Key Industries

The Nelson Tasman region has a diverse and robust industry base.   The key driver sectors are:

• Horticulture
• Forestry
• Seafood
• Agriculture
• Tourism

These industries provide the region with a substantial platform for its export earnings.

Other important contributors are arts and crafts, construction, health, education, natural products, engineering, business services, aviation, and the wholesale and retail sectors.   In terms of value added GDP, the five key economic drivers dominate.   However, their relative contribution to the regional economy has changed over recent years and regional GDP for each of the clusters is now estimated at:

• Horticulture - $351m
• Forestry - $339m
• Seafood - $235
• Pastoral Farming - $128m
• Tourism - $128m

As in other regions in New Zealand, the majority (96%) of  business enterprises in Nelson-Tasman are small to medium sized firms (SMEs).   In Nelson, SMEs generate 30% of employment and Tasman enterprises generate 43% of employment.   This is in part a reflection of the dynamism of the local economy.   It is also a feature of the number of small scale operators which characterise the pastoral, horticulture and tourism sectors of the region.   Consolidation and cooperation of operators (many family based) in the pastoral and horticulture sectors is having signifcant economic impacts.    There are opportunities for SMEs in the aquaculture, natural products and ICT sectors; along with research and science based enterprises to use these and other strategies to achieve substantial growth into regional, national and international markets.

Developing industry clusters such as engineering, aviation, arts and crafts, and aquaculture are creating additional opportunities.   Information Technology is rapidly becoming another significant industry and Nutraceuticals is a developing industry.

Click here for quarterly regional statistics on key industries

Click here for Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS)