Our Economic Development Newsletter - June 2025
Published on 16 June 2025
Have an idea? Let's make it happen
Have a business idea? Maybe you’re planning an event? How about a new project that could bring opportunity to the district? Reach out to your local Economic Development team:
We’re here to help make it happen.
Challenging regional economies, primary sector set to drive recovery
Economic conditions remain challenging around the country at the start of 2025, despite some parts of the economy showing sustained but limited growth.
Provisional estimates from the Infometrics March 2025 Quarterly Economic Monitor show underlying quarterly economic activity picked up in the March 2025 quarter, but remains down 1.1% over the 12 months to March 2025 compared to a year earlier.
Economic activity remains subdued in the first quarter of 2025, with GDP down in every region compared to last year. Rural economies are currently New Zealand’s strongest performers, with rural area GDP down just 0.4%pa, buoyed by better prices for our dairy, meat and horticulture exports to offset difficult times in other industries. More urban areas are doing it tough, with metro area GDP down 1.2%pa and provincial areas down 1.0% pa.
Overview of our Thames-Coromandel District
Thames-Coromandel continues to struggle against economic headwinds. Infometrics provisionally estimates that Thames-Coromandel GDP fell 0.9% in the year to March 2025. A continued pullback in the construction sector was the key contributor to the broader economic contraction as cyclone recovery work moderates and construction experiences a broader weakening in activity due to recently high interest rates, weak consumer demand (which makes businesses reluctant to invest in new buildings), and the tight fiscal environment.
However, the construction outlook is looking better with non-residential consents in Thames-Coromandel rising 263% over the year to March 2025 to an historical high, driven by storage, factory, and industrial building consents. Residential consents rose just 4.2% and remain relatively subdued despite signs of life in the housing market. House sales in Thames-Coromandel rose 24% over the year to March 2025. House values have yet to respond to the increase in demand, falling 0.9%pa in the March 2025 quarter. An increase in new listings in recent quarters has given buyers plenty to choose from, helping keep a lid on prices.
The agriculture industry is benefiting from strong export prices. Since the end of 2023, ANZ’s Commodity Price Index shows a 29% lift in global prices for meat exports and a 25% lift in dairy prices. The lower exchange rate has boosted NZ-dollar export prices by another 8-14%.
The tourism recovery has started to fall away. Spending by tourists in Thames-Coromandel fell 0.4% over the year to March 2025. Guest nights increased 2.8%. International guest nights continue to recover, rising 14% over the year to March 2025 but were mostly offset by a 0.4% fall in domestic guest nights as economic pressures weigh on Kiwi’s discretionary spending.
Economic headwinds are reflected in a 2.6% fall in employment of Thames-Coromandel residents over the year to March 2025. The local unemployment rate edged up to 5.2% compared with 4.9% nationally. Jobseeker Support recipients rose 6.9% to 1,338 over the year to March and are now well above their COVID peak of 1,286 over the year to June 2021.
Read the full report here
Kōpū Marine Precinct: Your gateway to growth
Our District’s new Kōpū wharf offers state-of-the-art infrastructure to support commercial maritime activities.
Nestled at the edge of the Firth of Thames in an industrial area rich with opportunities, Thames’ new Kōpū commercial wharf is perfectly positioned to support a wide range of industries and uses.
Situated at the junction of major sea and road transport networks, the wharf acts as a gateway between major cities and two of New Zealand's busiest ports – Auckland and Tauranga – and is poised to play a major role in the region’s economy.
What's on offer
- Delivery and loading of goods: Facilitates the movement of goods, with robust facilities for both unloading and offloading
- Long-term and short-term berthage: Provides long-term (up to 3 months) berthage, ensuring a convenient space for vessel servicing, inspection and maintenance
- Vessel troubleshooting and diagnostics
- Vessel haul-out: for cleaning, repairs and maintenance
- In-water servicing and maintenance: support ongoing vessel servicing without needing to haul out the vessel.
- Refuelling: mobile tanker operator services are available
Location, location, location
- Centrally location: Ensures access to national and international markets
- Transport connectivity: the junction of sea and road transport networks facilitates the easy transfer of goods and materials
- Climate change resilience: Enables reduced reliance on road transportation, offering businesses more sustainable options for shipping and logistics
- A growing area: The wharf is a gateway to Thames-Coromandel District’s growing community of 33,700 residents and its economic opportunities
- Tourism: Renowned for its outstanding natural beauty, the Coromandel attracts high visitor numbers and related business opportunities
- Business landscape: With 76 businesses currently operating in the Kōpū Industrial Area, the region is home to a diverse mix of industries, including storage, manufacturing, automotive, marine, construction and retail
Contact information
Get in touch with us today to talk more about how we can help your business.
Get involved in the 2025 Careers Roadshow
The Careers Roadshow 2025 is hitting the road in August, stopping in schools across the Coromandel to inspire local rangatahi and showcase the career opportunities right here in our district.
We’re calling on businesses, educators and industry leaders to get involved.
Whether you'd like to host your own stall or be part of a collaborative industry space, this is a fantastic chance to connect with the next generation of workers and share the exciting career paths available across our region and beyond.
