Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Regional Plan 2010-2012
This plan outlines the priorities for our region and what we are doing to address them. Our focus is on helping individuals and families in our communities achieve better outcomes.
The priorities for 2010 - 2012 are:
- more people get into work and stay in work
- more children are safe
- more young people stay on track
- reduced reoffending by young people
- improved quality of life for older people
- communities are better able to support themselves.
This plan highlights both national and regional initiatives that aim to improve the lives of the people in our region and across New Zealand.
Our population
Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast is a large region covering almost 70,000 square kilometres, from Kaikoura on the east coast, across the top of the South Island and down to Haast on the west coast. The region has a population of 165,000 people.
The two main centres of Nelson and Blenheim vie for the highest annual sunshine hours in the country, while the West Coast has one of the world’s most stunning heritage highways.
Our economy
The region is rich in natural resources including gold, coal, and forestry products. It is renowned for its orchards, seafood, fine wines and farming. Tourists are attracted to our five beautiful national parks: Abel Tasman, Westland Tai Poutini, Paparoa, Kahurangi, and Nelson Lakes.
The vast size of our region is matched by the diversity of the industries within it. The region is strongly export-focused, producing much of New Zealand’s export volumes of wine, pipfruit and seafood. Mining and forestry products are important, as well as manufacturing and engineering.
For several years, the region has enjoyed some of the lowest rates of unemployment in the country but it has been affected by the current economic climate. In March 2011, the labour force participation rate in region stood at 67.1 per cent with the unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent, compared to the national average of 6.2 per cent. There were 1,586 working aged people (aged 18 - 64 years) receiving unemployment-related benefits in the region at the end of June 2011.
