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Paemana Tautahi | Annual Dashboards

Manawatū’s annual economic snapshot at a glance

Manawatū’s Annual Economic Snapshot distils the region’s economic drivers and insights into a clear dashboard, to see how we’re tracking at a regional and national level. 

 

ANNUAL ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT // AS AT AUGUST 2025

POPULATION
125,500
Estimate as at June 2024
1.5%
Increase for Manawatū region since June 2023
1.7%
National increase since June 2023
Source: Stats NZ
BUSINESSES
12,651
February 2024
0.5%
Annual change Manawatū region
0.9%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Stats NZ
AVERAGE AGE
June 2024
35.7
Palmerston North
40.8
Manawatū district
37.9
New Zealand
Source: Stats NZ
TOP 10 ECONOMIC SECTORS
Percentage of GDP by employing sectors
YE March 2024
Percentage of GDP by employing sectors
12.8%
Distribution & Logistics*
12.8%
Healthcare & Social Assistance
10.1%
Rental, Hiring & Real Estate Services
9.2%
Construction
8.6%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
7.4%
Retail Trade
6.5%
Manufacturing
6.4%
Education & Trading
6.3%
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing
5.6%
*Consisting of "Wholesale trade" and "Transport, Postal and Warehousing" sectors
Source: Infometrics
GDP
YE June 2025
$8,645 M
0.8%
Annual change
Manawatū region
0.8%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Infometrics
VISITOR SPENDING
YE June 2025
$309 M
Domestic
$31 M
International
3.4%
Annual change
Manawatū region
6.7%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: MBIE
ELECTRONIC CARD TOURISM SPENDING
For the year ending June 2025
$340 M
2.6%
Annual change
Manawatū region
1.2%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: MBIE
MANAWATŪ REGION RANKS
13th
Domestic
21st
International
for Electronic Card Tourism Spending out of 31 Regional
Tourism Organisations
YE June 2025
Source: MBIE
GUEST NIGHTS
YE August 2025
491,900
0.9%
Annual change
Manawatū region
0.8%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: MBIE
ANNUAL EARNINGS FROM SALARIES AND WAGES
$4,763 M
YE March 2023
5.5%
Annual change
Manawatū region
7.4%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Stats NZ
TOTAL EMPLOYEES
Including self-employment
70,306
March 2024
0.9%
Annual change
Manawatū region
0.9%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Infometrics
CHANGE IN MSD
JOBSEEKER SUPPORT
September 2025
+444
10.3%
Annual change
Manawatū region
6.4%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: MSD
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
March 2025
$124,698
Manawatū
$135,079
New Zealand
0.7%
Annual change
Manawatū region
1.7%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: MSD
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Average of 4 recent quarters
June 2025
4.1%
Annual change
Manawatū region
5%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Infometrics
WORKER TURNOVER RATE
June 2025
12.5%
Annual change
Manawatū region
14.1%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Stats NZ
NEW RESIDENTIAL DWELLING CONSTENT NUMBERS IN MANAWATŪ
YE August 2025
558
4.3%
Annual change
Manawatū region
1.3%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Stats NZ
NON RESIDENTIAL CONSENT VALUE
July 2025
$153 M
5.1%
Annual change
Manawatū region
0.8%
Annual change
Nationally
Source: Stats NZ
AVERAGE HOUSE VALUE
September 2023 Quarter
June 2024
$628,766
Palmerston North
$621,323
Manawatū district
$910,479
New Zealand
Source: Stats NZ
HOME OWNERSHIP AFFORDABILITY
June Quarter 2025
4.7
Manawatū region
6.5
New Zealand
Ratio of average house value to estimated annual average household income. A higher ratio means it is less affordable to own a home.
Source: Stats NZ

Want more detailed insights?

Our Quarterly Economic Snapshots offer in-depth analysis of what’s happening across key sectors in the Manawatū economy. Published every three months, they provide the latest data and commentary to help businesses understand trends and plan with confidence.

View the Economic Snapshots
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