By One Network Wellington Live

March 23, 2025

It’s a gusty evening on Wellington’s Willis Street, and a lone shopping trolley rattles past, piled high with blankets and a tarp. It’s not a rare sight—supermarkets like Countdown lose dozens of carts yearly to the streets, where they become lifelines for the city’s homeless. Rotorua faced a bigger trolley mess and cracked down with Operation Trolley in January 2025, hauling back 45 carts in three days. Wellington’s watching—here’s how Rotorua sorted it and what the capital can take from it.

Rotorua’s trolley trouble was a headache turned crisis. By late 2024, 260 carts a month were vanishing from stores like Pak’nSave, costing ratepayers $5,000 monthly to retrieve, per Mayor Tania Tapsell’s figures in the NZ Herald. Homeless folks used them to haul gear, but some rattled through the CBD, spooking shoppers. Operation Trolley hit in January—police nabbed 13 for theft, issued 19 trespass notices, and returned 45 trolleys to owners. Inspector Herby Ngawhika told the Rotorua Lakes Council it wasn’t about targeting the homeless—rough sleeping’s legal—but about cutting chaos. By March, the streets were tidier, and some got linked to support services.

The fix wasn’t flawless. Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi called it a “heavy-handed swipe” at the vulnerable, and Kaya Sparke’s Operation Feed the People slung 200 vegan burgers in Kuirau Park as a defiant counter. Rotorua’s 1,149 housing-deprived (2023 Census) didn’t vanish, but the trolley count dropped—stores saw carts return, and the council’s cleanup bill eased. It was a blunt tool that worked—for a specific job.

Wellington’s trolley scene is quieter but growing. The 2023 Census clocked 486 people severely housing-deprived here, up 12% from 2018. Wellington City Mission’s outreach spots trolleys near Te Aro Park or the waterfront, hauling essentials for those locked out by $550-a-week one-bedroom rents (Tenancy Services, 2024). Supermarkets—New World Metro, Countdown—lose dozens annually, a $2,000 hit to replace at $100 a pop, per industry norms. It’s not Rotorua’s 260-a-month pile-up, but it’s a signal—homelessness is visible, and trolleys are part of it.

Rotorua’s lesson one: act fast. Their 45-cart haul in three days showed quick sweeps can reclaim assets—Wellington could target hotspots like Manners Street or the railway station, where carts cluster. Mainfreight’s Petone hub, sorting 10,000 packages daily (2024 NZ Logistics), could pitch in, collecting and returning trolleys to stores like they do freight. Rotorua’s police-led approach nabbed thieves; Wellington’s could lean on community muscle—Wellington City Mission, serving 3,000 meals monthly, knows the streets and could coordinate.

Lesson two: link people to help. Rotorua’s blitz wasn’t just about carts—some homeless got steered to agencies. Wellington’s got a head start—Mission outreach housed 12 in 2024—but scaling that needs cash. Rotorua didn’t fund it big; Wellington could tap the $1.2 billion Let’s Get Wellington Moving pot for a $50,000 pilot—trolley sweeps paired with housing chats. The 5,000-home shortage (WCC, 2030 goal) won’t fix fast, but 800 built since 2021 show progress—trolleys could bridge the gap.

Lesson three: don’t just crack down—create. Rotorua’s enforcement cut clutter but drew flak—Waititi’s “attack” jab stung. Wellington could soften it—host a “trolley day,” not arrests. Picture this: stores donate 30 carts, volunteers and homeless folks team up to return them, earning $20 vouchers. Rotorua’s 19 trespass notices kept order; Wellington’s goodwill could build trust. Kaya’s 200 burgers showed community can push back—Wellington’s cafes could match it, feeding 300 while trolleys roll home.

Wellington’s edge is its size—215,000 people, compact CBD. Rotorua’s sprawl (57,000 residents) let trolleys scatter; Wellington’s tighter streets make them easier to spot. Mainfreight’s logistics could keep costs low—no $5,000 monthly bill here. Rotorua’s $7.6 billion e-commerce boom (NZ Post, 2024) left gaps—Wellington’s got the same, with rents up 10%—but its trolley count’s lower, so the fix could scale smaller.

Rotorua didn’t end homelessness—1,149 still struggle. Wellington won’t either—486 unhoused, $900,000 median homes (2024)—but trolleys are a start. Operation Trolley hauled 45 back; Wellington could aim for 30 a month, cutting losses and clutter. The Mission’s 3,000 meals show need; a trolley plan could show action. “It’s something,” says Jo, a Courtenay Place barista, eyeing a cart trundle by. Rotorua sorted trolleys with grit—Wellington can learn, tweak, and roll its own way.