Who are The Residents of Welly?

A city of 204,000 residents.

One year. 52 weeks. 52 Wellingtonians. 

Why do Wellingtonians love Wellington so damn much?

I'm Lucy, a girl with a day job as a policy advisor, a laptop, an iPhone 6S (rose gold, of course), a second hand Canon 700D and a natural curiosity for people.  I'm trying to figure out what makes us Wellingtonian's, in all walks of life. 

Wellington, New Zealand is my hometown. It's known for culture, tech and it's amazing waterfront. They call us 'the coolest little capital', 'Absolutely Positively Wellington', 'The Creative Capital'. But what's beyond the slogans? What is being a Wellingtonian really all about in 2016?  What makes people come to Wellington, stay here and invest in this little capital city? Isolated? Creative? Collaborative? Yes - these are true. But it's only half the answer.

Every weekend, with my just my iPhone, camera, a self funded coffee budget and no planned questions, I interview Wellingtonians about their stories, memories and hopes for the city. Some people are friends, old acquaintances, people I approached on social media or suggested by others from word of mouth.  I've spoken to tattoo artists, business owners, investors, fashion designers and athletes. I believe everyone has something to learn and everyone has a story to share.  Along the way, I'm trying new and well loved products, reviewing shows, attending classes and sharing discoveries about Wellington.

This blog is a record of my discussions with people about their lives. Why do they do what they do in Welly? By making a record of peoples stories, I aim to discover what makes a Wellington life. I hope people will read it and be inspired to be an enthusiast about the city. 

Will I make it to the end of the year or will I just end up an over-caffinated?

Follow along for the story on Instagram (@theresidentsofwelly), twitter (@residents_welly) and Facebook (facebook.com/theresidentsofwellington) and now Snapchat (residents_welly). Help me tell the story and share the lives of the residents of Wellington. Get in touch or share the blog.

Blog posts are three to four times weekly normally.

Thanks for reading x

Lucy

If you want more cool stories about Wellington and exclusive snapshots of life in the city, subscribe to the blog (above), follow on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and add me on Snapchat (residents_welly).