New Zealand’s current account deficit deepened slightly in the fourth quarter of 2025, edging down to -3.70% of GDP from -3.50% in the previous quarter. The latest figures, updated on 17 March 2026, indicate a modest deterioration in the country’s external balance as measured between the third and fourth quarters of 2025.
The move from -3.50% in Q3 2025 to -3.70% in Q4 2025 suggests that New Zealand continued to rely on foreign financing to cover its trade and income gaps at the end of the year. While the change is incremental, it keeps the current account firmly in deficit territory, a point of attention for investors and policymakers monitoring external vulnerabilities and long‑term funding needs.
