More businesses closed last year in the Wellington region than new ones opened.
The startling statistic is one of the findings of a draft report by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Last year, business start-ups made up 45 percent of business turnover in the Wellington region, which the report says indicates that more businesses shut down.
The report, on a variety of aspects of the region's life and business, also shows adults are getting heavier, with 63% classified as obese or overweight in 2007, compared with 56% in 2003.
The unemployment rate also increased from just under 4% in 2008 to 5.9%.
More people are using public transport, with 76 per capita last year compared with 63 in 2001.
But the region's happiness increased 2% to 90% between 2008 and 2010.
