Economy, jobs and prices in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand: official figures
The economy of Hawke's Bay produced NZ$12,580 million of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year ended March 2025, 2.9% of New Zealand's NZ$431,457 million. It is 7th smallest of 14 regional economies, counting only regions that Stats NZ reports separately (Stats NZ marks the latest year as provisional).
What is GDP per person in Hawke's Bay?
GDP per person in Hawke's Bay was NZ$69,966 in the year ended March 2025, against NZ$81,283 for New Zealand as a whole (below by NZ$11,317). That is 4th lowest of 14 regions reported separately.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Hawke's Bay growing?
GDP in Hawke's Bay rose 4.6% in dollar value in the year to March 2025, compared with 3.3% for New Zealand. Over five years since March 2020 it changed by 37.0% (New Zealand 33.4%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the biggest industries in Hawke's Bay?
The three largest industries by GDP in the year to March 2024 (the latest year Stats NZ publishes industry detail) were manufacturing (10.0%); health care and social assistance (8.6%); construction (8.3%). The shares are percentages of total GDP; Stats NZ counts owner-occupied housing as a separate industry, which is not in this list.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow important is farming to the economy of Hawke's Bay?
Agriculture made up 6.3% of GDP in the year to March 2024 (New Zealand 2.9%), and manufacturing 10.0% (New Zealand 8.3%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow big are health, government and construction in the economy of Hawke's Bay?
Health care and social assistance made up 8.6% of GDP in the year to March 2024, public administration and safety 3.6% and construction 8.3% (New Zealand: 7.2%, 4.4% and 7.8%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Hawke's Bay?
The unemployment rate in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay area was 5.6% in the June 2026 quarter, compared with 5.4% for New Zealand and 3.5% in the June 2025 quarter. Stats NZ's survey reports Gisborne and Hawke's Bay together as one area, so this is not a figure for Hawke's Bay alone. These are survey estimates, not seasonally adjusted (as is the national figure used here); the sampling error is about 1.7 percentage points.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat percentage of people are employed in Hawke's Bay?
The Gisborne and Hawke's Bay area had an employment rate of 63.4% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 66.5%; June 2025 63.2%). The employment rate is the share of people aged 15 and over who have a job. Stats NZ's survey reports Gisborne and Hawke's Bay together as one area, so this is not a figure for Hawke's Bay alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people are employed in Hawke's Bay?
About 117,500 people in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay area were employed and 7,000 unemployed in the June 2026 quarter, out of a working-age population (aged 15+) of 185,500. Figures are Household Labour Force Survey estimates in thousands, rounded to 100. Stats NZ's survey reports Gisborne and Hawke's Bay together as one area, so this is not a figure for Hawke's Bay alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Hawke's Bay?
The labour force participation rate in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay area was 67.1% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 70.4%). Participation is the share of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. Stats NZ's survey reports Gisborne and Hawke's Bay together as one area, so this is not a figure for Hawke's Bay alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the underutilisation rate in Hawke's Bay?
The underutilisation rate in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay area was 14.3% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 13.4%). It counts people who are unemployed, want more hours, or want work but are not looking, as a share of the extended labour force. Stats NZ's survey reports Gisborne and Hawke's Bay together as one area, so this is not a figure for Hawke's Bay alone.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Hawke's Bay compares with other regions
GDP, year ended March 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Hawke's Bay ranks 8 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP, year ended March 2025 (NZ$ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$25,041m |
| 6 | Otago | NZ$19,269m |
| 7 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$17,146m |
| 8 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$12,580m |
| 9 | Northland | NZ$11,645m |
| 10 | Taranaki | NZ$11,088m |
| 11 | Southland | NZ$9,943m |
GDP per person, year ended March 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Hawke's Bay ranks 11 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP per person, year ended March 2025 (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Otago | NZ$76,101 |
| 9 | Waikato | NZ$72,330 |
| 10 | Bay of Plenty | NZ$71,343 |
| 11 | Hawke's Bay | NZ$69,966 |
| 12 | Manawatū-Whanganui | NZ$65,844 |
| 13 | Gisborne | NZ$58,588 |
| 14 | Northland | NZ$57,992 |
GDP growth, year to March 2025 (dollar value) (2025)
Hawke's Bay ranks 9 of 14, highest first. Tasman and Nelson are reported together by Stats NZ and are not ranked.
| Rank | Region | GDP growth, year to March 2025 (dollar value) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Canterbury | 5.3% |
| 7 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 5.1% |
| 8 | Gisborne | 4.7% |
| 9 | Hawke's Bay | 4.6% |
| 10 | Otago | 4.5% |
| 11 | Auckland | 2.1% |
| 12 | Marlborough | 1.8% |
More on Hawke's Bay: overview · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · New Zealand
Sources
- Stats NZ: Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2025 (GDP by region and industry; GDP per person by region), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cca1f2f77ec7…)
- Stats NZ: Labour market statistics: June 2026 quarter, Household Labour Force Survey Tables 3 and 6 (by regional council area), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 315f48f981cb…)
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