The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Balance of payments and international investment position: Year ended 31 March 2026 – information release

30 September 2026

Balance of payments records the value of the country’s transactions with the rest of the world. It shows changes in financial claims on, and liabilities to, the rest of the world. International investment position is a snapshot of the country’s financial assets and liabilities.

Key facts

As at 31 March 2026
Of New Zealand’s $482.7 billion total investment abroad:

• 72.5 percent was in the United States of America, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan
• 6.8 percent was direct investment
• 63.7 percent was portfolio investment
• 5.5 percent was financial derivatives
• 13.4 percent was other investment
• 10.6 percent was reserve assets.

Visit Stats NZ website to read the full information release:

• Balance of payments and international investment position: Year ended 31 March 2026

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Source: KOF Economic Institute

UPDATE: The KOF Economic Barometer rises in September. After its consecutive increases over the previous months, it continues to stay above its medium-term average. The outlook for the Swiss economy remains favourable.

In September, the KOF Economic Barometer increases by 1.6 points to a level of 109.1 (after a revised 107.5 in the previous month). Among the indicator bundles included in the Economic Barometer, the indicator bundles for manufacturing, services, as well as for construction show particularly positive developments. A slightly weakened outlook, however, is shown by the indicators for foreign demand and financial and insurance services.

Within the producing industry (manufacturing and construction), the majority of the sub-indicators for the different aspects of business activity exhibit positive developments. In particular, the sub-indicators for exports, for stockpiling of intermediate products, and for the general business situation indicate a brightened outlook. The sub-indicators for employment prospects, however, are under pressure.

The positive developments are supported by most of the sub-indicators within manufacturing. While the sub-indicators for machinery and equipment manufacturing are slowing down, the sub-indicators for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, for paper and printing products, as well as for the textile industry develop particularly favourably.

KOF Economic Barometer and Reference Series: Annual Update

The annual 2026 revision took place in September. These updates always comprise the following steps: a redefinition of the pool of indicators that enter the selection procedure, an update of the reference time series and a renewed execution of the automated variable selection procedure. For further background information, we refer to the document ‘Background Information KOF Economic Barometer September 2026 Revision’.

The updated pool of indicators now consists of 538 economic time series. The updated reference series is the smoothed growth rate of Swiss GDP distributed across the three months of a quarter from 2016 until and including 2025, based on the official quarterly real GDP statistics, adjusted for the effects of major international sporting events, as released by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) at the beginning of September 2026. SECO in turn takes the release of the previous year’s annual GDP data published by the SFSO into account.

The 2025 vintage of the KOF Economic Barometer (published until August 2026) comprised 342 indicator variables. The current 2026 vintage, which is now replacing the 2025 vintage, consists of 327 indicator variables. Compared to the previous vintage, 33 indicators are new and 48 indicators dropped out of the set of selected indicators. The Barometer is the rescaled weighted average of the selected indicators, where the weights correspond to the loadings of the first principal component.

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KOF Economic Barometer: Economic outlook remains favourable

The KOF Economic Barometer rises in September. After its consecutive increases over the previous months, it continues to stay above its medium-term average. The outlook for the Swiss economy remains favourable.

In September, the KOF Economic Barometer increases by 1.6 points to a level of 109.1 (after a revised 107.5 in the previous month). Among the indicator bundles included in the Economic Barometer, the indicator bundles for manufacturing, services, as well as for construction show particularly positive developments. A slightly weakened outlook, however, is shown by the indicators for foreign demand and financial and insurance services.

Within the producing industry (manufacturing and construction), the majority of the sub-indicators for the different aspects of business activity exhibit positive developments. In particular, the sub-indicators for exports, for stockpiling of intermediate products, and for the general business situation indicate a brightened outlook. The sub-indicators for employment prospects, however, are under pressure.

The positive developments are supported by most of the sub-indicators within manufacturing. While the sub-indicators for machinery and equipment manufacturing are slowing down, the sub-indicators for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, for paper and printing products, as well as for the textile industry develop particularly favourably.

KOF Economic Barometer and Reference Series: Annual Update

The annual 2026 revision took place in September. These updates always comprise the following steps: a redefinition of the pool of indicators that enter the selection procedure, an update of the reference time series and a renewed execution of the automated variable selection procedure. For further background information, we refer to the document ‘Background Information KOF Economic Barometer September 2026 Revision’.

The updated pool of indicators now consists of 538 economic time series. The updated reference series is the smoothed growth rate of Swiss GDP distributed across the three months of a quarter from 2016 until and including 2025, based on the official quarterly real GDP statistics, adjusted for the effects of major international sporting events, as released by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) at the beginning of September 2026. SECO in turn takes the release of the previous year’s annual GDP data published by the SFSO into account.

The 2025 vintage of the KOF Economic Barometer (published until August 2026) comprised 342 indicator variables. The current 2026 vintage, which is now replacing the 2025 vintage, consists of 327 indicator variables. Compared to the previous vintage, 33 indicators are new and 48 indicators dropped out of the set of selected indicators. The Barometer is the rescaled weighted average of the selected indicators, where the weights correspond to the loadings of the first principal component.

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Error notification for Household Income and Living Survey (HILS) data for year ended June 2025

29 September 2026

Kia ora koutou,

I am writing to our customers and stakeholders to advise you of errors impacting the following releases and subsequent customised data requests:

• Child poverty statistics: Year ended June 2025 and Child poverty statistics: Year ended June 2025 – technical appendix
• Household income and housing-cost statistics: Year ended June 2025
• LGBT+ population of Aotearoa New Zealand: Year ended June 2025.

The errors relate to how information about people’s highest qualifications was collected and processed and there are flow-on effects to household income-based statistics.

We are aware of the importance of robust indicators and apologise for this error.

Since identifying the errors, we have worked through the data to investigate the causes, assess their impact, implement necessary corrections, and quality assure the updated data.

Error notification for Household Income and Living Survey (HILS) data for year ended June 2025 has more detailed information.

Stats NZ recognises the impact of errors 

The data and insights provided by Stats NZ are critical to New Zealand policy and decision-makers so we are letting you know about this at the earliest opportunity.

A review into the error is underway and lessons learned will be incorporated into our quality assurance processes to reduce the risk of similar issues in the future.

Ngā mihi nui,

Abby Johnston

General Manager, Statistical Delivery, Social and Environment

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

GDP increases 0.2 percent in the June 2026 quarter – news story

17 September 2026

New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.2 percent in the June 2026 quarter, following a 0.9 percent increase in the March 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

“The 0.2 percent growth in economic activity in the June 2026 quarter reflects mixed results, with increases in nine out of 16 industries,” general manager and macroeconomic spokesperson Jason Attewell said.

Construction up 2.7 percent in the quarter
Construction was the largest upward contributor to the overall increase in GDP, up 2.7 percent in the quarter. This was the largest increase in construction activity since the June 2023 quarter.

“An increase in residential building activity contributed to the overall growth in the construction industry in the June 2026 quarter,” Attewell said.

Visit Statistics New Zealand website to read the full news story and information release and to download CSV files:

• GDP increases 0.2 percent in the June 2026 quarter
• Gross domestic product: June 2026 quarter
• CSV files for download

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Electronic card transactions: August 2026 – information release

15 September 2026

The electronic card transactions (ECT) series cover debit, credit, and charge card transactions with New Zealand-based merchants. The series can be used to indicate changes in consumer spending and economic activity.

Key facts
All figures are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise specified.

Values are at the national level and are not adjusted for price changes.

August 2026 month
Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the August 2026 month (compared with July 2026) were:

• spending in the retail industries decreased 0.9 percent ($63 million)
• spending in the core retail industries decreased 1.0 percent ($63 million).

