“I haven’t met anyone from overseas that doesn’t love Wellington.”
Shortly after moving to Wellington I came across The Residents blog and was immediately impressed by the work creator Lucy Revill was putting out there. As well as sharing her view of the city and her thoughts and moments, Lucy interviews a different resident of the city every week. The Residents blog series is so inciteful and allows you to really get to grips Wellington through it’s biggest asset; the people. Lucy introduces us to everyone from musicians to the Mayor, from designers to prison guards. It really is an amazing insight into what life is REALLY like here. So, I thought it was about time I caught up with Wellington’s number 1 interviewer and flip reverse the interview back at her!
Lucy and I met up at Lola Stays on Oriental Bay for a cup of tea so I could pick the brains of someone who has lived in Wellington all her life. If you are thinking of making the move here, this insider’s info is invaluable. Find out Lucy’s advice about what to see and do, where to live as well as what to avoid when visiting the city. All this and some general burning questions I had about her awesome work on The Residents and her life here in the city. I hope you enjoy Lucy’s chats as much as I did and make sure you check out The Residents if you haven’t already.
(I was going to do a beautifully presented and curated post here intercepting my writing with comments from Lucy and thoughts from me, just like Lucy does in her interviews BUT, I do not have the talent for this!) Here is the interview, questions and answers as they unfolded. ENJOY!
Hello, Lucy!
Starting off with the good bits: What do you love about Wellington?
I love that it is by the sea. I think it’s really special to live in a coastal city and I really love that it has a great cosmopolitan vibe with all the restaurants and cafes. Wellington has a great artistic community and more recently, a great entrepreneurial scene, where people are interested in starting businesses’ which is great.
The other thing I really love about Wellington is that people help each other out a lot to achieve their dreams, whether that’s through doing swaps or giving each other free advice. There are plenty of cities around the world where people don’t just give you free advice and we are very lucky that this is one where they do.
So…What do you not like about Wellington?
Controversial question Josie!!
Ok, I’ll say what I used to not like about living here – I used to think that Wellington was too small, just because I had grown up here. I felt awkward about some friendships and relationships and didn’t want to run into people, but you always run into people here! You do have to sort of, get over that.
I think the worst thing now is that sometimes the weather can be really bad, although we have had an amazing summer this year. That was really fantastic because we got a great sunny break. Overall I think it’s becoming less windy in Wellington than it used to be and sunnier and I think there is some science to back that up as well!
One other thing I don’t like is that sometimes it feels really far away from other countries and it’s really expensive to fly from one to another. Even if its just to Australia. I guess that makes you go to other places in New Zealand on holiday but sometimes it would be nice if it was easier and less expensive to jet to Barcelona the way you can if you live in the UK or Europe.
What inspired you to start The Residents?
It was a mix of always wanting to do something with my writing talents and a lot of circumstantial happenchance things around the same time:
I had been reading blogs and watching You-Tubers from overseas and kind of saw how frequently and regularly people put out content and saw that that consistency was the key to their success and was impressed. I also had a blog that I started a while ago that got picked up by a small cider company who offered me some cider in exchange for a review out of the blue, and that was hugely encouraging.
As well as this I was going through some difficult family things at the time because my brother had just had a really challenging period in Sydney and I have always used my writing as a place of escape. The Residents gave me a place to escape to, to forget some of my anxieties and stresses. So it was a combination of the decision to commit to it, the need to do something with my skills and also, I had googled Wellington blogs in 2012 and really nothing came up. I was shocked that there aren’t that many, even now.
I still encourage people, where I can to start a blog too. Lots of people do Instagram but the best thing about having a blog is that you own it, no algorithm determines whether you are seen or not seen and you can’t buy followers.
Do you ever think about moving anywhere else?
Yes. And that’s one of the reasons I changed the blog name from The Residents of Wellington to The Residents. I don’t want to close the door on any opportunity to move. I don’t feel like I have to but I have thought about it. I would like to live in Italy but I know the working opportunities are not great there. I have always thought I might like to live in London, but I think the London I want to live in is like High Gate and Notting Hill and its not really realistic. I want to live in fantasy, holiday London.
There are not many other places I would want to live through, I guess I could live in Queenstown for a while!
I think I’ll know more once I have done a bit more travel to Europe, as I will be in August. I think there is a big difference between living somewhere and having a really wonderful holiday there. It is really important to know the difference between those two types of experience.
As this blog is often read by those moving to Wellington, what would be your top tips for those considering a move to the city?
