2025 balance of payments and national accounts: Data sources and methods – Stats NZ methods paper

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September 15, 2025

2025 balance of payments and national accounts: Data sources and methods

15 September 2025

This page explains the revisions to the data sources and methods that will be included in the balance of payments and the revised series that will be inputs into the annual national accounts releases for 2025.

We make revisions annually, in line with international best practice, to ensure the statistics continue to reflect our changing world.

Regular annual revisions include:

updates to international trade
updates reflecting tax returns
updates to Quarterly International Investment Survey
seasonal adjustment.

Visit our website to read this methods paper:

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Electronic card transactions: August 2025 – Stats NZ information release

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September 15, 2025

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Electronic card transactions: August 2025 – information release

12 September 2025

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 2025 month
Changes in the value of electronic card transactions for the August 2025 month (compared with July 2025) were:

spending in the retail industries increased 0.7 percent ($45 million)
spending in the core retail industries increased 0.9 percent ($55 million).

Visit our website to read this information release and to download CSV files:

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Asian ethnic population projected to increase – National ethnic population projections: 2023(base)–2048 – Stats NZ news story and information release

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September 15, 2025

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Asian ethnic population projected to increase – news story

11 September 2025

Around 33 percent of Aotearoa New Zealand’s population are likely to identify with Asian ethnicities in 2048, up from 19 percent in 2023, according to projections released by Stats NZ today.

Within the broad Asian grouping, those identifying with Indian ethnicities are projected to increase from 7 percent of New Zealand’s population in 2023 to around 12 percent in 2048. Over the same period, those identifying with Chinese ethnicities are projected to increase from 6 percent to around 8 percent.

The projections also indicate above average growth of the populations identifying with Māori, Pacific, and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African (MELAA) ethnicities over the next two decades. This continues the demographic trends of recent decades.

Visit our website to read this news story and information release:

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Police prevention planning pays dividends at West Auckland mall

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September 15, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police

An offender allegedly single-handedly responsible for $90,000 in retail crime offending has been arrested in an operation.

Police made the arrest late last week as part of a prevention operation at Lynnmall.

The 25-year-old man was located by the Area Prevention Unit who were working during late night shopping on Thursday.

Inspector Kelly Farrant, Area Prevention Manager for Waitematā West, says the man is facing 26 shoplifting charges and two burglary charges.

“The man was a person of interest in our operation and was spotted by staff just after 7.30pm, as he was wanted in connection with around $90,000 in offending.”

The charges relate to shoplifting and burglary charges in Mt Albert, Henderson, Auckland and New Lynn between April and September 2025.

The man has been remanded in custody and will appear in Waitākere District Court on 23 September.

“This is the result of great teamwork, intuition and planning,” Inspector Farrant says. “Our Area Prevention team will continue running operations that protect hard working business owners from the devastating and costly consequences of retail crime.”

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police

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Agriculture News – New bovine TB movement control area urgently created – OSPRI

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September 15, 2025

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Source: OSPRI New Zealand

New livestock movement restrictions are being introduced in a part of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.

The new ‘movement control area’ covers Tarras, Lindis Valley, the upper Manuherekia and the top end of Ida Valley. It comes into effect on October 1.

Disease eradication agency OSPRI has sent advice on the new movement controls to all farms or lifestyle blocks with deer or cattle in the affected area, about 110 properties.

Being in a movement control area means all cattle and deer over three months old must be TB tested within 60 days of being moved. Only animals going directly to slaughter do not require a test.

Otago’s OSPRI farmer committee chair, Vanessa Hore, is encouraging all farmers to take the time to read the information provided and understand the risks.

“I know some farmers will find it challenging operating their businesses under these conditions, but most of us are familiar with farming in a Movement Control Area.

“There is nothing simple about fighting bovine TB, and the possums that carry it; so we have to do, what we have to do.

“Restricting movement of animals in this area is a precautionary measure, we need to limit the potential opportunities for the disease to spread to other areas,” Vanessa says.

There are 15 herds infected with bovine TB in New Zealand, a third of these are in the Otago region, where the disease is known to be circulating in wildlife.

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Charges laid over Auckland Prison assault

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September 15, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police

Three men have been charged over a serious assault at Auckland Prison which left another man with critical injuries.

Waitematā CIB has been investigating the assault at the prison on 19 August, which occurred at around 9.49am.

Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison says three inmates have been charged following enquiries.

All three, aged 27, 29 and 42, have been jointly charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

“The victim in this assault has sustained significant injuries and remains in hospital,” he says.

Those charged are expected to appear in the North Shore District Court on 16 September.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Here come safer smoother roads – Lower North Island state highway summer maintenance season is underway

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September 15, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Road resurfacing and rebuilds are already underway as the state highway summer maintenance season gets underway in the Wellington region.

The Wellington Transport Alliance will be resurfacing 35.6 lane kilometres of highway with asphalt and rebuilding another 5.2 kilometres. In addition, 13.9 kilometres of chipseal resurfacing will be carried out across the region.

View larger/downloadable map [PDF, 885 KB]

Wellington/Hutt Valley

Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Transport Alliance Manager, says drivers can expect to see significant improvements on State Highway 2 in the Hutt Valley in the lead-up to Christmas.

‘We have an extensive resurfacing programme planned from Lower Hutt to Upper Hutt. Work crews will be at multiple sites from Petone all the way north to Totara Park.

“Drivers can expect night closures and local road detours through the Hutt Valley while this work is underway,” Ms Hilliard says.

She says drivers can also expect to see more work on the urban motorway, Johnsonville to Tawa, and also between the Wellington CBD and Rongotai.

