Better Wellington has been speaking with members of the Wellington hospitality sector and we will bring you more of their views in the coming weeks. But as you can expect, things ain’t great. The owner of the popular 1841 Bar in Johnsonville, Jono Cox, conveyed his frustrations to the Wellington City Council and members of New Zealand’s Parliament. His email to them is printed below. We hope it doesn’t fall on deaf ears.
From: Jono Cox at 1841 Bar
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2024 9:43:39 AM
To: mayor@wcc.govt.nz <mayor@wcc.govt.nz>; tiumalu.sialava’a@wcc.govt.nz <tiumalu.sialava’a@wcc.govt.nz>; laurie.foon@wcc.govt.nz <laurie.foon@wcc.govt.nz>; nureddin.abdurahman@wcc.govt.nz <nureddin.abdurahman@wcc.govt.nz>; john.apanowicz@wcc.govt.nz <john.apanowicz@wcc.govt.nz>; Tim.Brown@wcc.govt.nz <Tim.Brown@wcc.govt.nz>; diane.calvert@wcc.govt.nz <diane.calvert@wcc.govt.nz>; team@betterwellington.org.nz <team@betterwellington.org.nz>; ray.chung@wcc.govt.nz <ray.chung@wcc.govt.nz>; sarah.free@wcc.govt.nz <sarah.free@wcc.govt.nz>; rebecca.matthews@wcc.govt.nz <rebecca.matthews@wcc.govt.nz>; teri.oneill@wcc.govt.nz <teri.oneill@wcc.govt.nz>; iona.pannett@wcc.govt.nz <iona.pannett@wcc.govt.nz>; tony.randle@wcc.govt.nz <tony.randle@wcc.govt.nz>; geordie.rogers@wcc.govt.nz <geordie.rogers@wcc.govt.nz>; nikau.wineera@wcc.govt.nz <nikau.wineera@wcc.govt.nz>; nicola.young@wcc.govt.nz <nicola.young@wcc.govt.nz>; barbara.mckerrow@wcc.govt.nz <barbara.mckerrow@wcc.govt.nz>; andrea.reeves@wcc.govt.nz <andrea.reeves@wcc.govt.nz>; meredith.blackler@wcc.govt.nz <meredith.blackler@wcc.govt.nz>; anna.calver@wcc.govt.nz <anna.calver@wcc.govt.nz>; james.roberts@wcc.govt.nz <james.roberts@wcc.govt.nz>; liam.hodgetts@wcc.govt.nz <liam.hodgetts@wcc.govt.nz>; siobhan.procter@wcc.govt.nz <siobhan.procter@wcc.govt.nz>; karepa.wall@wcc.govt.nz <karepa.wall@wcc.govt.nz>; Julieanne.Genter@parliament.govt.nz <Julieanne.Genter@parliament.govt.nz>; Tamatha.Paul@parliament.govt.nz <Tamatha.Paul@parliament.govt.nz>; nick@newstalkzb.co.nz <nick@newstalkzb.co.nz>; ‘Greg O’Connor’ <greg.oconnor@parliament.govt.nz>; Greg O’Connor <greg.oconnor@labour.org.nz>; ‘Nicola Willis’ <Nicola.Willis@parliament.govt.nz>; nicola.willis@national.org.nz <nicola.willis@national.org.nz>
Subject: The nonsense must stopDear City Leaders,
I write to you from the perspective of a passionate Hospitality operator with 23 years’ experience in what was once The Coolest Little Capital. This comes out of sheer frustration with the decimation of our Capital City – a once positive, productive and proud Community. Some of you may not read any further, but I challenge you to read on. Some of you I will get a response from. Some of you I won’t – that is expected. But considering I am a rate payer, am a tenant of rate payers and contribute positively to our Communities, I believe emails of this nature should be digested, taken on board and action taken where appropriate.
Below are some glaringly obvious issues our industry is battling with. These may never get addressed, but need consideration if Hospitality in Wellington is going to be worthy, respected and appreciated in the future. These are my views only.
Our City is filthy. I point to recent tagging on the concrete facades on the southbound motorway entrance from Hawkestone Street, the constant graffiti around the Terrace tunnel and the recent tagging of the recently renovated Sugarwoods site, to name just a drop in the ocean. The council has a graffiti team that is charged with removing this filth, yet you would question whether there is such a team at all. Graffiti is literally everywhere. With all the “overseas studies” that get incorporated into the changes of our City, you would think the Broken Window Theory would be highest on the agenda. Add to this the rubbish – I challenge you to go down to Frank Kitts Park and play spot the road cones and rubbish in the lagoon and the surrounds. I challenge you to go to the bottom field at Onslow College. I challenge you to walk the Glenside stream along Middleton Road. I challenge you to walk down Manners Street, along Courtenay Place, cross the road, back along the other side of Courtenay Place, up Dixon Street and Cuba Street – it is disgusting. What are you doing to help rid us of all of the filth?
Local Council Bureaucracy. We had a liquor licence renewal on 1st July, 2024. We still have not had it granted, yet our licence associated costs are extremely high. Upon having received a report from the council inspector, it was highlighted that there was some minor remedial work required – some of these things had not been an issue for the past 13 years in business and were simply incorrect(I still have not received a reply addressing my queries). It seems that there are people in paid positions so intent on justifying their roles, that they aren’t fulfilling their roles at all. Why do I have to have all my ducks in a row in a timely manner for a renewal, yet the Council staffers cannot operate in a timely manner?
Private business v. local Council/Government organisations. Quite frankly, if the Council and some Government departments were private businesses, they would have gone under, time and time again. They remain solvent because they are leaching off the public purse. Councils remain plagued by an inability to rein in spending. Is the person who authorised the ~ $563,000 bike rack still employed, if so why? The council is inefficient, lacks sense and cannot prioritise. Why is there so much bloat?
The Council and the abhorrent state of Wellington. There is a clear connection here. The infighting and constant bickering is disgusting and shameful. While it is easy to lay blame at those who do not vote, how long does it actually take to realise change is needed and is needed now. Voter turnout has historically been low at local elections, that may not change. The Council is the major problem with the state of Wellington and the state of mind of Wellingtonians. The constant self-promotion and self-congratulatory behaviours are embarrassing and almost made to incite anger and hatred from the rate payers it is appealing to(refer to the WCC social media pages). What are you doing to call out the lunatic decisions that keep being made over and over and over again?
This email is to fight for my Hospitality family, some of who I know and some of who I don’t. When my fellow Hospitality family has a fall, we all feel it. With my businesses, I have been through the GFC, the highest point of Sevens, the lowest point of Sevens, the 2016 Earthquake, COVID and now the tough financial times. I don’t plan on going anywhere, infact I see opportunity given the changing face of Hospitality in Wellington. I am pro-business, pro-competition and pro-employment. I implore you to make a tangible change and prove it. There is so much nonsense surrounding us. You are in a paid position as a leader of our Capital. Our city requires leadership right now – you owe it to the people who pay for you to be in your position.
Lastly, I was once told by a local Politician to be careful about what I said to people, because those same people might just believe what I was saying. Things are bad right now, but I have a sneaking suspicion they’re actually a lot worse.
Jono Cox
Publican
1841 Bar & Restaurant
Ph. 04 477 4057
1852 Pub & Kitchen
Ph. 04 801 9544
