Quick answerWellington is the capital of New Zealand, with 209,800 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 0.4 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Te Papa museum. Its official language is English and Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, and its currency is the New Zealand dollar.
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand, with about 210,000 people in its urban area and about 434,000 in the wider metropolitan area (June 2025). It sits at the southern tip of the North Island, on Cook Strait, and is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state.
Key facts
| Country | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 209,800 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 433,900 (2025) · Wellington metropolitan area (Stats NZ, June 2025, including Lower Hutt, Porirua and Upper Hutt) |
| Time zone | Pacific/Auckland |
| Language | English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar (NZD, $) |
| Coordinates | 41.28889° S, 174.77722° E |
Overview
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the administrative centre of the Wellington Region. It sits at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range, and with 209,800 people in its urban area in June 2025 it is the country's third-largest city. The wider metropolitan area, including Lower Hutt, Porirua and Upper Hutt, had 433,900 people. Wellington is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state, and by average wind speed it is the world's windiest city.
Wellington has been New Zealand's capital since 1865, a status established by convention rather than by law. The city is home to Parliament — including the Beehive, its executive wing — the Supreme Court and most government departments. Its economy is built on government, finance and business services, and it is the centre of the country's film and special-effects industries, home to Wētā Workshop. Te Papa, the national museum on the waterfront, the Cable Car up to the Botanic Garden, and Cuba Street's cafés and creative shops are its best-known sights. The Cable Car has linked Lambton Quay with the Botanic Garden since 1902. Ferries cross Cook Strait from Wellington to the South Island.
What Wellington is known for
- Te Papa museum
- Wellington Cable Car
- Parliament (Beehive)
- Cuba Street
- Film industry (Wētā)
Landmarks
- Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand)
- Parliament Buildings (Beehive)
- Wellington Cable Car
- Cuba Street
- Zealandia
- Mount Victoria
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Wellington?
About 210,000 people live in Wellington's urban area (209,800 in June 2025, according to Statistics New Zealand). The wider metropolitan area, including the neighbouring cities of Lower Hutt, Porirua and Upper Hutt, had about 434,000 people. Wellington is New Zealand's third-largest city, after Auckland and Christchurch.
What is Wellington famous for?
Wellington is famous for Te Papa, the national museum, for the Wellington Cable Car, for the Beehive — the executive wing of Parliament — and for Cuba Street, the city's creative heart. It is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry, home to Wētā Workshop, and is known as the world's windiest city by average wind speed.
Where is Wellington located?
Wellington is at the south-western tip of New Zealand's North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. It is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state. Its coordinates are 41.29° S, 174.78° E, and its time zone is New Zealand Standard Time, UTC+12 in winter and UTC+13 in summer.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- New Zealand — the country Wellington is in
- Auckland — another city in New Zealand
- Christchurch — another city in New Zealand
- Dunedin — another city in New Zealand
- Ernest Rutherford — New Zealander science figure
- All cities in New Zealand
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.