Te Whanganui-a-Tara · North Island
Moving to
Wellington
The capital sits between a harbour and steep green hills. It is compact, creative and windy, and the public service is never far away.
- 209,900people in the city (June 2024)
- $560/wkmedian rent, all homes
- 2,100sunshine hours a year (about)
- 15 minfrom the airport to the city centre
Quick quiz
Is Wellington right for you?
Three questions about your habits and work. Treat it as a light check on lifestyle only. It does not say anything about visas.
0%
Wellington could be your kind of place
Your answers fit a compact, creative city with a lot going on. Lifestyle is only half the picture, so look at jobs and visas separately.
Worth exploring further
Wellington matches some of what you want. Read the weather and good-to-know notes, and put it next to another city.
Another city may fit better
Wellington's size and weather may not match what you enjoy. Try our other guides, or ask us to talk it through.
What Wellington is known for
Swipe to see what Wellington does best.
Work in Wellington
Wellington's job market leans heavily on offices: government agencies, policy and advisory work, tech, and creative and screen work. WellingtonNZ says the region also has the largest research, science and innovation workforce in the country.
Hospitality, health and education fill in the rest, and the Hutt Valley across the harbour has high-value manufacturing. Some roles, especially in government, may set their own requirements, so read the work visa guide and confirm what each employer needs.
The weather
Tap a season. The bars show the average daytime high for each month.
20°
average daytime high, December to February
The warmest part of the year, with long evenings and highs around 20°.
17°
average daytime high, March to May
Cooling steadily from March, with highs falling from 19° to 15° by May.
12°
average daytime high, June to August
Cool and breezy, with highs around 12°. Layers and a windproof jacket are worth owning.
15°
average daytime high, September to November
Warming up, with highs rising from 14° in September to 17° in November.
- 20°Jan
- 21°Feb
- 19°Mar
- 17°Apr
- 15°May
- 12°Jun
- 12°Jul
- 12°Aug
- 14°Sep
- 15°Oct
- 17°Nov
- 19°Dec
Source: NIWA climate averages 1991–2020 for Wellington (mean daily maximum, rounded; seasonal figures are the average of three months, rounded). NIWA's 1991–2020 average sunshine for Wellington is 2,094.1 hours a year.
A day in Wellington
Swipe →
What life is like
Wellington packs a lot into a small area. The centre, the waterfront and many neighbourhoods are close together on a few hills around the harbour, so plenty of people walk to work. Theatres, galleries, small bars and festivals are part of normal life.
The trade-off is the weather and the terrain. NIWA explains that Cook Strait funnels wind through a gap and makes it faster and stronger on the Wellington side. Rent is lower than Auckland, with a median of $560 a week across all homes in the city, but space is tight and many houses sit on steep sections.
What locals love
- A compact centre you can walk across
- Theatre, galleries, cafés and live music
- A harbour, coastal walks and hills close to town
- Median rent of $560 a week, below Auckland's $650
Good to know
- Strong winds are normal, and they sometimes cancel flights
- Winter daytime highs are around 12°
- Many jobs are in offices, and it is a smaller job market than Auckland
- Hilly streets and limited space
Visas, study and community
Which visas fit
People move to Wellington on work visas with an accredited employer, student visas, and partner or family visas. Some public sector and tech roles have their own requirements. The right visa depends on your situation, and the rules change, so check Immigration New Zealand before you act.
Work visas → · Study visas → · Partner and family → · Residence →
Costing a move to Wellington? Work out the INZ fee for your visa with the visa fee calculator.
Immigration New Zealand runs a free information service for new migrants. Its contact centre is on 0508 558 855 (New Zealand landlines only) or +64 9 914 4100 from mobiles and overseas. Most people apply online.
Study
Victoria University of Wellington has campuses at Kelburn, Pipitea and Te Aro, and the Miramar Creative Centre. Massey University has a Wellington campus with its College of Creative Arts, and Whitireia and WelTec offer vocational courses from Petone and Porirua.
Specialist schools in the city include Le Cordon Bleu in the CBD, Toi Whakaari (drama and dance) and Te Whaea in Newtown, according to WellingtonNZ. Check each institution's own site for courses, fees and entry rules.
Community
The Multicultural Council of Wellington, formerly the Ethnic Council of Wellington, runs cultural, social and sports programmes that bring together more than 30 ethnic communities in the region. It is listed in the government's ethnic communities directory.
Newcomers Network helps migrants and refugees make friends and community connections. Citizens Advice Bureau branches in Wellington City and nearby areas offer walk-in newcomer services, according to Immigration New Zealand.
You can also ask questions in our community forum →
Help is a call away
Wherever you are right now, you can book a free 20-minute chat with us by phone or video. We give general information about visas and moving, not personal immigration advice.
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