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: Quotable Value (QV)

New Zealand’s housing market remains firmly on buyers’ terms, with property values continuing to soften through August.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows residential property values reduced by 1.9% nationally over the three months to the end of August – the housing market’s largest quarterly decline in two years.

The average Kiwi home is now worth $894,977, down 1.7% since the start of the year and 1.3% less than the same time last year.

QV national spokesperson Simon Petersen said the latest figures showed buyers remained firmly in control as we head into spring.

“Buyers have plenty of choice, they’re taking their sweet time, they’re negotiating hard, and they’re prepared to walk away if the numbers don’t stack up. That’s putting downward pressure on property values.

“But we’d still characterise it more as a slow deterioration rather than a sudden correction. The market has been flat to gently falling for some time, and those smaller movements are now starting to add up in some parts of the country.”

That weakness is especially evident in our largest cities. Auckland’s average home value reduced by 2.7% this quarter – its largest quarterly decline since August 2024 – while Wellington recorded a 3.5% reduction, its largest quarterly decline since March 2023.

“The overall direction is clear, but the pace of change still varies considerably from place to place. Some of the more resilient markets have also lost momentum throughout the winter months,” Mr Petersen said.

Even Christchurch, one of the country’s more resilient housing markets this year, slipped 0.5% – its first negative quarterly result in 11 months.

Across the main urban areas, home values fell furthest this winter in Gisborne, down 5% over the three months to the end of August. Greymouth (-3.7%) and Hastings (-2.9%) also recorded larger-than-average declines.

However, there were still a handful of pockets of growth in the lower South Island. Queenstown led the main centres with a 1% quarterly increase, while home values inched 0.1% higher on average in both Timaru and Invercargill.

With spring just around the corner, Mr Petersen said the next few months would test whether the market had any real appetite to break out of its holding pattern.

“Spring usually brings more listings and more activity, but not necessarily more competition. If buyer confidence stays where it is, vendors may simply find themselves competing harder for the same pool of cautious purchasers.

“Last week’s OCR increase is another factor for buyers to weigh up, alongside the wider economic outlook. Household budgets are still under pressure, the election is getting closer, and buyers know they don’t need to rush.

“Unless something changes that equation, we could be in for a busier spring market without much upward pressure on prices,” he concluded.

Download a high resolution version of the latest QV value map here (https://mcusercontent.com/7ea78a69a1f7991bf60632008/images/6df4144a-5bdb-d835-0eef-e499ac583986.png).

Northland

The housing market remains a mixed bag in Ranfurly Shield country.

The Far North has recorded the largest decline this year, with its average home value down 2% to $688,147. That figure is also 1.3% lower annually.

Whangārei’s average home value has reduced by 1.8% since the start of the year to $727,224, although it remains 0.3% higher than the same time last year.

Kaipara continues to stand apart, with its average home value rising 2.8% so far this year to $844,636. Annually, it is virtually unchanged, down just 0.1%.

Auckland

Residential property values have gone overwhelmingly in one direction.

Values across the Auckland region reduced by an average of 2.7% over the three months to the end of August. That compares with declines of 0.7% and 2.2% in the three months to the end of June and July respectively.

Of the Super City’s seven former local council areas, values fell furthest in Auckland City, down 3.6% to an average of $1,332,229. That figure is now 3% lower than at the start of this year and 4.5% lower than at the same time last year.

The region’s southern fringes have proven somewhat more resilient, with Franklin (-0.8%), Papakura (-1%), and Manukau (-1.8%) recording smaller quarterly declines.

QV registered valuer Hugh Robson said prices had continued to fall in most suburbs.

“Auckland’s housing market remains subdued. Stock levels are high, giving buyers plenty of choice, while there is also a large number of new-build townhouses on the market and a high volume of building consents being processed.

“That suggests elevated stock levels are likely to persist for some time yet, which should continue to keep prices low or relatively stable.”

“First-home buyers remain the largest segment of the market, while the North Shore and Rodney are among the more resilient parts of the region. Inner-city suburbs have also been relatively stable.”

Bay of Plenty

Home values are down across the Bay of Plenty this quarter – but only just in Tauranga.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows the city’s average home value reduced by 0.3% to $1,049,067. That figure is still 1.5% higher than at the start of this calendar year and 2.3% higher than the same time last year.

Rotorua is the only other centre in the region where home values remain slightly higher than they were one year ago. Its average home value reduced by 1.9% this quarter to $672,961.

“House values continue to ebb and flow across the region from month to month,” said local QV registered valuer Damian Hall.

“Activity at the entry level remains strong, particularly among first-home buyers looking at properties up to $800,000. At the other end of the market, properties over $1.1m are generally taking a little longer to sell.

“The Bay of Plenty, and Tauranga in particular, appears to be holding up relatively well compared with many other parts of the North Island.”

Mr Hall said Papamoa remained particularly active.

“Properties in Papamoa are getting snapped up pretty quickly, with modern housing stock proving particularly appealing to buyers.

“The proposed toll road and on/off ramp is also creating quite a stir locally, with some concern about what it could mean for the new retail area at The Sands. It is looking likely to proceed towards the end of this year or early next year despite a number of local petitions opposing it.”

Waikato

Residential property values continue to decline at a slow but steady rate across the Waikato.

Values reduced by 1.6% over the three months to the end of August, matching the rate of decline recorded in July. The region’s average property value is now 2.1% lower than at the start of this calendar year and 0.6% lower annually.

Hamilton is bang on the regional average. Its average home value also reduced by 1.6% this quarter to $777,752, leaving it 2.2% lower than at the start of the year and 0.6% below the same time last year.

QV registered valuer Marshall Wu said sales volumes had eased and pricing momentum remained limited.

“The property market across Hamilton and surrounding townships remains relatively stable but subdued, with conditions continuing to favour buyers due to elevated listing levels and greater choice.

“First-home buyers remain active and are benefiting from improved affordability, increased stock levels, and stronger negotiating power.

“Investor activity has become more cautious amid uncertainty around interest rates, potential property tax changes, and the upcoming general election.”

He said limited price growth was expected in the near term, with affordability constraints, cautious lending conditions, persistent inflation, global economic uncertainty, and election-related sentiment continuing to weigh on activity.

Meanwhile, across the wider region, Waikato District (3.5%), South Waikato (1.7%), Waipā (1.2%), and Matamata-Piako (0.3%) remain in the black this calendar year.

“There are some early signs of improving market conditions in Waikato, Matamata-Piako, and Waipā, where average sale prices are now above the same time last year. This may indicate the early stages of a market recovery heading into spring,” Mr Wu concluded.

Hawke’s Bay

Residential property values have weakened at a slightly faster rate in Napier and Hastings this quarter.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows Napier’s average home value decreased by 1% to $743,856 over the three months to the end of August, compared with a 0.4% decline in the three months to the end of July.

In Hastings, the average home value decreased by 2.9% to $743,579, slightly faster than the 2.3% decline reported in our previous index.

Napier has also held up better annually, with its average home value just 0.3% lower than the same time last year, compared with a 4.8% annual decline in Hastings.

Taranaki

Residential property values have decreased again in New Plymouth.

The city’s average home is now worth $707,444, down 1.7% this quarter, and 1.6% lower than at the start of 2026.

Its neighbouring districts have held up better so far this year, with average home values still sitting 3% higher in Stratford and 1.2% higher in South Taranaki.

Manawatu

Property values remain relatively flat in Palmerston North, with a slight downward drift.

The city’s average home value reduced by 0.7% over the three months to the end of August, the same slow rate of decline as in the three months to the end of July. At $626,348, it is now 1.6% lower than at the start of 2026.

Across the wider Manawatū, only Rangitīkei (1.5%) and Manawatū District (0.1%) remain in the black this calendar year.

