NZ Economy Divided: Provinces Boom While Urban Areas Struggle
New Zealand's economy is experiencing a north-south divide, with mainly good news in the provinces. The weakest spots are south Waikato, Wellington, and Northland, due to factors like mill closures and government pullback.
The south is booming, with Canterbury, Otago, and Southland leading the charge. West Coast is riding a wave of growth on the back of farming and mining. The fastest-growing districts are big on farming, with Hurunui, where a third of the jobs are in farming, forestry, fishing, and mining, topping the list.
High prices for beef and lamb, dairy, and good wool prices are helping the farming communities. However, not every farming community is benefiting, and some farms were better prepared to take advantage of these conditions.