energy after dark

Historic streets reimagined through contemporary creativity, with businesses, markets, public art and distinctive lighting

Historic streets reimagined through contemporary creativity, with businesses, markets, public art and distinctive lighting

Imagine an 18-Hour Creative Heart, a revitalised landmark where hospitality, heritage and digital art create a vibrant gateway by day and night

Imagine an 18-Hour Creative Heart, a revitalised landmark where hospitality, heritage and digital art create a vibrant gateway by day and night

MEET THE TEAM

We are a group of Wellingtonians with deep experience in design, placemaking and activation in city centres.
Together we’ve worked on many precinct transformation projects both in Wellington and across Aotearoa.

People gathered indoors at one of the early Te Aro Hā Courtenay workshops, looking at displays and posters on the walls outlining the vision and plan for the initiative. Some are conversing, and one person is taking a photo.
MEET THE TEAM

THE PEOPLE OF
TE ARO COURTENAY

Te Aro Hā - Courtenay aims to also celebrate the amazing people that make Te Aro Courtenay such a vibrant part of our city. Meet a few of them here and hear their thoughts and aspirations for the neighbourhood.

A picture of Phoebe from Catch Sushi Bar in Courtenay Place. She is a young woman with dark hair tied back, wearing a cream-colored sweater, smiling softly in a warmly lit indoor setting.

“I want people to feel comfortable here, like they're coming home. With a little more care and investment, Te Aro Courtenay can be even more vibrant. “

Phoebe - CATCH SUSHI BAR

A picture of Flo, another Te Aro Courtenay local. She is a young woman with reddish-brown hair in braids, smiling, wearing a black turtleneck and green fuzzy sweater, sitting in Glou Glou cafe which features a lush greenwall in the background.

“You won't find another place quite like Te Aro Courtenay. Everything you love about Wellington is here. We need more care. More love. More attention to what already makes this place great.“

Flo - URBAN BROKERAGE

A picture of Mike Egan, owner of Monsoon Poon. He is a smiling man wearing glasses and a black shirt standing in front of a blurred background with purple and pink lights.

“We've been here for decades because this place has always brought people together. I'm really excited. Te Aro Courtenay is on a new trajectory.”

MIke - MOONSOON POON

A picture of Jill from Innercity Wellington. She has short gray hair wearing a red scarf and a navy blue top, looking upwards with a slight smile, standing in front of a green plant in an indoor setting.

“I think its future starts now and we can imagine some very different experiences in this part of town.”

JILL - INNERCITY WELLINGTON

Graphic of the words 'TE AROHA' with stylised arrow designs.

Te Aro Hā (verb) to pay attention to the essence of life.

A vintage watercolor painting of Wellington Harbour from the 1800s showing small houses, people walking along the beach, and a few boats on the water, with hills and trees in the background.

Te Aro was once a place of abundance.
A sun sanctuary rich for nourishment, harvesting and cultivation. 

Group of women dancing in colorful outfits and accessories at an indoor event, with a wooden ceiling and warm lighting.

That life force still exists here today, in the people, businesses, artists, venues, stories and communities that give the district its character.

A person walking on a circular illuminated platform in a dark, futuristic environment with geometric light patterns and blue shafts of light overhead.
A traditional Polynesian outrigger canoe with large sails on the water, under a blue sky with some clouds and distant islands.

Te Aro Hā focuses that energy, our hā, giving it direction and moving Te Aro Courtenay forward. 

Our symbol is one of action. Inspired by the sail of the waka hourua, it carries a pūhoro pattern expressing our collective energy and momentum.

The entrance of St. James Theatre with a crowd of people gathered outside. The theatre has a marquee with lights and a digital sign advertising a Rocky Horror Show.

FOCUS YOUR ENERGY

JOIN TE ARO HĀ

FOCUS YOUR ENERGY JOIN TE ARO HĀ