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Estimated gross domestic product (GDP) in the eight cities grew by 3.4% per annum on average over the four years to March 2002, compared to the rest of New Zealand at 2.3% |
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The eight cities have generally experienced faster population growth, therefore the difference in per capita income growth will be much smaller |
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The eight cities account for between 55% and 60% of all economic output in New Zealand |
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Measures:
Gross domestic product (GDP) data for the eight cities shows how each city’s economy has grown since 1998. The data are based on regional GDP estimates by Infometrics Wellington, which are derived from detailed employment data by region and industry and also from rates of productivity growth by industry. |
ANNUAL AVERAGE PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, ESTIMATES 1995/96 PRICES (1998 TO 2002)
Over the four years ended March 2002 the eight cities, grew by an average of 3.4% per annum, as measured by estimated GDP for each city. This was half a percentage point faster per annum than overall New Zealand economic growth. From 2000 to 2002 GDP in the rest of New Zealand grew at roughly the same pace as the eight largest cities on average.
The eight cities account for between 55% and 60% of all economic output in New Zealand
and around 70% of total national employment in the finance/insurance/business services; wholesale; construction; and communications sectors. Personal services and government also account for a relatively high proportion of total national employment.
 Economic growth
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Just under 40,000 additional jobs were generated across the eight cities over the two years ended February 2002. |
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Since March 1998 unemployment rates have generally dropped across the eight cities with the greatest decrease being in Manukau (down to 4.9% from 10.7%) |
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Measures:
There are three measures indicating the state of the labour market:
Employment - filled jobs
Unemployment
Registered job seekers
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In 2002, filled jobs in the eight cities accounted for over half (56.4%) of all employment in New Zealand. The four cities in the Auckland region accounted for just under a third of all employment.
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Number of jobs filled (February quarters 2000 to 2002)
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2000
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2001
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2002
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Change 2000 to 2002 (%)
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| North Shore |
61,210
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65,550
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69,020
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12.8
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| Waitakere |
36,830
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36,940
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38,100
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3.4
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| Auckland |
249,080
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251,610
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257,100
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3.2
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| Manukau |
93,330
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95,010
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95,610
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2.4
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| Hamilton |
50,490
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52,460
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54,250
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7.4
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| Wellington |
113,940
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116,700
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118,890
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4.3
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| Christchurch |
147,150
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158,150
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153,860
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4.6
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| Dunedin |
44,320
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45,830
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47,220
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6.5
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| Total 8 cities |
796,350
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822,250
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834,050
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4.7
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| Rest of NZ |
614,650
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623,420
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643,680
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4.7
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| Total NZ |
1,411,000
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1,445,670
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1,477,720
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4.7
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| Date source: Statistics New Zealand, Quarterly Employment Survey |
Over the last two years (February 2000 to 2002) employment has risen equally as fast in the rest of New Zealand (4.7%) as in the eight cities taken as a whole. North Shore (12.8%), Hamilton (7.4%) and Dunedin (6.5%) have achieved faster employment growth compared to the other cities and the rest of New Zealand.
In all but one city the rate of unemployment is lower now than it was five years ago. In some cases the decrease in the unemployment rate has been significant. The lower level of unemployment reflects strong economic growth between 1999 and 2002 as a result of a buoyant economy. This is likely to be attributable to increases in manufacturing for both the local economy and export markets, and growth in the retail and service sector to meet discretionary income and population-generated demand. Employment
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From 1998 to 2002, the overall growth rate of businesses among the eight cities was 20.3% and was similar to the rate for the rest of New Zealand at 21.4% |
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Among the eight cites, the overall growth rate in numbers of business enterprises since 1998 has been highest in North Shore at 29.3% |
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Measures:
This indicator measures the number of economically significant enterprises that were in existence in February of each year. The data are taken from Statistics New Zealand’s Business Frame Survey, which identifies an ‘economically significant enterprise’ as one that is GST registered and has a turnover of $30,000 per annum or more. The data presented here shows net growth in the number of business, i.e. business ‘births’ minus business ‘deaths’.
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From 1998 to 2002, the overall growth rate of businesses among the eight cities was 20.3%. This was similar to the rate for the rest of New Zealand (21.4%).
Among the eight cites, the overall growth rate in numbers of business enterprises since 1998 has been highest in North Shore at 29.3% - higher than the national growth rate over the same period. This is linked to growth of the Albany industrial and residential areas during that time. Although the growth rate has been relatively high in all four Auckland region cities, the actual numbers of enterprises was highest in Auckland City (48,559 in 2002). Dunedin had the slowest rate of new business growth between 1998 and 2002 (11.3%).
Growth in the number of businesses
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In the year ended March 2002, the eight cities contributed $24.1 billion out of New Zealand’s total of $47.1 billion in retail expenditure (51%) |
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The highest proportion of retail spending occurs in Auckland |
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Measures:
This indicator shows the annual percentage change in retail expenditure from 1998 to 2002. The data are taken from the Retail Trade Survey published by Statistics New Zealand and are indicative only (due to small sample sizes within each region).
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In the year ended March 2002, there was $47.1 billion retail expenditure in New Zealand, of which $24.1 billion was in the eight cities. Among the eight cities, the highest proportion of retail spending occurs in Auckland, with one quarter ($6.4 billion) of the total eight city retail sales expenditure recorded to year ended March 2002.
The annual percentage changes in retail sales expenditure has fluctuated in all of New Zealand’s main regions over the period 1999 to 2002. In New Zealand as a whole, retail expenditure increased substantially in the year ended March 2000 (6.2%). This pattern was observed in all regions and across the rest of New Zealand.
Retail sales
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New residential buildings across the eight cities represent half of all consents issued in New Zealand |
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Since 1998, Auckland, Manukau and Christchurch have consistently had the highest numbers of residential consents issued |
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Measures:
Building and construction activity can be measured as the number of consents for new buildings, the value of consents, or the value of work put in place. All provide some indication of the level of new building work, which in turn indicates a strong economy. Two measures are used here:
Residential
Non-residential
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In the year ended March 2002, a total of 10,643 consents were issued for new residential buildings across the eight cities, representing half of all consents issued in New Zealand (49.9%). This proportion has been relatively constant for the previous five years.
Auckland, Manukau and Christchurch have consistently recorded the highest numbers of residential consents. This is directly linked to the absolute size, as well as the growth in these cities’ populations.
There has been little growth in the level of non-residential building activity in Auckland and Waikato over the last five years. In Wellington the value of consented commercial building work has fallen by around 25% since 1998. In contrast Christchurch and Dunedin (and surrounding areas) have experienced significant growth in activity.
Much of the growth in non-residential building activity has been concentrated in public sector buildings such as hospitals and educational institutions, and in factories and warehouses. The vast majority of such activity will have taken place in the major urban areas
Building Consents
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Tourism activity in the cities has grown at 8% per annum between 1998 and 2003, compared to 5% per annum in the rest of New Zealand. |
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Measures:
The number of short-term visitor arrivals in New Zealand and the number of bed nights purchased by tourists (both domestic and foreign) indicate the growth in a significant component of domestic economic activity. The bed nights purchased data is from the Statistics New Zealand Accommodation Survey.
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Over the year ended March 2003, the eight cities accounted for 36% of total guest nights purchased, up from 33% in 1998. Tourism activity in the cities has grown at 8% per annum between 1998 and 2003, compared to 5% per annum in the rest of New Zealand.
Over the year ended March 2003, the difference between growth in accommodation purchased in cities (8%) and in the rest of New Zealand (2%) has widened.
Tourism
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