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Manufacturing in New Zealand - a mini snapshot

Here’s a mini-snapshot of New Zealand’s manufacturing sector, based on the latest available statistics.

  • Nearly 50% of NZ’s exports
  • Largest employer in the Auckland region
  • Second largest employer in New Zealand (12% of employees)
  • In 2009 manufacturing was 12% of the country’s GDP ($16.312 billion and second biggest contributor behind Property and Business services)
  • Biggest components of New Zealand Manufacturing (by GDP):
    • Food, beverage and tobacco, $5.847b (36%)
    • Machinery and equipment manufacturing, $2.226b (14%)
    • Wood and paper product manufacturing, $2.182 (13%)
    • Petroleum, chemical, plastic and rubber product manufacturing, $1.528b (9%)
  • Biggest employers of NZ manufacturing workers:
    • Food, Beverage and tobacco manufacturing, 72,590 (30%)
    • Machinery and equipment manufacturing, 43,270 (18%)
    • Metal product manufacturing, 28,380 (12%)
    • Printing, publishing and recorded media, 23,350 (10%)

Auckland Region 2008

  • Generated 36.% of national manufacturing GDP
  • Over a third of all manufacturing employment and manufacturing businesses in New Zealand
  • Food product manufacturing: main employer
  • Machinery and equipment manufacturing: highest number of manufacturing businesses
  • Future of manufacturing is projected to be in high-value added products and services

Northland 2008

  • 20% of GRP = the largest sector in terms of GRP contribution
  • Third largest employer in the region

Bay of Plenty 2006

  • Manufacturing was the most significant employer in the region
    • Manufacturing in region is strongly linked to forestry

Hawkes Bay 2009

  • Manufacturing was the largest contributing sector to the regional GDP
  • The top 5: Food and beverage (Heinz Watties), wood and paper products, machinery and equipment, textiles and apparel, metal products

Taranaki 2006

  • Employment & GDP three main players: agriculture, mining (oil & gas) and manufacturing (food processing – dairy and engineering and manufacturing)
  • Over 50 percent of jobs within manufacturing linked to food processing (as opposed to 30 percent nationally).
  • Small but distinctive specialist engineering base grown in support of food processing and oil and gas industry
  • Economy expected to grow faster than national economy over next 20 years – indicates growing importance of oil & gas (GDP accounted for by oil & gas could well double over next 20 yrs)

    Waikato 2007

    • Fourth largest economy in NZ after Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington.
    • Manufacturing sector is over-represented in the region, inc wood & paper manufacturing

    Wellington Region 2008

    • Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing had second fastest employment growth, up 20 percent from 2007. (Oil & gas exploration was fastest.)

    Industries with fastest GDP growth


    • Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing sector had third fastest GDP growth of 17.5 percent.

    Southland 2009

    • Mining was the largest employer in Southland in the year to December 2009, accounting for 17 percent of the region’s employment.

    Manawatu 2007

    • In 2007, second largest sector in terms of GRP contribution behind Property Services.
    • Food Processing was the main employer in the manufacturing sector in 2009

      Otago Region 2008-2009

      • 14.7% of Otago GDP (4.7% of national GDP) (3rd after business services and retail & distribution)
      • Fastest growing industries by FTE growth: Services to mining and metal ore mining
      • Primary processing sector worth $759M to the region

      Christchurch and Canterbury 2008-2009

      Christchurch City 2009


      • Christchurch’s total GDP was $10.822 billion
        • Manufacturing was $1.426 billion (2nd biggest contributor)
      • Biggest components of Canterbury Manufacturing (by GDP):
        • Food, beverage and tobacco, $406m (28%)
        • Machinery and equipment manufacturing $300m (21%)
        • Petroleum, chemical, plastic and rubber product manufacturing $153m (11%)
        • Wood and paper product manufacturing $142m (10%)
        • Manufacturing made up 15% of employees
        • 33% Exports 2008 was High Value Added Manufacturing ($4.3 billion)

      Canterbury Region 2009


      • Manufacturing GDP was $2.085 billion (Canterbury $15.150 billion)
      • Manufacturing was the second biggest contributor
      • Biggest employer (15% of employees)
      • Biggest employers of manufacturing workers:
        • Food, Beverage and tobacco manufacturing, 12,040 (31%)
        • Machinery and equipment manufacturing, 9,060 (23%)
        • Metal product manufacturing, 3,440 (9%)
        • Printing, publishing and recorded media, 3,160 (8%)
      • The Canterbury BNZ-Business NZ PMI (2002-2009) has been above the index for New Zealand. This indicates the manufacturing sector in Canterbury region is growing at a faster rate than NZ rate.

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