Development West Coast

What a session and what a turnout. Thanks to Brad Olsen and Nick Brunsdon from Infometrics for a sharp, funny and very honest look at where the economy is heading, and what it means for Buller.
We were also very impressed that Brad donned his gifted Buller Kawatiri hat straight away! He also pointed out that having an enterprise network here is a big win; helping those businesses we already have here before worrying about attracting new ones.

A few high level summarised takeaways:

🌍 The big picture. The 2026 Iran war has pushed fuel prices up again, and diesel has been hit hardest because farms, trucks and worksites can't just carpool. Inflation is at 4.1% and the Reserve Bank has started lifting rates (2.25% up to 2.75%). Even so, the economy still grew in the June quarter. Brad's view is that businesses have got better at absorbing shocks.

🐄 Primary sector and mining. Meat prices are strong, dairy is solid but worth watching, and forestry is struggling because of weak demand from China.

📍 Buller is holding its own. Local spending is up 2.2% on last year, compared with under 1% nationally. Employment is up slightly too. Housing here costs about 4 times the average local income, against about 6 nationally.

⛏️ Stockton. Nick walked us through the Infometrics analysis they prepared for DWC. Stockton supports about 450 FTE jobs across the West Coast, and nearly 300 of them are held by Westport residents.

💡 The message for business. Volatility is the new normal, so don't wait for things to settle. The biggest risk now is standing still. Communities that bounce back usually grow from what they're already good at, and Buller is more diverse than people think for a town our size.

Huge thanks to Development West Coast for making this happen, EPIC Kawatiri Westport as sponsor host venue, to Freckles Cafe for the delicious food, and to all the people who came along and asked such great questions.

Want to be part of the conversation? Join us at https://www.westportenterprise.nz/

📊 Want to keep an eye on how the West Coast economy is tracking? DWC provides free access to Infometrics economic dashboards on our website, with data on employment, GDP, population, tourism and more.
𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲:
https://regions.infometrics.co.nz/west-coast-region
𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿:
https://quarterly.infometrics.co.nz/west-coast-region

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀
Great to have Brad Olsen and Nick Brunsdon from Infometrics on the Coast, with more than 100 people joining us across events in Greymouth and Westport.

Thanks to Brad and Nick for sharing their insights into the West Coast and wider New Zealand economy, and to everyone who came along, asked questions and joined the conversation.

A big thanks also to the Westport Enterprise Network for partnering with us on the Westport event at EPIC Kawatiri Westport.

📊 Want to keep an eye on how the West Coast economy is tracking? DWC provides free access to Infometrics economic dashboards on our website, with data on employment, GDP, population, tourism and more.

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲:
https://regions.infometrics.co.nz/west-coast-region

𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿:
https://quarterly.infometrics.co.nz/west-coast-region

Great to see the 2026 Leading Light Awards featured by NZBusiness Magazine 🏆

A well-deserved national spotlight on West Coast Wildlife Centre and the businesses helping drive the West Coast forward.

West Coast Wildlife Centre takes Supreme honours at Leading Light Awards | NZBusiness Magazine Franz Josef's West Coast Wildlife Centre has been named the West Coast's top business for 2026, winning the Development West Coast Supreme Award at the Leading Light Business Excellence Awards.

A new walking and cycling trail is open at Wadeson Island. Coordinated through DWC’s Nature Economy Partnership and supported by business sponsor Cycle Journeys, the project brings together regenerative tourism, environmental restoration and community involvement. 🌿 🚲

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Westland High School Hokitika, Department of Conservation, Paparoa Environmental, Wadeson Island Conservation Trust, Westland District Council - Te Kahui o Poutini

Wadeson Island: a new trail for the Hokitika community A new walking and cycling trail at Wadeson Island is giving the Hokitika community improved access to the area while supporting environmental restoration and regenerative tourism.

Congratulations to the 2026 Development West Coast Leading Light Business Excellence Award winners 🏆