Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It was named after Arthur Wellesley, the 1^st Duke of Wellington, and is the second largest city in New Zealand, with around 420,000 residents. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutka mountain range. Wellington has a temperate, maritime climate, and is the world’s windiest city!

The nation’s capital since 1865, architectural highlights include the Government Building, one of the largest wooden buildings in the world, and the iconic Behive. Wellington is also home to several of the largest and oldest cultural institutions in the nation such the National Archives, the National Library, and the Museum of New Zealand. It plays host to many artistic and cultural organisations, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet. It is regarded as one of the most ‘liveable’ cities world.

Wellington’s economy is primarily service-based, with an emphasis on finance, business services, and government. It is the centre of New Zealand’s film industry, and increasingly a hub for information technology and innovation.. Wellington is one of New Zealand’s chief seaports, and is served by Wellington International Airport. Transport network includes train and bus lines, which reach as far as the Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa, and ferries connect the city to the South Island.

Visit their main tourism website: https://www.wellingtonnz.com

Harrogate’s link

Harrogate has an established link with Wellington, recognising the association between the two towns/cities from the Second World War.

New Zealand air force crew were based in and around Harrogate and flew bombing raids over Germany from local airfields such as Linton-on-Ouse and Dishforth. Sadly, many lost their lives and twenty-three are laid to rest in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Stonefall in Harrogate, four of whom are from Wellington.

Harrogate Borough Council gifted a mace to Wellington City Council in 1954 which was made by James R Ogden & Sons of Harrogate, and bears the coat of arms of both Councils. A formal ‘sister-city’ twinning relationship was established in 1978.

A visit to Wellington was made by Kate Spencer in February 2022, who has dual British and New Zealand citizenship. Representing Harrogate International Partnerships, she met civic and local dignitaries, which helped hugely to re-ignite and re-inforce the twinning/sister city relationship. She also presented a short booklet to the Mayor of Wellington which outlines  the stories of the four airman from Wellington who lie in the Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate.

There is also a New Zealand garden within the Valley Gardens which celebrates the friendship and also commemorates those who gave their lives during the war. This was formally opened on 21 June 1954 in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of the City of Wellington, and included plants supplied from New Zealand. In 2010, the New Zealand garden was refurbished by the Friends of Valley Gardens, again with plants donated from New Zealand, and the splendid Maori Pou Whenua carving was brought from New Zealand and blessed in a Maori service with a local choir. That project was led by Tom Holleman and the garden and information board were designed by Tony Sissons.

In 2023 the New Zealand garden has again been refurbished, with a newly commissioned sculpture supported by generous donors, and a locally crafted bench donated by Wellington, as well as new planting. An updated information board has also being added, with kind donations from Tony Sissons’ family. Other support was received from a number of private donors and from North Yorkshire County Council. A specimen shrub was also donated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. See the separate website page for further details of the garden and the re-opening ceremony.