Kāpiti Coast

Ms Hilliard says work has already begun on State Highway 1 in Kuku.

“We have road rebuild works underway at Kuku. This will be followed by road rebuild at Ohau, beginning later this month.”

“We also have resurfacing work planned for Paekākāriki, Mackays Crossing, Raumati and Plimmerton,” Ms Hilliard says.

Wairarapa

Ms Hilliard says, like last year, more road rebuilds are planned for State Highway 2, Wairarapa, around April and May of next year. More details on these will be shared when their timing is confirmed.

Travel advice

Ms Hilliard appreciates the summer state highway maintenance programme is disruptive work.

“Digging up and rebuilding a highway is impactful and extensive work. Resurfacing also creates delays for the public.”

“However, the benefits are long-term. Making a major investment now reduces the need for future maintenance and ongoing regular repairs,” Ms Hilliard says.

Ms Hilliard says with all the work planned; drivers must be ready for road works, and the travel delays they can cause.

“Plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey. It is important to respect road workers and speed limits in place at road works sites.”

Why summer maintenance?

Ms Hilliard says spring, summer, and early autumn are the times when most roadworks have to happen.

“To be effective and durable, road resurfacing must be done during the warmer, drier months. Wet and cold conditions are not suitable for completing permanent and durable road repairs.”

More information

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Advocacy – Crucial cabinet decision on Gaza on Mon day must follow ‘public mandate’ – PSNA

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September 15, 2025

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Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

PSNA anticipates Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, will get instructions to increase pressure on Israel at cabinet on Monday.

The United Nations General Assembly High Level Leaders Debate starts in New York next Tuesday.

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-Chair, John Minto says the government has to have listened to the voice of the people who marched for sanctions against Israel, in Auckland (on Saturday).

“With only limited time to organize, and disruption caused by having to change from the route over the Harbour Bridge at the last moment, 25,000 turned out to object to the government’s passive, and effectively pro-Israel, policies.”

“It’s a turn-out that’s been building, now rapidly, in our protests around the country over the past two years”

“New Zealanders are nearly two to one in favour of sanctions against Israel. Support for accountabilities will have increased significantly since then as Israel’s depravity and cruelty has shown no bounds”

Minto says Peters will be attending potentially one of the most important debates in United Nations history next week.

“The General Assembly has already begun, and on Friday, New Zealand voted along with 141 other countries, for a state of Palestine to be created through Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

“There were only ten votes against, predictably the US and Israel, but a concerning five Pasifika states voted against Palestine as well.”

“Israel has already made it clear that it has no intention to permit a Palestinian state to emerge, nor compromise its apartheid system, by allowing equal democratic rights to Palestinians who live under its control and inside its present borders.”

Minto says in announcing its position on Palestine, the government will be sensitive to its reputation in Arab countries.

“Israel has just bombed Qatar, to kill off the prospect of a Hamas agreement on hostage releases. Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is led by Saudi Arabia.”

“Peters’ cabinet colleague, Todd McClay is in Saudi Arabia this week to talk trade. McClay will not be wanting to explain to the Saudis, face to face, why Peters was in New York at the same time telling the world about Israel’s so called right to defend itself.”

“So far, the UN emphasis has been on two-state outcomes, and how to get rid of Hamas.”

“But the world debate is moving strongly to sanctions.

“Now is the time to move past idle rhetoric, and deliver sanctions, which are the only persuasion Israel will concede to.”

John Minto

Co-Chair PSNA

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Police seek witnesses of fatal Newbury crash

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September 15, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police

Police investigating a fatal crash in Newbury near Palmerston North are seeking help from the public.

“The crash on Hansens Line was reported to emergency services about 9am yesterday, and we believe it occurred around 3.20am that morning,” says Detective Sergeant Shelley Ross.

“Sadly, a deceased person was found near the vehicle.”

Police seek any witnesses to at least two vehicles travelling together in the Palmerston North or Newbury area around 3:20am on Sunday 14 September.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ross says the vehicles of interest are a blue Mazda Demio and a white Nissan Tiida.

If you have any information that could assist our enquiries, please contact Police via 105 and reference file number 250914/0242.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Emergency closure put in place to protect hoiho

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September 15, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Government

The Government is taking action to protect mainland New Zealand’s hoiho population through a temporary emergency fishery closure, and will seek public feedback on permanent measures, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says.

“I am implementing an immediate emergency closure of the set net fishery around the Otago Peninsula for a period of three months. During the closure period, officials will carry out public consultation on long-term bycatch measures to protect hoiho in the area,” Mr Jones says.

“As the self-proclaimed champion of the fisheries industry, I do not make this decision lightly. I am deeply conscious of the effect this will have on the livelihoods of fishers in the area, and people should not be under the misapprehension that I am softening my pro-industry stance. I acknowledge the voluntary closure put forward by fishers but if we are putting in place a closure, it needs to be more substantial than that proposed.”

“I have directed officials to consult on what permanent measures could be put in place to reduce the impact of fishing on hoiho.”

The public consultation on permanent measures to address hoiho bycatch is being developed by Fisheries New Zealand and will start in the next few weeks.

Proposals in this consultation will include extending a current set net ban around Otago Peninsula and an escalating response framework aimed at reducing hoiho bycatch in fisheries towards zero.

Hoiho, yellow-eyed penguin, are a taonga species and the northern population, encompassing hoiho on the mainland and Rakiura/Stewart Island, is threatened.

“A new scientific assessment commissioned by Fisheries New Zealand, which will be publicly released shortly, shows the greatest threats to the northern hoiho are starvation and predation, followed by fishing and disease,” Mr Jones says.

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