Do your homework. Read blogs about what it is really like to live here. A lot of the information you google is kind of marketing stuff so its hard to look past that to find the real stuff. Blogs are a great source of that information. You can get into depth about topics. You can find out what it looks like on Instagram but then about the experience of what it felt like through written blogs.
Be prepared for all weather! You definitely need a good raincoat in Wellington. It never really goes below 1 degree but you definitely need a range of comfortable clothes. A jumper for the cold, good jeans and good walking shoes. You can walk everywhere in Wellington – you can walk across town in half an hour.
Make an effort to get involved in the community. New Zealanders, even though we are really friendly we can also be unwittingly clicky or wrapped up in our own lives. It’s a good idea to join Meetup.com or get involved with things going on in the city!
What are your favourite things to do in Wellington?
I love walking Oriental Bay where I live. It changes every day and you get to see the changes. I like to talk to the locals and interview them for my blog. There is always a great coffee shop to meet in and it is really interesting to hear about the different people who have ended up in Wellington and why.
I really enjoy going out to the Wairarapa. It is so lovely when at twilight to say goodbye to the city and drive out to the countryside.
Walking up Mount Vic is great, dinner at Loretta is a great choice. I love the Embassy Theatre cinema, shopping Cuba Street and Mecca Maxima, and browsing David Jones and Unity Books. Unity Books is a safe space for me!
Do you think you need a lot of money to live here?
Good question! …
I think you need to be comfortable. You don’t need a lot of money. You just need a comfortable amount to get a good amount out of the city. I’ve noticed I enjoy it a lot more as my pay has gone up through my twenties. Drinks and food are expensive out. Even the street food here is expensive. I certainly think if you have a bit more money you can have a comfortable life but that is probably true of every city in the world.
Australia has always been ahead of us on the living wage, which is why some Wellingtonians move to Australia to work in hospitality because they can earn good money doing that. That is something worth considering.
I think renting has become more expensive in Wellington. Its been going up over the last 10 years, particularly in the last 2.
You really just need to pick and choose what you do. I would sacrifice buying a car to live in a good location. That is where it is worth spending your money. You can survive here and not have a car but I do think, when I talk to people, that location is a priority and you can have a great life if you live somewhere you really like.
What will newbies to Wellington find on The Residents?
They can read the real personal experiences of someone who has lived in Wellington all her life and has a really nuanced way of viewing the city. They can find out how it feels to live somewhere, not just what to do.
They can also get to know a lot of the characters from around the city, find out why Rachel Caughley, for example, does what she does, and get more of a sense of the people as well as the place.
What should people avoid when visiting or moving to Wellington?
Try and get good recommendations about good restaurants and suburbs to live in. My favourites are Oriental Parade, Mount Cook, Mount Victoria, Haitaitai and also Miramar. If you are a young person, aim for the suburbs closer to the city. If you have a young family maybe move further out where you can find some more space.
What else? People should avoid wearing high heels! Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lots of bling or driving around in big cars showing off is not the Wellington way. Wellington is far more understated.
Definitely avoid judging people before you get to know them. Someone who is boring at the office might be putting on a show at Bats where they get naked and cover themselves in glitter, its suprising! People mix and mingle and we are not as strata as some other places can be.
Do you have any final tips for people moving to Wellington, or thinking about it?
I would just say that I haven’t met anyone from overseas that doesn’t love Wellington. 98% of people LOVE living here and if they don’t, its because they are homesick or it wasn’t the right time!
A nice optimistic note to leave this on. Thanks, Lucy!
I love the way Lucy loves her city but in the most honest and realistic way. You know what you get with her, she doesn’t hold back and just keeps on giving with really interesting content about Wellington and its residents. She is also super nice, by the way! I highly recommend checking out The Residents to find out how it can help you with your move or time in the city, or just get to know Lucy a little bit more.
Lucy’s Top Picks in Wellington
Food: Moore Wilson’s
Shoe Shopping: I Love Paris
Vintage: Hunters and Collectors
Facials and Skin Care: Margaret Hema
Beauty: Farmers, David Jones or Mecca Maxima
Fashion: Good as Gold and Twenty Seven Names (Massive fan)
Coffee: The Leeds Street Precinct, Milk Crate, Red Rabbit and Customs Coffee
Plants: Yvette Edwards or Bunnings!
Thanks for reading and come back soon!
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For more posts like this, you might like to check out my sections Moving to NZ, or Wellington Life
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Josie x