Wellington, Sept 1 NZPA - Wellington is to get a make-over as part of the Capital City Initiative launched today at Parliament.

Prime Minister John Key and Wellington City Mayor Kerry Prendergast announced the collaborative project to invest in public spaces and celebrate the city's role as the capital city.

Ten projects were earmarked to be completed by 2015, the 150th anniversary of Wellington as capital city.

One is the replacement of traffic lights in Aitken St, near Parliament, so little green women instead of men will appear in the pedestrian lights. This is to highlight New Zealand being the first nation to give women the vote.

Several planned upgrades, including for Government House and the National Library, will be completed by 2015.

Under the plan, walking tours will be established, national institutions will hold open days and an information centre will be be created.

The National War Memorial Park and processional route along Taranaki St should also be completed.

Mr Key said a number of alternatives had been outlined for the War Memorial Park, the budget for which the Government had earlier suspended.

It would now consider the options, he said.

It was better to take longer and "do it well" because it was an important place, he said.

Mr Key said Wellington was "quite safe" Auckland would not become the capital city.

"The Ranfurly Shield may have gone, but Parliament's staying."

Arts, culture and sport infrastructure were a great way of attracting visitors to a city, evidenced by the fact that soccer star David Beckham could "come here and be a racing success and go to Auckland and be a raving failure".

Wellington was an "eclectic experience" with its the formal parliamentary side.

"On the other extreme, you see a bunch of New Zealanders sitting outside eating their fish and chips and watching the world go by," Mr Key said.

Ms Prendergast said Wellington was unique with its harbour setting, village atmosphere, good city design and being home to central government.

"We are the city of important conversations."

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