Wellington’s Commonwealth Walkway has opened today encouraging walkers to visit 32 of the City’s most important and historic sites.
The final commemorative walkway marker, was placed today by Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy, Sir Anand Satyanand, Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation and Isobel Pepper, a member of the Commonwealth Youth New Zealand executive.
Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said she was delighted to see the walkway completed in her final week as mayor.“The first roundels were laid in 2015 as part of our Wellington’s 150th anniversary celebrations and this walkway is a wonderful way to celebrate the long shared history between the Crown and the City.”
“As such a walkable city, this gives Wellingtonians and visitors another reason explore the Capital and enjoy its rich history and beauty and to get active and get walking,” she said.
The Commonwealth Walkway connects 32 significant monuments, parks, buildings and historic places along a 9km loop in the Capital. The final route included community suggestions on points of interest to add to the walkway.
Dame Patsy Reddy said: “This walkway tells a story of Wellington and the people, places and events that are important to us. Around the world these walkways are transforming people’s experiences of their cities. It’s a novel way of encouraging people to get outside and take a closer look at the things that surround them”
Sir Anand Satyanand said: “This walkway links to those in a growing number of Commonwealth capital cities, notably London, where similar walks to places of local interest had been installed.”
Sir Anand Satyanand, Mayor Wade-Brown and Director of the Trust, Jim Walker formally unveiled the first marker at the Wai-Titi Landing at the front of Parliament grounds in July 2015.
His Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall laid the second roundel in November 2015 at Pukeahu National War Memorial.
Jim Walker said: ” This is such good news – THANKYOU Governor General, Mayor and the good people of Wellington. Mayor Wade Brown especially, you have been a total inspiration to Wellington and a beacon for other Mayor’s globally. I cant think of a better legacy for the Mayor than to be unveiling yet another walking project to her great Walkable Wellington. We look forward to making the panel for the Walkway in Wellington with her colleagues in the near future and hope that every step on the Commonwealth Walkway brings Wellingtonians closer to their Commonwealth family and friends“.