The average home value in Whanganui decreased by 1.3% to $510,599 this quarter. That figure is now 3.9% lower than at the start of this year.

Wairarapa

Carterton is a rare green arrow in this month’s QV House Price Index.

Its average home value increased by 0.8% this quarter to $589,979 and is the only district in the wider Wairarapa region where values are a fraction higher than at the same time last year.

Masterton’s average home value reduced by 2.2% this quarter to $564,165. That figure is now 2.8% lower annually.

In South Wairarapa, the average home value is now $723,041, down 2.6% for the quarter and 3.4% annually.

Wellington

The Wellington region has recorded its weakest quarterly result in almost two years.

Residential property values reduced by 3.2% on average across the greater region over the three months to the end of August, matching the quarterly decline recorded back in September 2024.

Home values fell furthest this winter in Porirua, down 4% over the three months to the end of August.

Kāpiti Coast recorded the smallest quarterly decline, with average home values down 2.1%.

Local QV registered valuer David Cornford said market activity had been relatively soft through August.

“The market remains weak, with buyers showing more caution since the start of the Middle East conflict amid greater uncertainty and higher interest rates.

“Stock levels also remain high as we head into spring, giving buyers plenty of choice and bargaining power.”

He said first-home buyers continued to be active, while movers were less prominent and investor activity remained limited.

“The investors who are active are very yield-focused. We’re also still seeing some flipping at the lower end of the market, where poorer-quality properties are being bought cheaply, renovated to a modest standard, and then on-sold relatively quickly, generally to first-home buyers.”

Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough

Market conditions remain subdued across the top of the South Island, with buyers continuing to hold the upper hand.

Home values have fallen furthest this winter in Marlborough, down 2.2% over the three months to the end of August.

In Nelson, the average home value reduced by 1.1% to $769,114, a slightly larger decline than in our previous index. That figure is now 2.6% lower than at the start of 2026 and 1% lower than at the end of winter last year.

The average home value in Tasman reduced by 1.3% to $814,342.

QV Nelson/Marlborough manager Craig Russell said most sales activity was still occurring below the $800,000 mark, with first-home buyers remaining the most active group in the market.

“Investors are largely holding back at the moment, with many waiting to see the outcome of the election before making any big decisions.

“The lifestyle market is also sluggish, with more properties available than there is demand for them.”

He noted that vendor enquiry had started to pick up heading into spring.

West Coast

Home values have reduced once more across the West Coast.

Our latest QV House Price Index shows average home values decreased by 5.4% across the wider region over the three months to the end of August. That compares with a 4.7% decrease over the three months to the end of July.

Of the three districts that make up the region, Westland recorded the largest quarterly decline at 6.8%, taking its average home value to $489,014. Despite that, values remain 1.7% higher than at the same time last year.

Grey District recorded a 3.7% quarterly decrease, taking its average home value to $452,888. That compares with a 5% decrease in our previous index, while values are now 1.3% lower annually.

Buller recorded a 6.7% decrease over the three months to the end of August, taking its average home value to $377,381. That compares with a 4% quarterly decline in our previous index, while values are now 1.1% lower annually.

Local QV registered valuer Rod Thornton said the West Coast market had been softer since around the middle of the year.

“The statistics show the West Coast market is subdued overall, which is in contrast to 2025 and early 2026 when there were consistent value lifts and the Coast was outperforming many other districts in this regard.

“While there is a wide mix of housing types, locations, price points and value drivers across the Coast, the statistics overall are reflecting what we’re seeing on the ground.”

Canterbury

Christchurch has slipped back into negative territory for the first time in 11 months, despite remaining one of the country’s more active housing markets.

The Garden City’s average home value reduced by 0.5% this quarter to $804,850 – its first quarterly decline since September last year. Values remain 1.7% higher than at the start of this calendar year and 4.4% higher than the same time last year.

It wasn’t the only decline across the wider Canterbury region, with average home values also reducing in Selwyn (-0.4%), Ashburton (-0.8%), and Mackenzie (-1.7%).

Hurunui recorded no movement this quarter, while Waimakariri bucked the regional trend with a modest 0.4% increase.

QV South Island professional services manager Michael Tohill said homes in Christchurch were selling at a quicker rate than the national average.

“First-home buyers remain the main force in the city, with many using KiwiSaver withdrawals to help purchase their properties. Investor demand, meanwhile, continues its slow structural decline, with fewer landlords buying new residential properties.

“The overall shift is increasingly toward a buyer’s market, giving purchasers more room to choose.”

He said Canterbury’s rental market was slightly more buoyant than the relatively flat national market and looked well poised for an active spring.

“Median rents remain steady at $580 per week, still 3% higher than last year, while properties are taking an average of 19 days to rent compared with 22 days nationally, according to Trade Me listing data.

“Student-targeted rentals for the 2027 academic year have likely been driving a good share of recent activity, with searches and listings in popular university-adjacent suburbs such as Ilam, Riccarton, Avonhead and Burnside spiking by up to 50%.”

Mr Tohill said market conditions in Selwyn and Waimakariri were broadly similar.

“Selwyn building consents are holding steady, with new major stages being released and house builders reporting good forward workloads.”

Otago

Residential property values continue to slowly zig and zag across the Otago region.

On the plus side of the ledger, average home values increased by 1% in Queenstown and 3.3% in Clutha.

Moving in the opposite direction were Waitaki (-2.3%), Central Otago (-1.6%), and Dunedin (-0.8%). The latter’s average home value is now $653,120, which is still 2.7% higher than at the start of 2026.

Southland

Gore was the pick of Southland’s districts this winter.

Its average home value increased by 1.1% to $474,696 in the three months to the end of August 2026.

Invercargill was largely flat, with its average home value inching just 0.1% higher this quarter to $547,087. That’s 3% higher than at the start of this year and 7.5% more than the same time last year.

Southland District moved in the opposite direction, recording a 2% average reduction this quarter.

You can check value changes over time in your region with QV’s interactive map on www.qv.co.nz/price-index/

The QV HPI uses a rolling three month collection of sales data, based on sales agreement date. This has always been the case and ensures a large sample of sales data is used to measure value change over time. Having agent and non-agent sales included in the index provides a comprehensive measure of property value change over the longer term.

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: World Literacy Foundation

8 September | International Literacy Day

AUSTRALIA — 4 September 2026

International Literacy Day should be a celebration of progress. However, for millions of children worldwide, it serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing literacy challenges that threaten their futures. This year marks 60 years since UNESCO established this day, and the theme for 2026 is “Literacy for People, the Planet, and Prosperity.”

The World Literacy Foundation is urging governments, organisations, and individuals to acknowledge literacy as one of the most pressing social and economic challenges confronting communities worldwide.

Australia is not exempt from the global literacy crisis. This year’s NAPLAN results showed a decline in reading scores for students in Years 5, 7, and 9, while the gap in performance based on location remains largely unchanged. Approximately 70 per cent of students in major city schools meet or exceed the expected reading standard, in stark contrast to only 23 per cent of students in very remote schools.

“Literacy is not simply about learning to read; it is about unlocking opportunities, reducing poverty, and enabling children to reach their full potential. Yet millions of young people still lack access to books and literacy support,” World Literacy Foundation CEO Andrew Kay stated.

Research consistently highlights the extensive consequences of low literacy, which contribute to unemployment, diminished workforce participation, lower productivity, and heightened social disadvantage.

Among the key concerns:

• The 2026 NAPLAN results revealed a decline in reading scores for students in Years 5, 7, and 9, with approximately one in ten Australian students requiring additional support (ACARA).
• Around 70 per cent of students in major city schools in Australia read at or above the expected standard, compared to just 23 per cent in very remote schools (ACARA, NAPLAN 2026).
• Globally, 739 million adults are unable to read or write (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
• In low- and middle-income countries, 70 per cent of 10-year-olds cannot read and comprehend a simple written text, an increase from 57 per cent before the pandemic (World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF).
• As a result, today’s students are projected to lose a combined total of $21 trillion in lifetime earnings, which is equivalent to 17 per cent of global GDP (World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF).

