25/12/2025
No right of return for families. Council sells its assets for $1
Ōtari-Wilton Relocation and Te Toi Mahana Refurbishment
Te Toi Mahana, the housing arm of Wellington City Council, is preparing to relocate the entire tenant community from Shropshire Avenue in Ōtari-Wilton as part of a planned housing refurbishment project.
The move, scheduled for May 2026, will affect multiple families, some of whom have lived on the street for generations. Once relocated, tenants will have no guaranteed right of return to their homes once redevelopment is complete.
Shropshire Avenue sits on the edge of the Ōtari Bush Reserve and has long been regarded as one of Wellington’s most scenic and close-knit council housing communities. Residents describe it as an idyllic setting where native birds are part of daily life and children attend the neighbouring Ōtari School, a tradition that stretches back decades.
By May 2026, this community will be required to uproot their lives. While Te Toi Mahana has stated that meetings will be held with residents to discuss possible relocation options to other council properties, many tenants have expressed disappointment and distress at how the process has been handled so far, citing a lack of consultation, transparency, and care .
For many residents, the decision represents not just the loss of a home, but the disruption of a long-standing community deeply connected to the Ōtari environment, whānau networks, and shared history.
