Māori Economy in the Greater Wellington Region (April 2026) looks at who Māori are in Te Ūpoko o Te Ika and how we are contributing to the regional economy. It covers the six iwi of the region, a Māori population of over 80,000 (more than half under 30), income, housing, education, workforce and industry patterns, Māori business growth, and iwi asset bases. It also draws on survey insights from Māori in the region about cost of living, housing and work. The report finds an economy that is growing and resilient, grounded in whakapapa, whenua and tikanga Māori, while facing real pressure from housing, living costs and a changing job market.
For Te Matarau, this report is a foundation. It was commissioned by Greater Wellington Regional Council and aligns with our regional Māori economic development strategy, so it gives us and our partners a common set of facts to work from. It supports our work on business growth, rangatahi pathways and collaboration across iwi, Māori business networks and councils. If you are an iwi, business owner, funder, council officer or policy maker working in this region, it will help you ground your planning, investment and advocacy in current data about the Māori economy.
