Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Overseas merchandise trade: March 2025 – 22 April 2025 – Overseas merchandise trade statistics provide information on imports and exports of merchandise goods between New Zealand and other countries.

Correction to the overseas merchandise trade (OMT) series EXP+.S2PT04F for the period June 2016 to February 2025

In this release we have corrected the June 2016 to February 2025 overseas merchandise trade ‘Value of Exports & re-exports – milk powder, butter, and cheese’ monthly, quarterly, and annual Infoshare series EXP+.S2PT04F, to correct an error in data processing .This does not affect the series EXP+.S2U04AF.

Infoshare changes by date has further information about this correction.

Key facts
This release refers to trade in goods only.

In March 2025, compared with March 2024:

• goods exports rose by $1.2 billion (19 percent), to $7.6 billion
• goods imports rose by $723 million (12 percent), to $6.6 billion
• the monthly trade balance was a surplus of $970 million.

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

Update to 2023 Census methodology paper – 17 April 2025 – Stats NZ has today updated the following 2023 Census methodology paper:

The paper explains the principles, policies, and processes for managing people’s information in the course of producing census outputs (data and statistical releases, products, services, and research).
 
Today we have added a new section that allows tables to be marked as sensitive if they contain sensitive variables.

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Meal kits, cruises, and smart watches added to CPI basket in latest update – 17 April 2025 – People are spending more on delivered meal kits and smart watches, but less on older technology such as DVDs, home telephone line rentals, and national toll calls, Stats NZ said today.

Following changes in what New Zealand households typically spend their money on, the consumers price index (CPI) basket of goods and services has been updated. The CPI basket is used to measure inflation.

“Changing spending patterns and consumer tastes mean it’s important to update the CPI basket so it remains relevant and reflects New Zealand society,” consumer prices spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

Delivered meal kits and cruises have been added to the basket from this quarter.

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

Annual inflation at 2.5 percent in March 2025 – 17 April 2025 – Aotearoa New Zealand’s consumers price index (CPI) increased 2.5 percent in the 12 months to the March 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

The 2.5 percent increase follows a 2.2 percent annual increase to the December 2024 quarter.

“The annual inflation rate is within the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s target band of 1 to 3 percent for the third consecutive quarter,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

Between the June 2021 and June 2024 quarters, annual inflation was above the target band.

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand’s population passes 5.3 million people – 16 April 2025 – Aotearoa New Zealand’s estimated resident population was 5,311,100 as at 31 December 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.  

These are the first population estimates to fully incorporate the 2023 Census and 2023 Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) results. Estimates back to 2018 have now been revised, and estimates after 30 June 2023 will now use the 2023-base estimated resident population as a starting point.

“Census data and the coverage results from the PES are used to recalibrate national and subnational population estimates,” population estimates, projections, and coverage spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.

“This recalibration ensures the population estimates are the best-possible measure of how many people live in communities across the country.”

For more:

Source: Statistics New Zealand

North Island population passes 4 million while South Island population grows faster – 16 April 2025

The population living in the North Island now exceeds 4 million, according to estimates released by Stats NZ today.

The North Island’s population has grown by an average of 1.3 percent a year since 2018, reaching 4.04 million at 30 June 2024. The South Island’s population has grown at a slightly faster rate of 1.4 percent a year, reaching 1.24 million at 30 June 2024.

“It took just over two decades for the North Island’s population to increase from 3 million in late 2002 to 4 million in late 2023,” population estimates and projections spokesperson Victoria Treliving said.

“Over the same time, the South Island population increased by almost 300,000 people.”

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

Food prices increase 3.5 percent annually – 15 April 2025 – Food prices increased 3.5 percent in the 12 months to March 2025, following a 2.4 percent increase in the 12 months to February 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

Higher prices for the grocery food group and the meat, poultry, and fish group contributed most to the annual increase in food prices, up 5.1 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively.

Partly offsetting the increase in food prices was lower prices for the fruit and vegetables group, with prices down 2.7 percent in the 12 months to March 2025, following a 6.2 percent decrease in the 12 months to February 2025.

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

Commuter Waka updated with 2023 Census data and new features – 15 April 2025 – New 2023 Census data in Commuter Waka‘s interactive map shows how we are choosing to commute in Aotearoa New Zealand, Stats NZ said today.

“Commuter Waka gives a comprehensive view of commuter data, allowing us to see where people are travelling to and from for work and education, and how they choose to travel,” 2023 Census spokesperson Kathy Connolly said.

“With the addition of the 2023 Census data, you can now see how commuter trends are changing over time.” In 2020, Stats NZ ran a competition to create an interactive data visualisation using the 2018 Census commuter dataset. The winning entry, Commuter Waka, is a data visualisation tool that uses an interactive map and series of graphs to show commuter information for areas across New Zealand.

For more, see:

Source: Statistics New Zealand

International travel: February 2025 – 14 April 2025 – International travel covers the number and characteristics of overseas visitors and New Zealand resident travellers (short-term movements) entering or leaving New Zealand.

Key facts

Monthly arrivals – overseas visitors
Overseas visitor arrivals were 354,400 in February 2025, a decrease of 8,400 from February 2024. The biggest changes were in arrivals from:

• United States (up 8,200)
• Australia (up 7,600)
• United Kingdom (up 3,100)
• Canada (up 1,600)
• Japan (up 1,100)
• China (down 18,400)
• Taiwan (down 1,500)
• Malaysia (down 1,200).

Further Information: