West Coast
Welcome to Tai Poutini / the West Coast
Get ready to be inspired by the untamed natural wilderness of the West Coast!
From turquoise waters to giant rivers of ice, this region is full of geological treasures. A location that is hard to beat, the West Coast provides the best of both worlds, allowing you to stay connected when necessary while
offering a perfect retreat when needed.
West Coast businesses are making waves with innovation and impact. From
sustainable ventures to globally recognised products, these enterprises are
redefining the narrative, proving that even in remote landscapes, business can
do big things.
Development West Coast (DWC) is the Regional Economic Development
Agency and Regional Tourism Organisation for Tai Poutini / West Coast. DWC
is dedicated to promoting employment opportunities and generating sustainable
economic benefits for the region.
The team at DWC provide a range of business and economic development
initiatives, including:
-
Business finance
-
Business support and advisory services
-
Tourism destination management and promotion
-
Industry and sector support
-
Research and innovation projects
About the West Coast
The Demographics
Boasting a population of around 33,000 and covering an area of 23,276 km2. the West Coast is remarkably homogenous, with European and Māori being the two main ethnicities.
The Economy
The industries in which West Coast Region has the largest comparative advantages are mining (location quotient=11.2), electricity, gas, water and waste services (5.3) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.8)
The West Coast has a GDP of $2,604 million over the past year, that represents 0.6% of the national GDP. The largest industry in West Coast Region (electricity, gas, water and waste services) contributed 14.0% to its GDP in 2023, which was higher than the average contribution (13.1%) of the largest industry across 16 regional councils.
The second largest industry in the West Coast Region (agriculture, forestry and fishing) contributed 13.8% to its GDP in 2023, which was higher that the average contribution (10.0%) of the second largest industry across 16 regional councils
Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors on the West Coast. In 2015 it accounted for over 2,000 jobs, 12 percent of the region’s jobs. The sector’s GDP grew by 2.2 percent annually over the last 5 years. Visitor expenditure has grown by 3.1 percent per annum over the last 5 years, reaching $417 million in the year to May 2016. Over the last 2 years, guest nights in the region have been growing at 8.8 percent per year, the second fastest in the country, and visitor expenditure has grown by 7.2 percent per year.
Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors on the West Coast. In 2023 it accounted for over 2,000 jobs, 12 percent of the region’s jobs. For the year to June 2024, visitor expenditure in the region grew by 11.9% - the highest growth rate in the country, reaching $516 million. Guest nights in on the West Coast grew by 9 percent, outpacing the national rate of 5.3%.
The West Coast has comparative advantages in several sectors. The following industries are particularly over-represented on the West Coast relative to New Zealand
• Mining
• Dairy cattle farming
• Seafood processing
• Dairy product manufacturing
• Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing
• Heavy and civil engineering construction
• Wood product manufacturing
• Accommodation and food services
• Furniture and other manufacturing
• Fishing and aquaculture
• Forestry and logging.
For more information regarding the economy's metrics click the button below.
Climate
Summers are mild. Typical summer daytime maximum air temperatures range from 17C to 22C and seldom exceed 25C. Typical winter daytime maximum air temperatures ranges from 10C to 15C.
Councils
Useful Links
Follow this link to learn about how to set up operations in NZ, raising capital and investor visas.
Economic Development Reports from the West Coast
Monitoring
The West Coast economy grew by 1.7%, in 2023, matching the national growth rate, according to the latest provisional GDP estimates from economic consultancy Infometrics.
Heath Milne, chief executive of Development West Coast, noted GDP growth was strongest in Westland (2.8%), significantly boosted by the return of international visitors, followed by Buller (1.9%), and Grey (0.8%). “On the back of this growth we’ve seen the addition of 406 jobs in the region over the past year,” he said.
Employment in the region grew by 2.8%, significantly faster than the long-term average. Westland district had the highest employment growth rate nationwide, reaching 8.6%. This growth accelerated in the quarter ending September, surging to
14%. Reflecting the tight labour market, average unemployment across the region eased to 3.2%, below the national rate of 3.5%.
