Wellington Regional Strategy

Developing Wellington into an internationally competitive region.

BREAKING NEWS:

The Wellington Region GPI won the "GHD Supreme Award 2011" in the NZ Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) Local Government Excellence Awards. It also won the "Joined-Up Local Government category" award. These awards recognise the collaborative work of all the region's councils and other parties on the development of the GPI.

The Wellington Regional Strategy (WRS) is a sustainable growth strategy with a core aim to facilitate growth in exports. Our vision is that by 2025 the Wellington region’s competitive advantage will be based around its capital status, global links and local geography.

Successful, internationally competitive regions have three key characteristics. They are great places to live, they have excellent career opportunities and they have strong vibrant economies. The WRS was developed to improve the region’s performance in these three areas.

Fully adopted in May 2007, the strategy was developed by the nine local authorities in the region, working alongside central government, business, education, research and voluntary sector interests.

The WRS identifies three focus areas for sustainable growth: leadership and partnerships; growing the region’s economy – especially exports; and good regional form.

Bringing together key players and facilitating effective partnerships is the first focus of the WRS. Effective partnerships between the local authorities of the region, central government, business and the education and voluntary sectors are essential in order to achieve the region’s sustainable growth objectives.

Business growth – especially the growth of exports – is the second focus of the strategy. Grow Wellington, the region’s economic development agency, was set up to progress this work.

“Good regional form” is the third focus of the strategy. The regions councils, in conjunction with other key partners, work on delivering on this goal. Good regional form means ensuring the physical arrangement of urban and rural communities are linked together by strong city and town centres. Well integrated transport systems, good quality urban design, and a network of open spaces and recreational amenities are all things that contribute to our quality of life.