WELLINGTON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.2 percent in the June 2026 quarter, slowing from a 0.9-percent increase in the previous quarter, official figures showed Thursday.
The growth reflected mixed results, with activity increasing in nine of 16 industries, Stats NZ general manager and macroeconomic spokesperson Jason Attewell said in a statement.
Construction was the largest contributor, rising 2.7 percent, its largest increase since the June 2023 quarter, which was driven by higher residential building activity, Attewell said.
Public administration and safety, up 2 percent, also contributed to the GDP growth, the statistics department said.
The largest downward contributors to GDP in the June 2026 quarter were transport, postal and warehousing, which fell 1.7 percent, and retail trade and accommodation, down 1 percent, Stats NZ said, adding that GDP per capita rose 0.1 percent during the quarter.
The expenditure measure of GDP increased 0.4 percent in the June quarter, following a 1.1-percent rise in the March quarter, statistics showed.
Export volumes rose 3.3 percent, driven mainly by higher goods exports, including meat, other foods, beverages, tobacco and dairy products, Stats NZ said, noting that U.S. demand for New Zealand beef contributed to the increase in meat exports.
Import volumes fell 0.8 percent, while gross fixed capital formation, or investments in fixed assets, rose 1.5 percent in the June quarter, led by a 4.4-percent increase in spending on residential building work, the department said. ■