To commemorate the occasion, the World Literacy Foundation has launched the initiative “One Book at a Time”, encouraging people worldwide to donate $10 to provide a book to a child who does not own one.

“Receiving a book of their own can have a life-changing impact for many children,” stated Mr Kay. “A single book can ignite a lifelong passion for reading.”

The Foundation aims to reach 500,000 children who currently do not have any books, allowing donors to select the region to which their books will be sent.

Learn more

worldliteracyfoundation.org/international-literacy-day

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International trade: June 2026 quarter – information release

3 September 2026

International trade statistics provide information on imports and exports of goods and services between New Zealand and our trading partners.

Key facts

Quarterly goods and services by country

• Total exports of goods and services for the June 2026 quarter were $32.5 billion, up from $28.5 billion in the June 2025 quarter.
• Total imports of goods and services for the June 2026 quarter were $32.4 billion, up from $27.5 billion in the June 2025 quarter.
• The total two-way trade for the June 2026 quarter was $64.9 billion.

Trade dashboard survey

We want to hear from users of the New Zealand Trade Dashboard to help inform future improvements. Complete our Trade Dashboard user survey and tell us which features and information matter most to you.

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Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ says New Zealand’s economic recovery is gaining real traction – and the country now has a rare opening to put itself on a more competitive international footing for the capital, investment and skilled people every advanced economy is competing for.

Releasing its Election Priorities 2026, Building Tomorrow’s Economy, BusinessNZ has set out the constructive measures it says the next Government should adopt to build on that momentum rather than let it slip away.

They include lower and more competitive tax rates, including corporate taxes, and the indexation of personal income tax thresholds.

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said New Zealand has every reason to be optimistic about what comes next.

“We are a small country with an extraordinary record of innovation, entrepreneurship and international success, and the numbers back up our optimism. Export earnings surpassing $100 billion for the first time shows what our businesses can do, even in difficult times. Our task now is to build the settings that turn this momentum into a sustained, internationally competitive economy,” Ms Rich said.

Among the reasons for optimism: New Zealand’s economy grew nearly three times faster than Australia’s in the first three months of 2026 – GDP up 0.8 per cent in the March quarter, against Australia’s 0.3 per cent, according to Stats NZ and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

That gave New Zealand a window to compete with its trans-Tasman neighbour, and the rest of the world, if the next Government was prepared to seize it.

BusinessNZ’s election priorities report is drawn from the expertise of BusinessNZ’s economists, policy specialists and the experience of member businesses across the country.

The settings that will grow the economy

BusinessNZ chief economist John Pask said New Zealand is competing in an international market for capital, investment and skilled people – and the question is not whether recovery happens, but what kind of economy it builds.

“Capital is mobile. Highly skilled workers are mobile. Businesses considering where to establish their next operation, factory, data center or research facility have choices – and New Zealand cannot assume those choices will automatically favour us. But the current environment gives us a genuine opportunity to act, and we should grasp it,” Mr Pask said.

BusinessNZ’s growth agenda centers on three levers:

• A more competitive corporate tax rate – New Zealand’s 28 per cent rate sits well above the OECD average of 24.1 per cent. BusinessNZ is calling for a staged reduction, paired with continued reform of the Overseas Investment Act, to improve New Zealand’s ability to attract and retain internationally mobile capital.
• A more competitive R&D rebate – New Zealand’s R&D Tax Incentive, at 15 per cent, is internationally uncompetitive and business R&D spend (0.98 per cent of GDP) trails the OECD average (2 per cent) so significantly that, at current rates of progress, it would take roughly 75 years to close the gap. BusinessNZ wants the RDTI rate lifted to at least 25 per cent, with a higher rate of up to 50 per cent for firms partnering with local researchers.
• An energy strategy that delivers affordable, reliable and sustainable energy – with renewables already supplying 88.5 per cent of electricity generation in 2025, BusinessNZ wants an enduring National Energy Strategy that treats affordability, security and sustainability as a package, backed by clearer rules on natural gas, emerging fuels and long-term energy contracting.

Mr Pask said tax reform on its own will not transform New Zealand’s prospects. “A low-tax economy can still be a high-cost economy if businesses face unnecessary regulatory barriers. The real question for every policy should be: does this make New Zealand a more attractive place to invest, work and create? Together, these measures send an important signal – New Zealand is open for investment, values enterprise, and rewards work and achievement.”

BusinessNZ also wants personal income tax thresholds indexed to inflation or wage growth to end “fiscal drag,” and a systematic review of outdated thresholds – including the $60,000 GST registration threshold, unchanged since 2009 and now well below Australia’s AU$75,000 equivalent.

Staying the course on reform already under way

BusinessNZ says the single biggest risk to the recovery is not a lack of ideas but a lack of follow-through. The organisation is calling for continuity, not reinvention, across a reform programme already delivering results:

• Resource Management Act reform – the current consenting system costs major infrastructure projects an estimated $1.29 billion a year and now takes nearly twice as long as it did five years ago. BusinessNZ wants the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill enacted before this year’s election, with independent analysis showing the new regime could lift GDP by 0.56 per cent a year by 2050 (worth up to $3.1 billion annually), deliver $13.3 billion in savings over 30 years, and remove roughly 45 per cent of current consent requirements – between 15,000 and 22,000 fewer consents on 2023/24 volumes.
• Education reform – BusinessNZ wants the current curriculum and qualifications overhaul, including the replacement of NCEA with new upper-secondary qualifications and the embedding of structured literacy and numeracy, fully resourced and given time to bed in, rather than restarted.
• The Ministry for Regulation – for the first time, the scale of New Zealand’s regulatory system has been mapped, revealing complexity spread across more than 260 regulators. BusinessNZ wants the Ministry and the Regulatory Standards Act 2025 retained, resourced and reviewed on schedule, not unwound.
• Infrastructure – BusinessNZ is calling for a genuinely bipartisan approach to long-term infrastructure planning, with accountability across government agencies for delivering shared priorities, so investment decisions survive a change of government.
• Health and safety reform – current initiatives modernising health and safety regulation and reducing compliance burdens are backed as “positive steps” that should continue.
• Employment law modernisation – including the Employment Leave Act and related changes to minimum wage and holiday entitlement calculations – should proceed to reduce compliance complexity for salaried, incentive-based and variable-hours roles.

The BusinessNZ Election Priorities 2026 report will be available at BusinessNZ.org.nz once embargo lifts, 4am Thursday 3 September.

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

MIL OSI

Source: Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa

Making cervical screening free is a significant win in the battle to eliminate cervical cancer, Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa says.

“I’ve worked for 25 years in primary health care and I know, and the statistics confirm, that when there’s a cost, people will put off or opt out of testing,” chief executive Jackie Edmond says.

“Making cervical screening free, putting it on a par with bowel or breast screening, is a huge step forward in encouraging more people to test. And, as providers, this gives us another tool to encourage people to take a test that could save their life.”

We are an integral part of the screening community and well positioned to support expansion of the service. Family Planning, as we were then known, started offering cervical smears – at that time a radical practice – in 1957. The introduction of universally free cervical screening will come in 2027, meaning it will happen in our 70th year of being a screening provider.

“The cervical cancer elimination plan provides clear actions for the elimination of cervical cancer, and we have the capability, capacity and positioning in the sector to deliver across all of the three targets of vaccines, screening and treatment,” Ms Edmond says. “For example, we know that through our clinical, health promotion and work online, we reach many people who have never had a cervical screen or are overdue for a cervical screen – many of whom are not seeing any other primary care provider. We are meeting with young people in our clinics and in communities across the country who are precisely those who need the information and services.”

