Waikato: Regional Gross Domestic Product: Year ended March 2015 – Media Release
9 March 2016
Waikato results:
For the year ended 2015, Waikato’s GDP decreased 2.2 percent, driven primarily by a decrease in agriculture – mainly
dairy cattle farming.
From 2010–15, Waikato's economy increased 20.3 percent, driven by the manufacturing, and electricity, gas, water, and
waste services industries. These increases offset a decrease in agriculture.
In 2015, Waikato contributed 8.1 percent of New Zealand’s GDP.
National results:
Eleven of 15 regional economies in New Zealand increased in the latest regional GDP figures from Statistics New Zealand.
Provisional estimates for the year ended March 2015 were released today. They show Auckland and Canterbury had the
largest increases in nominal value (today’s dollars and unadjusted for inflation) in gross domestic product by region.
Auckland’s GDP increased $5.7 billion (6.9 percent), Canterbury’s $2.3 billion (7.3 percent), and Wellington’s $1.2
billion (3.7 percent). The national increase was $8.7 billion (3.7 percent).
“The large increase in Auckland reflects strong performances in construction, transport, and finance,” senior national
accounts manager Susan Hollows said.
“Canterbury’s increase is associated with the Christchurch rebuild, which offset a decline in agricultural activity.”
Decreases were recorded in Southland, at $0.5 billion (9.9 percent), Waikato, at $0.4 billion (2.2 percent), Taranaki,
at $0.3 billion (3.3 percent), and the West Coast, at $0.1 billion (5.0 percent). These decreases reflected a fall in
agricultural activity.
Taranaki had the highest GDP per capita ($75,941), followed by Wellington ($65,974) and Auckland ($56,997). The
Northland region had the lowest GDP per capita ($35,103). The national average was $52,953.
New Zealand’s total GDP was $241.2 billion for the year ended March 2015. The North Island contributed 76.7 percent to
total GDP, and the South Island 23.3 percent.
Auckland’s contribution to total GDP for the year ended March 2015 was 36.6 percent. Canterbury contributed 13.6
percent, with Wellington narrowly behind at 13.5 percent. The smallest contribution was from the West Coast region (0.7
percent).
New Zealand's regional economies 2015 visually presents the key measures of the 15 regional economies.
Regional GDP data will also be published this afternoon in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Regional Economic Activity Report mobile app and web tool. MBIE will use Statistics NZ’s published machine-readable CSV file to update the report. This
shows how government departments are working together to make data easily accessible across more channels.
Ends
For more information about these statistics:
Open the attached files