Satellite image of Wellington region

Greater Wellington, at the request of the District and City Councils of the region, has taken on the role of “keeper” of the Wellington Regional Strategy. This amendment to the Council’s ten-year plan (LTCCP) 2006–16 enables Greater Wellington to take on this new activity.

The Wellington Regional Strategy was adopted on 2 May 2007, after a legal challenge from Hutt City and Upper Hutt City Councils was resolved by mediation.  The mediation resulted in setting a maximum funding level from rates for the regional economic development agency and ensures that Greater Wellington will only continue in the long-term if the strategy is actually making a difference to the region.

The Wellington Regional Strategy is a framework for the sustainable economic growth of the Greater Wellington region. This new activity includes establishing and funding a regional economic development agency, as well as establishing a committee of Greater Wellington to oversee the implementation and further development of the strategy. Significantly the membership of the Committee includes representatives from all the District and City Councils in the Region and independent members who bring to the committee specialist expertise and experience.

Greater Wellington is committed to acting as the keeper of the Wellington Regional Strategy until at least 30 June 2012. The role of Greater Wellington will be reconsidered in 2011 following a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the strategy. At that time a decision may be made to continue the keeper role beyond the 2011/12 financial year.

The regional development agency is now operational which is being funded by a regional rate from 1 July 2007.  A Board of Directors has been appointed and actions from the 'Good Regional Form' section of the WRS are under action by councils in the region. Also a range of mechanisms to engage central government, the private and NGO sectors will continue around WRS activities are in place or being further developed.