Wellington Bella Vista

Introducing your Wellington hosts, Bhagi and Barney Bhana

Your host Barney & Bhagi, are locally born and bred, just over the hill in Hataitai & Newtown, and have been together since their college days in the early 70’s, and are still going strong. 

We have own many different local business over the last four decades, and all have been totally different from operating a motel, but we love this best! We entered the motel in 2019, and with our knowledge and love of our community, we are proud to welcome you to the Bella Vista Motel Wellington, a wee haven in Hataitai on the Bay, the smallest little “talked about” Capital in the world.

Wellington, Our Capital City - Your Destination

Welcome to the Centre of New Zealand: Wellington. Known for being petite, cute, green, fresh, lively, hilly, and windy, Wellington is a city that offers a unique blend of urban vibrancy and natural beauty. With boutique cafés, restaurants, and a thriving bar culture, it's a place where you'll also find endless walking, hiking, and biking trails—all framed by the ocean and the expansive Wellington Harbour.

Wellington is home to numerous attractions, including Te Papa Museum, the Weta Cave & Workshop, the iconic Cable Car, Botanical Gardens, the Beehive and Parliament grounds, and the stunning Mt Victoria lookout. For a taste of local craft beer, Zealandia's native wildlife sanctuary, or a trip beyond the city, don’t miss the renowned Martinborough wineries.

The Bella Vista Motel Wellington is perfectly situated on Evans Bay, halfway between the city and the airport, and just on the cusp of Hataitai. Hataitai Village is a hidden gem, offering wonderful eateries and a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere. It's a suburb steeped in cultural vibes, making it an ideal base for your Wellington adventures.

Hataitai's Mythical Roots

The name "Hataitai" is derived from Maori mythology, which tells the legendary story of two taniwha brothers—Whātaitai and Ngake—who lived in what is now Wellington Harbour. Seeking freedom, Ngake broke through the mountains that separated the lake from the Cook Strait, causing the water to rush out. His older brother, Whātaitai, became trapped and was left behind on the rocks. An earthquake later raised his body, leaving him to dry out and pass away, forming the Miramar Peninsula, which is thought to be his petrified remains. His spirit transformed into a bird and flew to the top of Mt Victoria, known as Tangi Te Keo.

Hataitai: A Place Close to Our Hearts

Hataitai is more than just a location for us—it's where we grew up, went to school, and played on this side of Mount Victoria. My parents ran a fruit shop on Moxham Avenue, and my mum arrived in the area by flying boat on Evans Bay. Our children and grandchildren also grew up in this beautiful community. I remember my dad protesting against the local pub, The Realm, when it opened a liquor store, and the plaque with my parents' names on a wooden seat in the village is a lasting tribute to their legacy.

Today, we are incredibly proud to own the Bella Vista Motel, located next to Hataitai Beach. Hataitai is not just a place on the map for us, it’s home. We can’t wait to share this special part of Wellington with you.

Our Community Involvement

• Volunteer coaching WISC Junior Hockey in Kilbirnie each Saturday mornings.
• Support local sport fundraising ventures
• Buy library books for the local school annually 
• We support Race-4-Life Charitable Trust by annually hosting a family free accommodation for a weekend. 
• Donate our bedding & towels to SPCA and charitable shops
• Have replaced all our canvas wall art with landscape scenes and attractions to show off our culture in Wellington.
• We buy products locally.
• Support “Tiaki Promise” to care for our mother earth and be respectful and mindful of our culture & people around you, where ever you are.
  
  

Our Sustainability Practices

Bhagi did a course on sustainability with Tourism Industry Aotearoa, which opened up our eyes to a whole new way of thinking and do things, and this is what we practice in our business every day.  These include:

BUSINESS – Economic Practices:

• Record power, gas & water usage, and monitor waste, rubbish & recycling to reduce our carbon footprint
• Purchasing products from environmentally conscious businesses – Advance, Moore Wilsons, Gilmac, and fair trade products.
• Support Tuatara coffee which donate money to protect and look after Tuataras, New Zealand's ancient, endemic lizard.
• Practice paperless office or daily printing on used/recycled A4 paper.
• Involve guest to help support sustainability-related innovations.
• To continue planning and discuss our business responsibility, around ways to save the planet with new innovating ideas and practices.  

ENVIRONMENT – Reduce carbon footprint:

• Record power, gas and water usage, and monitor waste, rubbish and recycling to reduce ore carbon footprint. 
• All our showers have been replaced with low-flow water restrictor heads to reduce water conservation.
• Replaced all lighting with LED light fixtures and bulbs that are energy efficient. 
• Installed shower domes on all our showers to reduce water usage, reduce energy costs, stop mould & mildew, and improve air quality.
• We stopped using individual disposable plastic amenities bottles and replaced with wall pumps.

Bella Vista Wellington is a 4 star Qualmark rated property and awarded Silver status under the Sustainable Tourism Business criteria which is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Founded in 2007, the GSTC is a United Nations-initiated programme which sets the global baseline standards for sustainable travel and tourism.

We look forward to hosting you!