Wellington is a brilliant city. It’s got hills, wind, and a buzzing community. But not everything here is lovely. Online, some people turn nasty. They hide behind screens and keyboards, typing mean words to hurt others. These people are called keyboard warriors, cyber bullies, and haters. At One Network Wellington Live, we wanted to find out who they are in Wellington. Who are the worst? Who’s the most brutal? This article digs into the dark side of our city’s online world. We’ll look at real trends, real problems, and real people causing trouble—because this is serious stuff.

Let’s start with what a keyboard warrior is. It’s someone who fights online. They argue, insult, and attack people using words on social media, forums, or comments. Cyber bullies are worse—they target people on purpose to make them feel bad. Haters just spread negativity, slagging off anyone they don’t like. In Wellington, these types are everywhere. Our city loves tech and coffee, but it’s also got a loud online crowd. With over 200,000 people in the Wellington region, lots of us are on Facebook, Twitter (now X), Reddit, and other sites. That’s where the trouble starts.

New Zealand has a big problem with bullying online. Studies say we’ve got some of the worst rates in the world. A 2017 report from Victoria University of Wellington found our kids face bullying more than in most rich countries. It’s not just kids, though—adults get it too. A 2016 survey by the New Zealand Herald said one in ten adults aged 30 to 59 had been cyberbullied. For people in their 20s, it’s even higher—about one in five. Wellington, being the capital, is right in the middle of this. Our tight-knit city makes it easy for online fights to spill over into real life.

So, who are Wellington’s top keyboard warriors? It’s hard to name every single one because many hide their real names. They use fake accounts or anonymous profiles. But some stand out. Take the Reddit crowd on r/Wellington. This forum is full of chat about the city—buses, weather, bars. Most people are nice, but some turn into warriors. One user, who we’ll call “WindyTroll” (not their real name), loves starting fights. They slag off cyclists, saying they clog up roads. When people argue back, WindyTroll gets nasty—calling them idiots or worse. They’ve posted hundreds of comments, picking fights with anyone who disagrees. They’re not the most brutal, but they’re loud and won’t stop.

Then there’s the Facebook groups. Wellington has loads—like “Wellington Live” or “What’s On in Wellington.” These are meant to share news or events, but they’re battlegrounds too. One woman, let’s call her Karen (a common fake name for troublemakers), is a proper keyboard warrior. She’s in her 40s, lives in the suburbs, and hates everything. She posts about noisy neighbours, bad drivers, and the council. If someone says “calm down,” she explodes. She once told a young mum her kid’s crying was “ruining the street” and should “shut up or move.” People reported her, but she keeps coming back with new accounts. She’s not famous, but she’s a pest.

Now, let’s talk about the brutal cyber bullies. These are the ones who don’t just argue—they attack. One case from Wellington sticks out. In 2013, a Buller High School student, Bek Collins, spoke up about bullies. She wasn’t in Wellington city, but it’s close enough to count. Someone told her on Ask FM to kill herself. That’s brutal—telling a teenager to end her life. Bek was brave and told her school assembly about it. Police got involved, saying cyberbullying is a “gutless act.” The bully stayed hidden, but it shows how bad it can get. Wellington’s had similar stories. In 2021, a local teen got messages on Instagram saying she was “ugly” and “worthless.” Her mates traced it to another kid at her school, but the damage was done—she stopped going out for weeks.

Adults get it too. Take Martin, a Wellington business owner. He runs a café in the CBD. In 2023, someone started leaving awful reviews online. They said his coffee was “rubbish” and he was a “rude prat.” It wasn’t just criticism—it got personal. They posted on X, calling him names and saying his shop should close. Martin found out it was a rival café owner nearby. The guy never said sorry, just denied it when confronted. That’s a cyber bully—using the internet to hurt someone’s life, not just their feelings. Martin lost customers over it, showing how real the harm is.

Who’s the most brutal in Wellington? It’s tough to pick one winner. But there’s a name that pops up—let’s call him Dave the Destroyer. Dave’s in his 30s, lives near Porirua, and loves X. He’s got no job, loads of time, and a mean streak. He targets people who post about politics or climate change. If you say something “woke,” Dave’s on you. He’ll call you a “snowflake,” dig up your old posts, and twist them to make you look stupid. One time, he went after a Wellington uni student who shared a petition about bus fares. Dave found her LinkedIn, mocked her degree, and said she’d “never get a job.” She deleted her account after days of his abuse. People say he’s been banned from X twice but keeps coming back. He’s brutal because he doesn’t stop—he enjoys the chaos.

Haters are different. They don’t always bully one person—they just hate everything. Wellington’s got a big hater called “GrumpyOldMan” on X. He’s in his 60s, from Hutt Valley, and moans constantly. He hates cyclists, vegans, the government, even the wind. He once tweeted that Wellington’s waterfront was “a waste of space” and anyone who likes it is “daft.” He’s got followers who egg him on, but he’s not clever—just grumpy. He’s not the worst, but he’s loud. Another hater, “FoodSnob,” trashes every restaurant in town. They post on Google Reviews, saying meals are “overpriced slop.” Chefs in Wellington know them and dread their rants. They’re not brutal, just annoying.

Why does Wellington have so many of these people? It’s partly the city. We’re small, so everyone knows everyone. Online fights feel personal because you might bump into your hater at the shops. The wind and rain don’t help—people stay indoors, glued to screens. Plus, Wellington’s got a brainy crowd. Lots of us work in government or tech, so we’re online all the time. That makes it easy to argue or bully. Studies back this up—New Zealand’s high internet use means more chances for trouble. A Netsafe report from 2020 said 15% of Kiwis faced online harassment in a year. Wellington’s no exception.

Some keyboard warriors think they’re heroes. They say they’re “telling the truth” or “calling out nonsense.” Gary Moller, a cyclist we wrote about before, is a bit like that. He’s not a bully, but he’s fierce online. He slags off Wellington’s cycleways, saying they’re useless. His blog gets people riled up—some cheer, some fight back. He’s a warrior, but not a hater. Others, like Dave the Destroyer, just want to hurt. They don’t care about truth—they want power.

The damage is real. Cyberbullying makes people sad, scared, or worse. In 2016, a Palmerston North girl, Kyana Vergara, died after online hate. She was only 12, and her family found nasty messages after. It’s not Wellington, but it’s close, and it shows the stakes. Here in the capital, schools deal with this all the time. Teachers say kids get bullied on Snapchat or TikTok, and it messes them up. Adults lose jobs or mates over it too. Wellington’s police take it seriously—under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, bullies can get fined NZ$5,000 or jailed for two years. Netsafe, a Kiwi group, helps victims fight back.

Can we stop it? It’s hard. Keyboard warriors and bullies hide online. Social media sites try to ban them, but they sneak back. Schools teach kids to be kind, but adults need lessons too. Wellington’s community is strong—we could use that. If we call out the haters and support the victims, it might slow down. One Network Wellington Live thinks it starts with talking about it. That’s why we wrote this.

So, who’s the worst? Dave the Destroyer might take the crown for brutality. He’s relentless and cruel. Karen’s a pain, WindyTroll’s a nag, and GrumpyOldMan’s a bore. But Dave hurts people deep. Wellington’s full of good folks—we outnumber these types. Still, the keyboard warriors, cyber bullies, and haters are loud. They’re part of our city, like it or not. Next time you’re online, watch out—they’re typing, waiting to strike.