This blogpost has been provided by Chamber Strategic Partner ASB, offering insights from their latest regional scorecard. Their analysis highlights key trends shaping our local economy and business landscape.
Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region have something to celebrate – we’ve officially claimed the top spot in ASB’s Regional Economic Scoreboard for the June 2025 quarter, marking our first time at number one in nearly a decade.
Kiwifruit, Confidence, and Resilience Drive the Bay’s Success
The Bay’s rise to the top has been fuelled by a standout kiwifruit season, resilient employment growth, and rising consumer confidence. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley summed it up perfectly: “It’s fair to say kiwifruit has brought home the trophy.”
The region’s labour market has shown impressive strength, with employment growth holding steady and optimism on the rise — a promising sign for continued momentum.
Regional Highlights
- Highest consumer sentiment in New Zealand.
- Employment growth up 3.2%, ranking second nationally.
- House sales surged 25.8%, despite a slight dip in construction activity.
How Other Regions Fared
- Southland jumped from 8th to 2nd, thanks to strong commodity prices and a resilient housing market.
- Otago held steady in 3rd, supported by tourism and retail.
- Auckland climbed five places to 5th, showing signs of recovery.
- Wellington fell to the bottom, impacted by weak consumer sentiment and public sector restructuring.
National Trends
- Retail trade volumes rose 0.5% quarter-on-quarter.
- House sales increased 3.5%, though selling times remain longer than pre-COVID norms.
- Export volumes declined 3.7%, reflecting global headwinds and new US tariffs.
- Net migration eased to its lowest since November 2022.
Despite inflation ticking up to 2.7% and unemployment rising to 5.2%, ASB notes encouraging signs in household spending and sentiment. As Nick Tuffley puts it, “We’re seeing small pockets of warmth in what’s otherwise an economically chilly quarter.”
Looking Ahead
With new US tariffs and a slower-than-expected recovery pace, challenges remain. However, recent OCR cuts and signals from the Reserve Bank suggest improvements are on the horizon.
Tauranga businesses can take pride in the Bay’s performance — it’s a testament to our region’s resilience, innovation, and community spirit. Let’s keep the momentum going!
