My friend and I came to New Zealand and spent most of our time in Wellington. James' apartment was clean, cozy and his blankets and beds were the best! He responded promptly when we had questions and was accommodating. James' place was within walking distance of many great restaurants and local attractions. We did have a car to visit places that were further away if we were going later in the evening (to avoid walking long distances at night because most free shuttles stop in the late afternoon) like Zelandia and the Interislander port for the ferry ride to Picot.
If you rent a car that you need to park during the day, I suggest looking into "coupon parking"' (which was free after 6pm). The I-site welcome center near James' house is a great resource and parking tickets can be purchased at the Wellington civic center down the street.