Big names are launching a lobby group in the capital with local body elections less than a year away. 

Dames Kerry Prendergast, Patsy Reddy, and Fran Wilde, along with Sir Bob Jones are some of the movers and shakers endorsing what's called Vision for Wellington. 

The group, which claims to be bipartisan, wants the council to rein in its spending and put an end to in-fighting. 

Dame Fran Wilde told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the slow slide into party politics has caused problems for the council. 

She said this group was formed to provide a platform where Wellingtonians can be a part of the conversation about what they want the city to be. 

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