Wellington Central

Suburb in Wellington City, New Zealand

Wellington Central
Suburb
Wellington Central at dusk, 2011
Coordinates: 41°17′02″S 174°46′41″E / 41.284°S 174.778°E / -41.284; 174.778
Country	New Zealand
City	Wellington City
Local authority	Wellington City Council
Electoral ward	Pukehīnau/Lambton Ward Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward
Area [1]
• Land	56 ha (138 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	3,350

	Pipitea
Kelburn	Wellington Central
	Te Aro

Wellington Central is an inner-city suburb of Wellington, and the financial heart of both the city and the Wellington Region. It comprises the northern part of the central business district, with the majority of Wellington's high-rise buildings.

The majority of Wellington's High Street, Lambton Quay, runs through Wellington Central. From Lambton Quay the Wellington Cable Car is accessible.

Wellington Central is also home to Wellington's Civic Precinct, including Civic Square, the Wellington Town Hall, Wellington Central Library, the Michael Fowler Centre, and City Gallery Wellington. It is one of the few locations in New Zealand that is home to several high-rise buildings, including the Majestic Centre, and Aon Centre (Wellington). ^[3] The Supreme Court is just within Wellington Central as well as the New Zealand stock exchange centre.^[4][5][6]

Wellington Central consists of the flat, mostly reclaimed land, west of Lambton Harbour and the part of The Terrace immediately above it. It is bounded on the north by the suburb Pipitea (which includes Parliament Buildings) and extends as far south as Civic Square. The part of Wellington Central Business District south of Wellington Central is called Te Aro, which is the focus of Wellington's night-life.^[7]

Wellington Central statistical area covers 0.56 km² (0.22 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 3,350 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 5,982 people per km².

Wellington Central had a population of 3,000 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 114 people (4.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,008 people (50.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,269 households, comprising 1,437 males and 1,566 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.92 males per female. The median age was 26.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 69 people (2.3%) aged under 15 years, 1,770 (59.0%) aged 15 to 29, 951 (31.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (7.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 70.1% European/Pākehā, 6.7% Māori, 2.6% Pasifika, 26.4% Asian, and 3.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 41.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.8% had no religion, 22.8% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 5.7% were Hindu, 3.0% were Muslim, 2.4% were Buddhist and 3.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,290 (44.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 42 (1.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 696 people (23.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,356 (46.3%) people were employed full-time, 426 (14.5%) were part-time, and 207 (7.1%) were unemployed.^[8]

• Wellington Urban Motorway
• Whitmore Street
• Willis Street