"We've seen a population increase and a number of new, small businesses coming to Whanganui."
The region's GDP has almost doubled in the past 15 years. Downturns in the dairy sector have affected the whole country but Mrs Overton-Stuart said strategic planning has helped the regional GDP to rise five out of the last six years.
"I think it shows the fruit of close relationships that have been formed among the Chamber, the Council and Whanganui and Partners, who have all worked together to bring some positivity to the region," she said.
"There is a concerted and concentrated effort. We're all working toward the same thing."
Nationwide, 11 of 15 regional economies grew in the 2015 financial year.
Auckland and Canterbury had the largest GDP increases in the country, at $5.7 billion (6.9 per cent) and $2.3 billion (7.3 per cent) respectively, with Canterbury overtaking Wellington for the second highest value.
Decreases were recorded in Southland, at .5 billion (9.9 per cent), Waikato, at .4 billion (2.2 per cent), Taranaki, at .3 billion (3.3 per cent), and the West Coast, at .1 billion (5 per cent). These decreases reflected a fall in agricultural activity.
New Zealand's total GDP was $241.2 billion, increasing $8.7 billion (3.7 per cent) from 2014.