“In the year to 1 September, across our clinics we completed 10,592 cervical screens and HPV tests. We are the country’s largest single cervical screening organisation. There are many other ways we are able to support free screening too. For example, we offer an at-home HPV test free for eligible people. Since launch in March this year and with no promotion, we’ve mailed out more than 590 HPV tests. If cost were removed as a barrier we could expand and promote this service far more broadly, bringing the opportunity to test close to home for so many people.”

MIL OSI

Annual number of home consents up 21 percent – news story

2 September 2026

There were 40,908 new homes consented in New Zealand in the year ended July 2026, up 21 percent compared with the year ended July 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

This was an increase of just over 7,000 homes from the 33,879 consented in the previous July year.

“Annual home consent numbers have continued to strengthen in recent months, with increases in both stand-alone houses and multi-unit homes,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.

There were 18,884 stand-alone houses consented in the year ended July 2026, up 20 percent compared with the previous year.

There were 22,024 multi-unit homes consented, up 21 percent over the same period.

MIL OSI

Source: Ki tua o Matariki

A new nationwide campaign is inviting whānau to share their experiences of the support-or lack of support-around them following the arrival of their pēpi (baby).

The village we needed when pēpi arrived is a research and advocacy collaboration between lived-experience Māori maternal mental health rōpū Hine ki te Wheiao and Māori research group Wāhi Kōrero.

Kairangahau Hauora Māori, Felicity Ware (Ngāpuhi), says the campaign aims to gather hundreds of diverse, anonymous stories from māmā, pāpā, kaumātua, aunties, uncles and others across the pā harakeke (family unit). “We can see that the village around young families in Aotearoa is changing, and we know from our maternal mental health statistics that many māmā are struggling. While its well established how incredibly protective social support can be in those early years, we know much less about the realities of that day to day support for whānau today. Our campaign is asking what do the people and places around whānau actually look like when pēpi arrive and was it what they need?”

The campaign comes at a time when suicide continues to be a leading cause of maternal death in Aotearoa, against a backdrop of housing and cost-of-living pressures that are placing increasing strain on whānau with young pēpi. The Ministry of Social Development’s latest Child Poverty Report 2026 shows that poverty is falling heaviest on tamariki Māori. One in four-or around 77,000-tamariki Māori are growing up in whānau that cannot afford basic essentials, up from around 19 percent five years ago. Among all tamariki living in private rentals, 40 percent are unable to afford the basics, even after receiving government assistance.

Lizzie Strickett, Hine ki te Wheiao, says she is excited about the possibility of whānau lived experience contributing to systems change: “Whānau have huge aspirations for themselves and their tamariki. They know what strong support could look like within their own whānau and communities, and we think there is no better time than now where decisions are being made about the future of health, housing and social support in our country, to listen and act on the solutions they are offering us”.

Stories can be shared anonymously through Wāhi Kōrero and may reflect positive, difficult or mixed experiences. Whānau do not need to have experienced postnatal depression or accessed mental health services to take part. The stories will help build a clearer picture of what whānau need during the first 2,000 days of a child’s life. Findings will be used to inform advocacy in whānau-centred policy, services and investment across health, housing and social services.

Whānau can share their story anonymously at https://wahikorero.co.nz/projects/the-village-we-needed-when-pepi-arrived/

MIL OSI

Source: Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Theme of Belonging Matters announced for 12-18 October

AOTEAROA, NEW ZEALAND – The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (MHF) has announced the details for Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, running nationwide from 12 – 18 October. This year’s theme, Belonging Matters, invites schools, workplaces, and communities across Aotearoa to focus on small, everyday moments of connection that foster a genuine sense of inclusion and boost mental wellbeing.

Grounded in the whakataukī Ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au – I am you, and you are me, the 2026 theme comes at a crucial time. Recent research highlights a growing challenge across Aotearoa of rising loneliness¹, declining trust² and only 53% of New Zealanders feeling that their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community³. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week champions a simple truth: nurturing a sense of belonging is one of the most powerful protective factors for our mental health.

“Humans are social beings and being able to spend time with one another, connect and feel that we belong, is vital for our mental and emotional health. Connection works at many levels, whānau, friends, workplaces, schools, community, country. It is a two-way street, we need to reach out and we need to invite people in. This all builds connectedness, belonging, trust and wellbeing,” says Shaun Robinson, Chief Executive of the MHF.

Whether at school, work, or in local neighbourhoods, finding small ways to connect can make a world of difference. Belonging Matters because feeling connected to others reduces loneliness, strengthens self-confidence, and can provide valuable social support during hard times. From checking in on a mate and making time for a kōrero to reaching out to someone new, every action helps build stronger, more resilient communities.

Free downloadable resources and ideas for Mental Health Awareness Week are available now at mhaw.nz.

The details:

• What: Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 – Belonging Matters
• When: 12-18 October 2026
• Where: Everywhere across Aotearoa
• Action: Reach out, kōrero, connect, host an event for your school, workplace, or community
• More info, how to get involved and free resources: Visit mhaw.nz

NOTES:

About Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week has been run annually by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand since 1993. It is a dedicated week for individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities to celebrate and focus on mental health and wellbeing. The campaign reaches hundreds of thousands of people across Aotearoa each year, encouraging positive mental health practices and fostering supportive environments.

Research & insights about belonging in Aotearoa

• Community cohesion: Only 53% of New Zealanders agree that their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community.³
• Foundational to wellbeing: A strong sense of belonging in schools, workplaces, and communities is directly linked to better mental wellbeing, including higher confidence, resilience, and life satisfaction.
• Protective factor: Social connection and community trust are recognised as some of the strongest protective factors against mental distress and loneliness.
• Impact of exclusion: Experiences of exclusion have a direct negative impact on wellbeing, particularly among rangatahi/young people, recent migrants, sole parents, and rainbow communities.
• Everyday connection: International research shows that performing small, weekly acts of connection and kindness in local neighbourhoods significantly reduces feelings of loneliness and strengthens community bonds.
• Collective responsibility: Belonging and hope grow through safe, inclusive shared experiences, trusted places, and collective action.

References:

1. Stats NZ. (2023). Wellbeing statistics: 2023.
2. Edelman. (2026). Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report.
3. Helen Clark Foundation. (2026). Social cohesion in New Zealand 2026.

About the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Established in 1977, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand is a charity that works towards creating a society free from discrimination, where all people enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing. The Foundation delivers a wide range of evidence-based mental health and wellbeing programmes, campaigns, and resources for schools, workplaces, and communities across Aotearoa.

MIL OSI

– 27 August 2026 – The Middle East’s EV market is growing quickly, but it remains far from saturated. Electric car sales in the region reached about 75,000 units in 2025, up more than 40% year on year, according to the International Energy Agency[1]. The UAE alone accounted for almost half of regional EV sales, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar together represented nearly 45% of regional demand.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: Morningstar DBRS

August 23, 2026

DBRS, Inc. (Morningstar DBRS) confirmed New Zealand’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency – Issuer Ratings at AAA. At the same time, Morningstar DBRS confirmed New Zealand’s Short-Term Foreign and Local Currency – Issuer Ratings at R-1 (high). The trend on all credit ratings is Stable.

KEY CREDIT RATING CONSIDERATIONS

New Zealand’s AAA credit ratings are underpinned by the country’s fundamental strengths, including its effective policy frameworks, strong central bank credibility, and robust governing institutions. Although the public debt-to-GDP ratio has risen in recent years amid successive shocks, the debt burden remains moderate relative to other advanced economies. The government is pursuing a gradual fiscal consolidation strategy, and New Zealand benefits from a longstanding cross-party commitment to prudent fiscal management, thereby limiting election-related uncertainty around the consolidation path. New Zealand’s small and open economy is vulnerable to external shocks, but the country’s structural strengths, including a flexible exchange rate, provide substantial buffers.

