Wellington Region

Greater Wellington
(Wellington Region)
Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui (Māori)
Greater Wellington within New Zealand
Coordinates: 41°17′S 174°46′E / 41.283°S 174.767°E / -41.283; 174.767
CountryNew Zealand
IslandNorth Island
Established1989
SeatWellington
Territorial authorities
Government
 • BodyGreater Wellington Regional Council
 • ChairDaran Ponter (Labour)
 • Deputy ChairAdrienne Staples
Area
 • Land8,049.44 km2 (3,107.91 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)
 • Region
543,400
 • Density67.51/km2 (174.8/sq mi)
GDP
 • TotalNZ$44.987 billion (2021) (3rd)
 • Per capitaNZ$82,772 (2021)
Time zoneUTC+12:00 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13:00 (NZDT)
ISO 3166 codeNZ-WGN
HDI (2023)0.968
very high · 1st
Websitewww.GW.govt.nz

The Wellington Region, also known as Greater Wellington (Māori: Te Upoko o te Ika), is one of sixteen regions of New Zealand, the southernmost one on the North Island. The local government region covers an area of 8,049 square kilometres (3,108 sq mi), and has a population of 543,400 (June 2025).

The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city and the region's seat. The Wellington urban area, including the cities of Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt, accounts for 79 percent of the region's population; other major urban areas include the Kapiti conurbation (Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Raumati Beach, Raumati South, and Paekākāriki) and the town of Masterton.