New Zealand’s economy gained momentum at the start of 2026, with gross domestic product rising 0.8% quarter-over-quarter in the first quarter of the year. This marks a clear acceleration from the 0.5% quarter-over-quarter growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.
On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the latest figure shows that economic activity strengthened compared with the previous three-month period, when growth had already been positive but more moderate. The comparison framework indicates that the current 0.8% reading reflects the change from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, while the earlier 0.5% figure corresponded to the change from the third to the fourth quarter of 2025.
The data, updated on 17 June 2026, suggests New Zealand entered 2026 on a firmer growth trajectory, with back-to-back quarterly expansions and a rising pace of GDP growth on a quarter-over-quarter basis.
