Greg O'Connor says he'll fight 'contempt' against Wellington

Outgoing Labour MP Greg O'Connor is promising to fight against the growing waves of "contempt" he sees politicians hurl against the capital.

O'Connor was sworn in as an Independent councillor for the Takapū/Northern Ward this morning at a council meeting - he was elected into the seat after Tony Randle's unexpected death.

For two more weeks he remains Labour's Ōhāriu MP, having stepped down from politics earlier this year after his name did not make the party's list for the 2027 election.

Giving a maiden speech at a council meeting this morning, O'Connor said he wanted to advocate for the city - and push against its detractors.

"You've only got to listen to prominent politicians and businesspeople from outside of Wellington waxing lyrical in their criticism of us.

"There's one particular mayor who uses the word Wellington like a swear word expletive, every time he uses it."

He argued "contempt" for central government translated into a contempt for Wellington - and revealed it was his cousin Labour MP Damien O'Connor who was among those encouraging him to stand for council.

"He said 'you might well stand, because you love that f*****g godforsaken city, so go for it.'"

O'Connor cited affordability - including rising water bills and council rates - as the biggest issue facing Wellingtonians.

"Often when we talked about affordability it was about housing prices, I think we've moved beyond that, it's about affordability remaining in those houses now."

A key challenge was growing the city's population, which is stagnating, and attracting young people back to the capital where they could earn good salaries.

His son and daughter had moved back to New Zealand from overseas - settling in Christchurch and Auckland, but not Wellington.

"That means encouraging local homegrown entrepreneurs and attracting outside investment into the city."

Pointing to the harbour a short distance from the council offices, O'Connor said Wellington was the first city in Australasia to build towards the water, rather than against.

"This used to be all old rusty wire fences between here and our waterfront. We tore them down, and that was the start of the regrowth of Wellington."

He wanted to "tear down the rusty old fences" holding the city back.

O'Connor said while he was both Ōhāriu MP and Wellington City Councillor for two more weeks, his council salary would go to the charity Kiwi Community Assistance - a food and household goods rescue organisation.

"Unfortunately [the charity's] demand has increased, and when organisation's like that demand decreases, that's when we as a city will be successful."