The Stable trend reflects Morningstar DBRS’ expectation that New Zealand’s fundamental strengths will support an economic recovery over the next few years and that the government will make progress with its fiscal consolidation plan. The economy began to recover last year, supported by strong export commodity prices and accommodative monetary policy. The U.S.-Iran war temporarily dampened growth momentum early this year, as higher energy prices renewed inflationary pressures and weighed on domestic demand. In addition, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s (RBNZ) started to withdraw monetary stimulus, raising the OCR by 25 bps to 2.50% in July. Morningstar DBRS anticipates further hikes to bring inflation back to target, while spare capacity should also help contain underlying price pressures. The IMF expects the recovery to pick up in the second half of this year, with growth of 2.0% in 2026 and 2.7% in 2027, supported by strong primary exports and a recovery in domestic demand as the energy shock fades.

CREDIT RATING DRIVERS The credit ratings could be downgraded due to one or a combination of the following factors: (1) absence of fiscal consolidation over the medium term, or (2) a severe financial or external shock, leading to a prolonged deterioration in growth prospects.

CREDIT RATING RATIONALE

Gradual Fiscal Consolidation Underway, But Further Delays Remain a Risk

New Zealand’s fiscal deficit remains elevated following the pandemic and a period of subdued growth, but the government is pursuing a gradual, expenditure-led fiscal consolidation as the economy recovers. The government’s preferred fiscal measure OBEGALx (the operating balance before gains and losses excluding Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) revenue and expenses) is estimated to have widened to a 2.6% of GDP deficit in FY25-26, from 2.1% in FY24-25. This higher deficit reflects weak cyclical tax revenue, increased benefits and pension payments, and higher debt servicing costs. In general government terms, the IMF projects a fiscal deficit of 3.9% in 2026. Successive economic shocks have delayed the consolidation, but the government is also phasing the adjustment to avoid constraining the economic recovery. The government projects the deficit will modestly narrow to 2.4% in FY26-27, before declining more quickly and shifting to a small surplus in FY28-29. Expenditure restraint is expected to lead the fiscal improvement, with stronger growth and bracket creep also supporting revenues. Nevertheless, the backloaded nature of the adjustment leaves the consolidation path vulnerable to downside risks. Softer near-term growth, rising social spending, and higher borrowing costs could slow fiscal repair, while growing defence and demographic spending pressures may make sustained expenditure restraint increasingly difficult.

Amid higher fiscal deficits, government debt has increased. New Zealand’s general government gross debt-to-GDP ratio rose from 32% in 2019 to 55% in 2025. The IMF projects the debt ratio will peak at 58% in 2027 and 2028 and then marginally decline, reaching 55% in 2030. New Zealand’s debt ratio remains moderate compared to other advanced economies, and the projected downward trajectory would help strengthen the credit profile. Sustaining sufficient fiscal buffers will be important to preserve the government’s capacity to respond to future shocks without materially weakening debt dynamics or fiscal sustainability. The debt profile is also supported by New Zealand’s sizeable Crown assets in the form of state-owned enterprises, the Superannuation Fund, and the ACC’s investment fund. According to the IMF, New Zealand’s net debt ratio stood at 26% of GDP in 2025, one of the lowest among advanced economies. The interest cost-to-GDP ratio also remains low relative to peers, supported by New Zealand’s moderate debt burden and substantial public sector financial assets.

RBNZ Begins Withdrawing Monetary Stimulus Amid Renewed Inflation; Housing Market Remains Subdued

The RBNZ has started to withdraw monetary accommodation in response to renewed inflation pressures. Prior to the U.S.-Iran war, headline inflation was slightly above target, reflecting persistent administered and other non-tradables price pressures. However, higher petrol and diesel prices lifted annual headline inflation to 4.1% in the second quarter, compared with 2.9% excluding fuel. Headline inflation has likely peaked and should ease as the energy shock fades and the pass-through to other prices remains limited. In July, the RBNZ raised the OCR by 25 bps to 2.50% to limit second-round effects. The increase represents a withdrawal of stimulus, rather than a shift to restrictive policy. The RBNZ expects inflation to ease towards the 2% midpoint in mid-2027, with subdued demand and a soft labour market supporting disinflation.

New Zealand’s housing market remains subdued following the sharp post-pandemic correction. House prices surged during the pandemic due to strong demand, fiscal stimulus, and low interest rates, before tighter financing conditions sparked a sizeable correction in 2022 and 2023. House prices have since broadly stabilized and remain about 13% below the 2021 peak (to the fourth quarter of 2025). However, more recently, renewed softness has emerged as the prospect of higher borrowing costs, economic uncertainty, and weaker growth weigh on demand. Increased listings relative to subdued buyer demand are limiting upward price pressure, even as New Zealand continues to face a longer-term housing supply shortage.

Financial stability risks related to the housing market appear contained. Non-performing loans and mortgage arrears have declined from their recent peaks. While mortgage holders have recently refixed at lower rates, the RBNZ expects this trend to reverse, with borrowing refixing at higher rates on average by March 2027 as financial conditions tighten. Relatively short fixed-rate mortgages are prevalent in New Zealand, which accelerate the transmission of interest rate changes to households. Most mortgage borrowers appear well-positioned to manage higher mortgage payments. Even if loan losses were to rise, the banking sector has strong buffers to absorb increases. Banks are well-capitalized, profitable, and liquid, while macroprudential measures help contain riskier mortgage lending. Even under more adverse conditions, New Zealand’s financial system should remain sound, and banks’ robust balance sheets and profitability should continue to support lending to the private sector.

Solid Medium-Term Growth Prospects Despite External Vulnerabilities

New Zealand has a strong record of economic growth, with real GDP expanding by an average pace of 2.8% per year between 1990 and 2019. Structural reforms implemented in the 1980s and early 1990s transformed the Kiwi economy from a highly regulated and protected system into a more open and competitive economy. Rapid growth in China also supported the expansion through strong demand for New Zealand’s commodity exports and services, particularly tourism. Although growth is likely to moderate from the pace recorded over the past 30 years, medium-term growth prospects remain comparatively solid. The IMF estimates potential growth at 2.2%, above most advanced-economy peers. Comparatively weak labour productivity levels, however, continue to constrain the outlook. Additionally, New Zealand’s small, open economy remains vulnerable to external and environmental shocks, including commodity price volatility, tourism downturns, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

New Zealand has run current account deficits for decades, largely due to a negative income and transfer balance. The current account deficit peaked at 9.0% of GDP in 2022 as strong import demand, weak tourism, and deteriorating terms of trade widened the trade deficit. Since then, the current account deficit narrowed, reaching 3.7% of GDP in the first quarter of 2026 (on a rolling 4 quarter basis). The improvement reflects stronger external demand, improved terms of trade, and weak import demand, all of which have helped to bring the trade deficit close to balance. Morningstar DBRS expects the current account deficit to slightly widen this year due to higher energy-related import costs, before narrowing gradually over the medium term. New Zealand’s small and open economy in tandem with its persistent current account deficit makes it vulnerable to external shocks. However, exchange rate flexibility continues to help the Kiwi economy adjust to evolving global conditions. While New Zealand’s net international liability position remains elevated at 43% of GDP (at the end of the first quarter of 2026), it has improved in recent years, and balance sheet risks from currency volatility appear limited. These mitigating factors, together with substantial net errors and omissions in New Zealand’s balance of payments statistics, support Morningstar DBRS’ one-category adjustment to the ‘Balance of Payments’ building block assessment.

