Wellington Regional Economic Development Plan

This plan aims to guide the long-term direction of the economy and will help drive high-impact economic initiatives over the next 10 years.

A family looking through the fruit baskets at the Harbourside Market.

The Wellington-Wairarapa-Horowhenua region has a unified regional economic development plan (REDP). It guides the long-term direction and focuses on implementation activities over the next 10 years.

A combination of local and central government, , and businesses helped develop the plan. It sets out the strategic direction, issues and opportunities, and guides where funding and support should go.

It’s about future-proofing the region and making sure it thrives economically. But also about ensuring Wellington is a great place for everyone to live, including our Māori and Pasifika communities.

It’s also about improving wellbeing and the quality of life.

A fraser Engineering worker checking over their work smiling at the camera.

The plan’s purpose

The plan aims to guide the long-term direction of Wellington’s economy. It will help the region to prioritise, fund, and deliver high-impact economic initiatives over the next 10 years. That, in turn, will help to:

  • create some of the 100,000 new jobs needed in this region over the next 30 years. This is in line with population growth projections (200,000) in the Wellington Regional Growth Framework
  • improve quality of life. It will support the region to be more productive, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, with thriving Māori and Pasifika communities.

Download the Wellington Regional Economic Development Plan [PDF, 7.5 MB]

Download the Regional Snapshot of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Plan [PDF, 2.2 MB]

A family sitting in the grass of Kapiti island while a Kākā perches on one of the parents shoulders.

The journey so far

The plan represents more than 12 months of conversations and mahi across our region, including with:

  • 10 councils
  • iwi
  • business groups
  • Te Matarau a Māui (Māori Economic Development Group)
  • sector groups
  • place-based groups.


The Wellington Regional Leadership Committee, WellingtonNZ, and the steering group support this plan.

This collaborative effort forms the basis of a long-term partnership. It will result in improved coordination, access to networks, and connections across the region.

Download Summary of Independent Review and Advice [PDF, 162 kB]

Download Workshop Summary [PDF, 4 MB]

Implementation of the development plan is underway and highlights from year one are available in the REDP annual summary.

Download Annual Summary 2022/23 [PDF, 50 MB]

A colourful illustration used as the cover image for the Wellington Regional Economic Development Plan.

Get in touch

WellingtonNZ is working with partners across the region to put the plan in place. It’s a living document that will evolve and adapt as conditions change, relationships are built, and new initiatives arise.

Contact the REDP Programme Management Office to discuss any initiatives.