There are concerns that a large number of Wellington's 17,000 LED street lamps are at risk of falling.
The problem was discovered in February when one fell to the ground, but the council initially thought it was a very small batch of bad lamps.
Now, it has asked the Government for help with the problem.
Street lamps are designed for public safety, but they are, in fact, a public risk.
Former Wellington City Councillor Chris Calvi-Freeman told Newshub the situation is "pretty damn dangerous to be quite honest."
"If one did fall just when you were under it, then that'd be curtains," he said.
Calvi-Freeman first discovered the problem not far from his home in Evan's Bay.
"I started to notice these lamp columns with the LED lights just hanging off them and waving in the breeze."
Then he spotted a 15-kilogram light had fallen.
"I think this is a systemic failure by the council."
It was initially thought to be a small number of the capital's 17,000 LED lamps. But then in February, the council upgraded that 'small batch' to about 1000 lamps.
Now, there are concerns the problem is actually much larger, though councillors say they're being kept in the dark.
Diane Calvert, a current Wellington City Councillor, told Newshub: "If the size of the problem is much bigger, we certainly want to know and we certainly want to know what plans there are to fix it, because as governors we will certainly divert money to making sure that it does get fixed."
"It's a health and safety matter," she added.
The council has asked the Government for help - via Waka Kotahi / NZTA - and it's understood they need money to help fix it.
Transport Minister Michael Wood said he "was advised on the way over here that we may have had a communication but I haven't yet seen that."
In a statement, the City Council said it frequently works with Waka Kotahi on a range of transport projects and the discussions around lamps are no different.
"We've prioritised it since it was discovered and we're working with others to ensure the problem will be fixed," said Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau.
Wood told Newshub that "generally speaking it is the position of the Government that lamp posts shouldn't fall down."
But we'll have to wait a little longer to find out just how many lamps are at risk of falling, with a briefing on the matter scheduled for next week.
