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A diverse economy spanning agriculture, advanced manufacturing, technology, renewable energy,  aquaculture, tourism, healthcare and forestry.

The region’s strengths are further supported by a growing Māori economy and the longstanding cultural regional leadership of the Kīngitanga.

532,100 people in the Waikato

More than 16,000km of rivers and streams and more than 100 lakes

10,000km2 of coastal marine area
450 marine farms

1200km of coastline

25,000km2 of land

70% of NZ’s geothermal resources

Map of Waikato region showing main lines

Leader in electricity production

Thermal
1,379MW

Wind
64MW

Geothermal
1,074MW

Hydro
1,531.5MW

37% of NZ’s electricity capacity

More than any other single region

Flood infrastructure

Valued at $1.1 billion

Protecting land that contributes $2.5 billion to regional GDP

Waikato’s contribution to farming, food and forestry GDP

14% of NZ’s forest products industries

  • Forestry and logging
  • Wood product manufacturing
  • Pulp and paper

18% of NZ’s food manufacturing

  • Meat and meat product manufacturing
  • Seafood processing
  • Dairy product manufacturing

22% of NZ’s farming

  • Sheep, beef and grain
  • Dairy farming
  • Poultry, deer and other livestock

19% of NZ’s food industry

  • Farmers, growers and aquaculture plus food manufacturing

32% of NZ’s dairy manufacturing

Māori asset base

$21.51b in the Waikato
Up 88% from 2018 to 2023

Popular visitor destinations

  1. Coromandel Peninsula
  2. Hamilton Gardens
  3. Raglan
  4. Karāpiro
  5. Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
  6. Te Waihou Blue Spring
  7. Waitomo Caves
  8. Hobbiton
  9. Lake Taupō

12.7% of NZ’s total exports

NZ - $95 billion
Waikato - $12.1 billion

Critical national transport, freight and logistics corridor

40% of NZ’s freight movements

Significant mineral producing area

Waikato contributes ~20% of NZ’s mining GD

Critical producer of aggregates

Supplying a large proportion of material that supports economic growth in both the Waikato and Auckland regions

NZ - 7.1 tonnes per person
Waikato - 15.2 tonnes per person

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Note

  • Gross domestic product (GDP) and population data are for 2025, sourced from Infometrics and Stats NZ.
  • Aggregate production is for 2023, sourced from the Aggregate & Quarry Association Fact Files.'
  • Māori asset base insights sourced from Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL).