Two Wellington streets which have been revamped with colourful artwork and lighting installations will be officially opened today.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The Wellington City Council has revamped Eva and Leeds Street as part of an initiative to revitalise the city's 75 lanes.
The lanes feature colourful artwork on building walls and road and lighting installations.
Councillor Nicola Young, the central city portfolio leader, said the new elements would brighten up the area and highlight the streets' interesting history.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
In the early 1900s it was the site of a bustling shoe factory, Hannahs, which was then known as R Hannah & Co. Hannah Factory Laneway connects the two dead end streets.
"When people go there they'll get a blast of colour and inner city vitality in an area that up to now was pretty dreary," Ms Young said.
"There will be amazing lighting, reflectors that pick up on the light from the sign, wonderful colour, quirky carparks that have been painted out to resemble the shoes that used to be made at the Hannahs shoe factory."
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The initiative aimed to make lanes safer and attract more pedestrians to the area.
"We need to make them attractive to people, especially places where there aren't many cars. There is car access in these streets but they're mainly pitched at pedestrian use.
"We do walk around Wellington, it's the most walkable city in New Zealand, so we need to make it attractive to people who are walking - so to get them away from all the cars and traffic lights is terrific."
The new redesigned streets will be officially opened at 2pm today.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