Let’s work together to show Coromandel youth the range of real, local jobs and training pathways that exist on their doorstep – from trades and tech to tourism, creative industries and beyond.
Interested in taking part?
Register here
Or get in touch with isla.anderson@tcdc.govt.nz
Together, we can help shape the future workforce of the Coromandel.
Road show dates and locations
Destination Hauraki Coromandel survey
Destination Hauraki Coromandel (DHC) are looking for your help so they can better promote Hauraki Coromandel and support businesses. DHC are asking all local operators to take a few minutes to complete a short survey. This is a quick and easy way for you to keep them updated on your latest products, experiences and offerings — ensuring they have the most accurate and up-to-date information to share with industry bodies, media and trade partners.
The form should take no more than 5 minutes to complete, and we encourage everyone to take part. Your input is incredibly valuable in helping showcase the very best of Hauraki Coromandel and your business.
Complete the survey
Soda - Business fundamentals
Soda has launched a learning platform to help Kiwi entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Soda has created an online Business Fundamentals platform with short courses to help aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners succeed. These short online courses provide the necessary tools and frameworks to guide aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners through all the steps of being a business owner.
Each course features videos of real founders and experts sharing valuable advice, downloadable checklists and templates, step-by-step instructions and practical guidance. Topics include:
- Your Business Vision & Goals
- Market Validation & Fit
- Money Matters
- Crafting Your Brand & Competitive Edge
- Marketing & Sales
- Legal, Compliance & Future Planning
Prices start at just $49 per course or $245 for all six courses.
Use our discount code TCDC20 to receive 20% off the bundle.
Find out more
Waikato Waahine Collective – Women's symposium
Join us for an empowering half-day symposium. This event is an incredible opportunity to connect, network, and gain inspiration from a lineup of remarkable female leaders who have forged their own paths despite challenges and barriers.
This year’s theme speaks to the strength and resilience of women who have overcome adversity - both personal and professional - to carve out their own success. Our keynote speakers have navigated challenges, defied expectations, and proven that we are not bound by limitations set by others. Instead, we are the architects of our own futures, shaping the world we want to see.
Location: Claudelands Event Centre
Date: Tuesday 17 June 2025
Time: 11.30am – 5.00pm (followed by optional networking drinks from 5pm - 6pm)
Early Bird tickets: $180+GST (Limited to 150 tickets)
General Admission Tickets: $200+GST
Use our discount code COROLADIES for a $20 discount on tickets
Find out more
A day of inspiration and connection – Women in Business Expo
We had the privilege of taking a small group of local women in business on a day trip packed with inspiration, connection and valuable insights.
We kicked off the day with a visit to Pam Roa, CEO of Longveld and recipient of CEO of the Year at the Waikato Business Awards 2024. Hearing Pam’s story and seeing firsthand the impact of her leadership was a true highlight.
Some key points we took away:
- Transparency and communication are critical - set clear expectations and help people deliver to their best
- Culture - fit for both matters
- Employ with positivity - everyone has best intentions.
- Grow from the people around you
Next, we attended the Women in Business Expo, hosted by Soda Inc. This wasn’t just about showcasing business support options – it was a vibrant event that brought together entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers across a wide range of industries in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Everyone was blown away by guest speakers Nat and Kristen from Powrsuit, whose session on overcoming fear and failure, and the power of mindset, left us with practical takeaways. “Instead of defaulting to our lizard brain and imagining the worst, imagine the win and master expansive thinking. Ask "What if everything goes right?" Take small steps to jump in, test and iterate.” a simple but powerful mantra for anyone growing in business.
After the expo, we were fortunate to meet Vanessa Williams, Executive Director of the Hamilton Central Business Association, followed by an inspiring session with Claire Williamson, Director of My Mortgage and author of Smashed Avo to Smashed Goals. Claire’s journey and commitment to backing herself and smashing her goals was truly inspiring. Some Key points we took away:
- Learning to delegate and stretch to help others grow
- Managing your energy and prioritising your health
- Creating a high performance and expectation culture
- Taking informed risks
It was a privilege to meet such inspiring women and to share this experience with our own community of local businesswomen. Opportunities like these remind us of the power of connection, and the importance of lifting each other up as we grow our businesses and ourselves.
We look forward to sharing more opportunities like this in future.
Business After 5
Our Economic Development team had the pleasure of hosting the Tairua Business After 5 event in May at the Old Mill Café. It was a fantastic evening bringing together local business owners and community members for an informal catch-up and a chance to hear about opportunities shaping the Coromandel’s future.
Our guest speaker Stephen Hand introduced attendees to the newly launched Coromandel Future Funds – six place-based endowment funds (managed by Momentum Waikato) that can support community projects and programmes. His presentation sparked some great conversations about how we can work together to build a more resilient and self-sustaining future for our communities. You can find out more about the Future Funds below:
Coromandel Funds FAQs Momentum Waikato
Thank you to everyone who came along and made the evening such a success.
We also hosted the Business After 5 event with the Mercury Bay Business Association this month at the Coro Club Café. Later in the month we’ll also be hosting the Coromandel Colville Business Association BA5 at the Combined Clubrooms on Wednesday 25 June. We hope to see you there.