New Zealand’s economy strengthened in the second quarter of 2026, with year-over-year GDP growth rising to 2.6%, up from 1.7% recorded in the first quarter of 2026. The latest figures, updated on 16 September 2026, highlight an acceleration in economic activity compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
The data, measured on a year-over-year basis, show that the current reading reflects how GDP in the second quarter of 2026 compares with the second quarter of the previous year, while the earlier 1.7% figure was a comparison of first-quarter 2026 output against the first quarter a year before. The pickup in growth suggests a firmer momentum in New Zealand’s economic performance as the year progresses.