Strong Governing Institutions Underpin New Zealand’s AAA Credit Ratings

New Zealand’s robust institutions and stable political environment are fundamental strengths of the sovereign credit profile. New Zealand is a stable, parliamentary democracy with effective governing institutions. The political environment is characterized by strong rule of law, low levels of corruption, and high regulatory quality. For over 80 years, governments have formed around either the Labour or National Party, reflecting the stability of New Zealand’s party system. New Zealand’s proportional voting system commonly results in coalition governments, requiring cooperation among coalition partners to pass legislation.

General elections will be held in early November, with the incumbent centre-right National-led government seeking a second term. The National Party governs in coalition with ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First, holding a combined total of 67 out of 122 seats. Polling for the upcoming election remains tight between the two major parties, leaving support of smaller parties likely pivotal for the next government’s formation. Economic conditions, cost-of-living pressures, and fiscal management remain the key issues shaping the current political landscape.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS

There were no Environmental, Social, or Governance factors that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

A description of how Morningstar DBRS considers ESG factors within the Morningstar DBRS analytical framework can be found in the Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Credit Ratings (July 20, 2026) https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/485522 [1].

For more information on the Rating Committee decision, please see the Scorecard Indicators and Building Block Assessments at https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/487780 [2].

Notes: All figures are in New Zealand dollars unless otherwise noted. Public finance statistics reported on a general government basis unless specified.

MIL OSI

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Source: Earth Sciences New Zealand

July 2026 – Issued: 4 August 2026

July 2026 summary

July 2026 began on a settled note, with high pressure resulting in widespread clear weather and frosty conditions, particularly for southern and central parts of the South Island. A brief warm northerly airflow delivered record and near-record high daily maximum and minimum temperatures for southern and inland parts of the South Island. From 5-9 July, a broad area of low pressure prevailed over and east of Aotearoa New Zealand, delivering consecutive days of considerable rainfall to eastern parts of the country. Significant impacts resulted from the rain including damaging flooding, with a local State of Emergency declared in Waitaki, Kaikōura, and Wairoa, respectively (see Highlights and extreme events for further details). The middle and latter portion of July was often settled across the country, with a cool southerly airflow prevailing over the final week of the month. El Niño conditions were present in the tropical Pacific atmosphere and ocean, and by all measures the event strengthened during the month – including the strongest atmospheric measurements on record for July. By the end of July, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) around New

Zealand were mostly near or above average, particularly around much of the South Island and Tasman Sea with Marine Heatwave (MHW) conditions1 experienced in these areas. The nationwide average temperature in July 2026 was 8.9°C. This was 0.8°C above the 1991-2020 July average, making it New Zealand’s 12th-warmest July since Earth Sciences New Zealand’s seven station temperature series began in 1909. Temperatures were above average (0.51-1.20°C above average) or well above average (>1.20°C above average) for most of the South Island. It was especially warm for Fiordland, Arthur’s Pass, and Greymouth where mean temperatures were at least 2°C above the July average, respectively. Temperatures were near average (±0.50°C of average) for much of the North Island, although there were below average temperatures (0.51- 1.20°C below average) in localised inland parts of Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. It was a particularly cool month in Taupō where the mean temperature was 1.1°C below average. Rainfall was above normal (120-149% of normal) or well above normal (>149% of normal) for most of Southland, Otago, southern, inland and northern parts of Canterbury, the West Coast, Marlborough, and Nelson. Several areas observed more than double their normal July rainfall including eastern Otago, and eastern parts of southern and northern Canterbury. Rainfall was below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal) most of the North Island. Further Highlights:

• The highest temperature was 20.4°C, observed at Wairoa on 15 July.

• The lowest temperature was -13.5°C, observed at Lake Tekapo on 12 July.

• The highest 1-day rainfall was 133 mm, recorded at Hanmer Forest on 6 July.

• The highest wind gust was 141 km/h, observed at Puysegur Point on 14 July, and Cape Turnagain on 18 July.

• Of the six main centres in July 2026, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch was the coolest and driest, Tauranga was the sunniest, Wellington was the wettest, and Dunedin was the least sunny.

• The sunniest four locations in 2026 so far are Nelson (1608 hours), Whakatāne (1587 hours), New Plymouth (1578 hours) and Richmond (1520 hours).

Temperature: A warm month for the South Island

Five locations along the western South Island observed their warmest July on record, including Greymouth and Milford Sound, where records date back to 1947 and 1934, respectively. New Zealand’s warmest location relative to normal was Arapito, where the mean temperature of 10.6°C was 2.4°C above its July normal. No locations observed record or near-record low mean temperatures for the month. Relatively calm and clear conditions prevailed over the North Island 1 Defined as five or more consecutive days with SSTs above the 90th percentile for the time of year.

for much of July. This resulted in many cool and frosty nights, especially for inland locations. Five North Island locations observed record or near-record low mean minimum temperatures during the month. Record2 or near-record mean air temperatures for July were recorded at:

Record or near-record mean air temperatures for July

² The rankings (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.) in all tables in this summary are relative to climate data from a group of nearby stations, some of which may no longer be operating. The current climate value is compared against all values from any member of the group, without any regard for homogeneity between one station’s record, and another. This approach is used due to the practical limitations of performing homogeneity checks in real-time.

Record or near-record mean maximum air temperatures for July were recorded at:

Record or near-record mean maximum air temperatures for July

Record or near-record mean minimum air temperatures for July

Rainfall: Wet for much of South Island, dry for the North Island

About 33% of New Zealand’s regularly reporting climate stations observed above normal (120- 149% of normal) or well above normal (>149% of normal) July rainfall. Notably, these stations were all located in the South Island. New Zealand’s wettest location relative to normal was Dunedin Airport, where 445% of normal July rainfall was recorded. This made it the location’s wettest July since records began in 1962. Rainfall was also exceptionally high in Oamaru, with the town receiving 400% of its normal July rainfall. In contrast, about 44% of New Zealand’s regularly reporting climate stations observed below normal (50-79% of normal) or well below normal (<50% of normal) July rainfall. All but one of these stations were in the North Island. It was a particularly dry month for Tūrangi, where just 55 mm of rain (36% of its July normal) was recorded. This resulted in the town’s third-driest July since records began in 1968. Record or near-record July rainfall totals were recorded at:

Record or near-record July rainfall totals

July climate in the six main centres

Temperatures were well above average in Dunedin, with above average temperatures in Wellington. In contrast, it was a relatively cool month for Hamilton and Auckland, where temperatures were 0.6°C and 0.5°C below average, respectively. It was a very wet July for Dunedin where rainfall was 231% of normal. The three northernmost main centres experienced a relatively dry July, with rainfall totals approximately half of normal for the time of year. Of the six main centres in July 2026, Auckland was the warmest, Christchurch was the coolest and driest, Tauranga was the sunniest, Wellington was the wettest, and Dunedin was the least sunny. July 2026 main centre climate statistics:

July 2026 main centre climate statistics – Temperature

July 2026 main centre climate statistics – Rainfall

July 2026 main centre climate statistics – Sunshine

¹ Māngere; ² Tauranga Airport; ³ Hamilton Airport; ⁴ Kelburn; ⁵ Christchurch Airport; ⁶ Musselburgh; ⁷ Ruakura. Hamilton rainfall is missing five days of data.

