You are here: Home > Our City > Do business here > Why Lower Hutt? > Seaview Gracefield

Seaview/Gracefield

The Seaview Gracefield industrial area harbours more industrial potential per square kilometre than anywhere else in the region.

Versatile commercial and industrial sites

Seaview Gracefield is the regional centre of industry. It’s an ideal place for businesses looking for a place close to major rail and road links as well as Wellington International Airport and port. Businesses can source industrial raw materials, products and skills from other local businesses and are close to major transport companies. Staff working in Seaview Gracefield have easy access to walking and biking tracks, the beach and the marina, as well as shopping in Petone.

Seaview Gracefield hosts 700 businesses across many industries, employing about 7,000 people. Cleantech and environmental technology companies operate alongside scrap metal exporters and businesses dealing with hazardous materials.

With growing research and technology businesses nearby, Seaview Gracefield is fast becoming the place for testing and prototyping in New Zealand.

In 2010 the Seaview Gracefield’s business community together with us and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce adopted the Seaview Gracefield Vision 2030 (PDF 1.2 Mb). It’s our shared vision of what the Seaview Gracefield area could be like in the future, including:

Providing stability and efficiency to support existing businesses
Creating a suitable environment for the growth of new and emerging businesses
Making better use of recreational opportunities
Contributing towards a better environment

To achieve our vision we’ve developed the Seaview Gracefield work plan (PDF 2.6 Mb). The work plan includes projects to achieve our vision, strengthen business viability and enhance the environment in Seaview/Gracefield. We’re including an additional $300,000 and the reprioritisation of up to $1.3 existing spending to implement projects in our 2011 Draft Annual Plan over the next four years.

Seaview Gracefield snapshot

Unique capability for industrial and hazardous activities
Central location for regional or NZ-wide distribution
Collaborative community with strong science presence
Council-supported plans to transform the area
Easy access to road, rail, and sea transport options
Development potential, with flat land available for expansion

View a map of Seaview Gracefield

What makes Seaview Gracefield a great location

Designed as an industrial hub, Seaview Gracefield is the obvious choice for industrial activities and businesses looking to expand.

Natural buffers - Hutt Park, Waiwhetu Stream and Point Howard hillside – separate the area from residential zones. Seaview Gracefield is known as a low-risk and safe area and we’re proud of our work with businesses to minimise any risk. Oil and bulk storage, heavy industry, industrial steel and gas suppliers and other major manufacturing operations border on recreation areas and the seashore.

When Flight Group moved from Wellington to Gracefield, we worked with them to ensure a smooth transition. Director Derek Lander says we’ve been constructive and extraordinarily helpful. "There is a very good appreciation with Council staff of what is required for an industrial type of business. We needed somewhere that would secure our future – where there was space to expand our plastics business, within easy reach of our loyal staff, and close to our transport hub."