Economy, jobs and prices in West Coast, New Zealand: official figures
The economy of West Coast produced NZ$2,687 million of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year ended March 2025, 0.6% of New Zealand's NZ$431,457 million. It is the smallest of 14 regional economies, counting only regions that Stats NZ reports separately (Stats NZ marks the latest year as provisional).
What is GDP per person in West Coast?
GDP per person in West Coast was NZ$77,650 in the year ended March 2025, against NZ$81,283 for New Zealand as a whole (below by NZ$3,633). That is 7th highest of 14 regions reported separately.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow fast is the economy of West Coast growing?
GDP in West Coast rose 8.1% in dollar value in the year to March 2025, compared with 3.3% for New Zealand. Over five years since March 2020 it changed by 41.9% (New Zealand 33.4%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the biggest industries in West Coast?
The three largest industries by GDP in the year to March 2024 (the latest year Stats NZ publishes industry detail) were manufacturing (11.7%); agriculture (9.0%); construction (8.4%). The shares are percentages of total GDP; Stats NZ counts owner-occupied housing as a separate industry, which is not in this list.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow important is farming to the economy of West Coast?
Agriculture made up 9.0% of GDP in the year to March 2024 (New Zealand 2.9%), and manufacturing 11.7% (New Zealand 8.3%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow big are health, government and construction in the economy of West Coast?
Health care and social assistance made up 7.3% of GDP in the year to March 2024, public administration and safety 2.5% and construction 8.4% (New Zealand: 7.2%, 4.4% and 7.8%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in West Coast?
The unemployment rate in the Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast area was 3.7% in the June 2026 quarter, compared with 5.4% for New Zealand and 3.9% in the June 2025 quarter. Stats NZ's survey reports Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast together as one area, so this is not a figure for West Coast alone. These are survey estimates, not seasonally adjusted (as is the national figure used here); the sampling error is about 1.5 percentage points.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat percentage of people are employed in West Coast?
The Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast area had an employment rate of 65.5% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 66.5%; June 2025 65.0%). The employment rate is the share of people aged 15 and over who have a job. Stats NZ's survey reports Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast together as one area, so this is not a figure for West Coast alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people are employed in West Coast?
About 109,400 people in the Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast area were employed and 4,200 unemployed in the June 2026 quarter, out of a working-age population (aged 15+) of 167,100. Figures are Household Labour Force Survey estimates in thousands, rounded to 100. Stats NZ's survey reports Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast together as one area, so this is not a figure for West Coast alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in West Coast?
The labour force participation rate in the Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast area was 68.0% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 70.4%). Participation is the share of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. Stats NZ's survey reports Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast together as one area, so this is not a figure for West Coast alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the underutilisation rate in West Coast?
The underutilisation rate in the Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast area was 14.1% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 13.4%). It counts people who are unemployed, want more hours, or want work but are not looking, as a share of the extended labour force. Stats NZ's survey reports Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast together as one area, so this is not a figure for West Coast alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow West Coast compares with other regions
GDP, year ended March 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
West Coast ranks 14 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP, year ended March 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$12,580m |
| 9 | Northland | NZ$11,645m |
| 10 | Taranaki | NZ$11,088m |
| 11 | Southland | NZ$9,943m |
| 12 | Marlborough | NZ$4,249m |
| 13 | Gisborne | NZ$3,093m |
| 14 | West Coast | NZ$2,687m |
GDP per person, year ended March 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
West Coast ranks 7 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, year ended March 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Taranaki | NZ$85,095 |
| 5 | Marlborough | NZ$83,484 |
| 6 | Canterbury | NZ$79,852 |
| 7 | West Coast | NZ$77,650 |
| 8 | Otago | NZ$76,101 |
| 9 | Waikato | NZ$72,330 |
| 10 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$71,343 |
GDP growth, year to March 2025 (dollar value) (2025)
West Coast ranks 2 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP growth, year to March 2025 (dollar value) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southland | 9.8% |
| 2 | West Coast | 8.1% |
| 3 | Waikato | 6.2% |
| 4 | Northland | 5.9% |
| 5 | Bay of Plenty | 5.4% |
| 6 | Canterbury | 5.3% |
| 7 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 5.1% |
More on West Coast: overview · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2025 (GDP by region and industry; GDP per person by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cca1f2f77ec7…)
- Stats NZ: Labour market statistics: June 2026 quarter, Household Labour Force Survey Tables 3 and 6 (by regional council area), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 315f48f981cb…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.