Wellington, the vibrant heart of New Zealand, is facing a silent crisis. It’s not the usual suspects like earthquakes or economic downturns, but something far more insidious: the work-from-home (WFH) trend.

We remember when WFH was a novelty, a perk offered by forward-thinking companies. But now, it’s like a virus that’s infected the city. Office buildings stand empty, their lights flickering like ghosts. Cafes that once buzzed with the lunchtime rush are now echoing with silence. It’s eerie.

Businesses are struggling. With fewer people in the city, foot traffic has plummeted, and profits have followed suit. I’ve seen desperate landlords slashing rents, offering all sorts of incentives to lure tenants back. But it’s like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom.

Many businesses have simply given up, surrendering their leases and leaving behind hollowed-out shells. Some of these spaces have been converted into apartments, which is great for the housing market, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problem. We’re losing the beating heart of our city, the vibrant commercial hub that draws people together.

It’s not just businesses that are hurting. The city council is feeling the pinch too. With fewer commercial properties occupied, rates have taken a nosedive, leaving a gaping hole in the budget. It’s a domino effect, and nobody seems to know how to stop it.

But some people are starting to fight back. There’s talk of offering rate relief to businesses that bring their employees back to the office. It’s a controversial idea, but desperate times call for desperate measures. We can’t just sit back and watch our city wither away.

We need to find a way to balance the convenience of remote work with the vitality of our urban centers. It’s a complex problem with no easy answers, but one thing is clear: doing nothing is not an option. We need to act now before it’s too late.

Wellington is a resilient city. We’ve faced challenges before, and we’ve always come out stronger. But this time, the threat is different. It’s not a natural disaster or an economic crisis, but a creeping malaise that’s slowly sucking the life out of our city. We can’t let it win. We need to find a way to adapt, to evolve, to create a new normal that works for everyone.

Let us know your ideas/Plans to boost up our Golden Mile.