New Zealand has an efficient, market-oriented economy, a stable and secure business environment and a quality infrastructure. Sizeable manufacturing and service sectors complement a highly efficient, innovative agricultural sector.

Industries experiencing rapid growth include the creative and food and beverage sectors, with food and beverage exports rising from NZ$7.76 billion in 1990 to NZ$21 billion in the year ended December 2008. The sector contributes over 10 percent of GDP and represents half of all New Zealand’s merchandise exports by value.

New Zealand’s key trading partners include Australia, the United States, Japan, China and the United Kingdom.

  

Key economic indicators

Economic Indicator	New Zealand
Population	4.28 million estimated (as at September 2008)
GDP	NZ$179.19 billion (YE June 2008)
GDP growth rate	2.6% (YE June 2008)
GDP per capita	NZ$42,150 (YE June 2008)
Total employed	2,172,000 (September 2008 quarter)
Unemployment rate	4.2% (September 2008 quarter)
Merchandise imports	NZ$47.04 billion (YE September 2008)
Merchandise exports	NZ$43 billion (YE December 2008)
Consumer price index	1.5% (September 2008 quarter), 5.1% (YE September 2008)

  

Source: Statistics New Zealand

  

Doing business in New Zealand

New Zealand is a very straightforward place to do business.

The World Bank recently rated New Zealand as the easiest country to start a business and the second easiest in which to do business, in its Doing Business in 2009 report.

The report tracks a set of regulatory indicators related to business start-up, operation, trade, payment of taxes, and closure by measuring the time and cost associated with various government requirements. For more information see the World Bank Doing Business website.

In 2008, Transparency International ranked New Zealand alongside Sweden and Denmark as the least corrupt nation in the world, using its Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The CPI ranks countries in the order of which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians. For more information see the Transparency International 2008 survey.

Our labour market is famed for being flexible and deregulated, with a highly educated and multi-skilled workforce. New Zealand has sophisticated telecommunications links with the world, excellent export networks and outstanding ports, and strong domestic and international airlines.

Read more details about New Zealand’s economic and demographic profile in the following pages.

» Geography, people and politics

» Banking and finance

» Exports and imports

» Transport and freight

» Time zone and public holidays