Highlights and extreme events

Temperatures

The highest temperature was 20.4°C, observed at Wairoa on 15 July. The lowest temperature was -13.5°C, observed at Lake Tekapo on 12 July. Record or near-record daily maximum air temperatures for July were recorded at:

Record or near-record daily maximum air temperatures for July

Record or near-record daily minimum air temperatures for July

Rain, flooding, and slips

The highest 1-day rainfall was 133 mm, recorded at Hanmer Forest on 6 July. From 5-9 July, a broad area of low pressure was present over and near New Zealand, delivering consecutive days of rainfall impacts to eastern parts of the country. The primary impacts are listed in chronological order below:

• From 5-6 July, persistent heavy rain caused surface flooding for eastern parts of Otago including Dunedin, Mosgiel, and Oamaru. Waitaki District Council declared a State of Emergency, with flooding affecting homes and businesses along Thames Street in central Oamaru. At least 20 people self-evacuated their homes in Oamaru, with reports of emergency crews responding to people trapped in cars and homes by floodwaters. The Taieri Bowling Club in Mosgiel was opened as an evacuation centre and several families had self-evacuated there. Flooding caused the closure of SH88 from Sawyers Bay to Port Chalmers, SH87 from Factory Road to Cargill Street in Mosgiel, several local roads in the Clutha District, SH1 between Oamaru and Glenavy, and SH83 between Seven Mile Road and SH1.

• From 6-8 July, heavy rainfall impacted eastern parts of Canterbury, and Marlborough. A State of Emergency was declared in Kaikōura as the Kowhai River burst its banks, with an evacuation centre set up for approximately 80 people who were displaced by flooding. SH1 was closed between Ward and Waipara due to flooding, with considerable sections of the highway eroded away by the Conway River between Parnassus and Hundalee. A section of the Cribb Creek Bridge on the Inland Kaikōura Road was washed away, and two vehicles were accidentally driven off the bridge and into the river below. A person was rescued from their car after spending several hours trapped in a vehicle surrounded by floodwaters near Mt Lyford. Part of Hanmer Springs was cut off after flooding damage caused the closure of Woodbank Road bridge. Flooding of the Ōpaoa River in Blenheim led to evacuation of people staying in caravans at the Blenheim Bridges Holiday Park. In Wairarapa, three bridges (Waihenga, Lower Valley and Huangarua) were closed due to heavy rain from 7-8 July, isolating some communities in the region’s south.

• On 8 July, another burst of heavy rain hit eastern parts of Otago, and SH1 was again closed between Oamaru and Glenavy due to flooding. Surface flooding was also reported

on SH83 from Pukeuri to Kurow, and SH82 from Kurow to Waimate. At least eight homes were evacuated in Dunedin due to possible landslips, while three homes were evacuated in Oamaru due to a landslip. Farther north, the Inland Route 70 was closed between Kaikōura and Rotheram (SH7) due to flooding and washouts.

• On 9 July, areas of Hawke’s Bay received heavy rainfall as the area of low pressure moved east of New Zealand, continuing to drive a moist southeasterly airflow over eastern parts of the country. A local State of Emergency was declared in Wairoa following considerable flooding across the district. The Wairoa River flooded, prompting the evacuation of residents from low-lying areas in Wairoa. Roads were closed due to surface flooding and debris including SH38 from Frasertown to Tuai and SH2 at Turiroa Cutting, while 15 streets were closed in the Wairoa township.

On 24 July, SH7 was closed from Greymouth to Stillwater due to surface flooding. On 25 July, a heavy downpour of rain caused surface flooding in parts of Wellington. In Kelburn, 36 mm of rain was recorded in one hour between 9-10 a.m. Preliminary analyses indicate this is the fifth-wettest hour on record at Kelburn. Record or near-record July extreme 1-day rainfall totals were recorded at:

Record or near-record July extreme 1-day rainfall totals

Wind

The highest wind gust was 141 km/h, observed at Puysegur Point on 14 July, and Cape Turnagain on 18 July. From 6-7 July, strong southeasterly winds occurred for northern and western parts of the South Island. Concrete power poles near Harihari snapped due to the strength of the wind, while downed power lines caused power outages in several areas of the South Island. Specifically, around 260 homes were without power between Lake Ianthe to Lake Parinha, and some in the Haupiri area. Nearly 400 homes were also without power in Kaikōura. Twenty homes in the outer Marlborough Sounds were without power near Clova and Beatrix Bay. Several roads were closed due to strong winds and fallen trees including SH6 from Whataroa to Harihari, SH6 from Haast to

Fox Glacier, and SH63 from Kawatiri to Howard (Tasman District). Farther north, power outages also occurred in parts of Wellington. Record or near-record July extreme wind gusts were recorded at:

Record or near-record July extreme wind gusts

Snow and ice

On 1 July, widespread frost and icy conditions caused issues across many South Island roads. Dunedin’s Southern Motorway (SH1) was temporarily closed to southbound traffic from the Riselaw Rd overbridge due to an accident. Other accidents were reported on roads about Roxburgh, Cromwell, and Lumsden. SH8 was closed between Lake Tekapo and Omarama due to black ice. On 2 July, black ice was reported across Dunedin, with Dunedin City Council urging residents to take care on roads and footpaths. Dunedin’s Southern Motorway (SH1) was again closed to southbound traffic near the Riselaw Rd overbridge due to an accident. NZTA warned motorists to take extra care due to ice on SH1 between Dunedin and Palmerston, SH85 between Palmerston and Kyeburn, SH87 between Kyeburn and Mosgiel, SH8 between Milton and Raes Junction, and SH8 from Lake Tekapo to Twizel. From 5-6 July, there was widespread snowfall above approximately 500 m elevation across inland parts of the South Island. Heaviest snowfalls occurred about eastern and northern parts of Central Otago including the Maniototo and about the Lindis Pass, Mt Cook Village, and Lake Tekapo. ESNZ’s monitoring station measured a peak snow depth of 25 cm at Mt Cook village, with similar snow depths reported at Lake Tekapo, Oturehua, St Bathans, and Naseby. Snow damage to powerlines left about 300 customers without power in Clarks Junction, Hindon, Redbank, Ranfurly, Waipiata-Kyeburn and Middlemarch-Bald Hill. Snow caused the closure of numerous roads in the South Island including SH87 from Outram to Kyeburn, SH85 from Alexandra to Palmerston, the Ranfurly-Naseby Road, St Bathans Loop Road, Ida Valley-Omakau Road, Danseys Pass Road from Naseby, SH8 from Tarras to Omarama (the Lindis Pass), and SH8 from Lake Pukaki to Fairlie. On 8 July, snow fell to approximately 300 m above sea level in eastern parts of Central Otago, with heavy snowfall about the eastern ranges and inland areas of Canterbury. Snow and ice caused the closure of SH85 from Kyeburn and Morrisons, SH87 from Kyeburn and Middlemarch, and SH8 from Fairlie to Twizel. Extreme caution was advised to motorists travelling on SH85 from Kyeburn and Springvale, and SH8 from Tarras to Omarama (the Lindis Pass), due to snow and ice. On 25 July, snow was reported in several Canterbury towns including Darfield, Methven, and Glentunnel. Chains were required for vehicles travelling on SH73 between Springfield and Castle

Hill (Porters Pass) due to snow. Farther south, several centimetres of snow reportedly settled in Naseby and Oturehua, with approximately 1 cm of snow reported in Winton. On 31 July, snow caused the closure of SH85 from Palmerston to Kyeburn, and SH87 between Kyeburn and Outram. Snow also impacted highways farther north in the South Island. SH7 was closed from Reefton to Springs Junction turnoff (Rahu Saddle) and from Springs Junction to Hanmer Springs turnoff (Lewis Pass). Chains were required on vehicles travelling from Arthur’s Pass Village to Otira.

Lightning, hail, and tornadoes

On 6 July, a home in Whangamatā suffered considerable damage after being struck by lightning.

Cloud and fog

On 15 July, 17 flights were delayed or cancelled at Auckland airport due to fog. On 20 July, fog at Auckland airport caused the cancellation of 21 domestic flights, with a further 13 domestic flights delayed. On 23 July, flights at Auckland and Hamilton airports were cancelled or delayed due to fog.

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