Boost in business confidence within Lower Hutt

Lower Hutt is a city we all love.

There is so much to enjoy – great education opportunities, sporting codes for every interest, and a robust business base that is showing Lower Hutt’s economy is on the rise.

During the past six months $250 million in new developments have been slotted into the pipeline – this is more than we have seen in the past five years.

This is a clear sign that economic activity is on the move.

The new developments will provide a boost to our local economy bringing much needed jobs.

We have one of the lowest rates rises in the country at an average of less than one per cent and our new Urban Growth Strategy is targeting an increase in our population to 110,000 over the next 20 years.

Large national developers are interested in doing business here with plans for two new rest homes. A third, being built by the Masonic Trust, is already under way.

AF Logistics re located from Porirua to Port Road and Owens Transport has re occupied their premises at Seaview. Masterpet is also planning a new development in that area.

Further signs of business confidence in Lower Hutt include the decision by the Japanese-owned Cable Price group to consolidate its headquarters here in Lower Hutt which opened earlier this year. This decision represented a significant investment of $10 million.

New developments coming into the city have been helped by our council business stimulus package which was intrdouced for the first time last year. We have been very pleased with the response and the package will be offered again in the current financial year.

 Development of Lower Hutt as a Technology Valley is also rapidly becoming a reality.

Callaghan Innovation has a significant presence in Lower Hutt and has announced it will create an innovative centre as a hub for science and business interests to create new products and services for the benefit of New Zealand business. There are already 800 companies in Lower Hutt linked to science and with this announcement we would expect this number to increase.

Lower Hutt is a great place to live with parks and a sea foreshore surrounded by hills and bush, and it is a city with a sound economic heart.

This growth in business confidence has happened in just three short years setting up our city for growth and prosperity as we move with a positive step into the future.