‘Incredibly liveable and creatively buzzy’: Bret McKenzie’s guide to Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara

The Flight of the Conchords comedian shares the New Zealand capital’s best coffee, nature spots and the pastries he’ll queue out the door for Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email I’ve been based in Wellington for most of my life, aside from a stint in Los Angeles. I love that it’s small and incredibly liveable here. There are lots of beautiful wooden homes with water views in the hills surrounding the harbour. Unlike Los Angeles, you can do several things in a day and leave 10 minutes before you need to be somewhere, as Wellington is very pedestrian and ebike friendly. It’s also wildly windy; apparently the world’s windiest city. ​​Our normal wind would be a national emergency in many countries! I think it makes Wellington creatively buzzy because the southerly blasts are cold and fresh; it’s a dynamic environment. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Wellington pretty much introduced coffee to Aotearoa New Zealand, so we’ve had quality coffee for decades. Touring musicians are excellent at judging cafes, and my musician friend Drew Erickson says Prefab Cafe is his favourite

Mar 7, 2026 → Mar 7, 2026