Economy, jobs and prices in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand: official figures
The economy of Manawatū-Whanganui produced NZ$17,146 million of gross domestic product (GDP) in the year ended March 2025, 4.0% of New Zealand's NZ$431,457 million. It is 7th largest 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 Manawatū-Whanganui?
GDP per person in Manawatū-Whanganui was NZ$65,844 in the year ended March 2025, against NZ$81,283 for New Zealand as a whole (below by NZ$15,439). That is 3rd lowest of 14 regions reported separately.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Manawatū-Whanganui growing?
GDP in Manawatū-Whanganui rose 5.1% 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 38.1% (New Zealand 33.4%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat are the biggest industries in Manawatū-Whanganui?
The three largest industries by GDP in the year to March 2024 (the latest year Stats NZ publishes industry detail) were manufacturing (9.3%); health care and social assistance (8.7%); public administration and safety (7.9%). 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 Manawatū-Whanganui?
Agriculture made up 5.7% of GDP in the year to March 2024 (New Zealand 2.9%), and manufacturing 9.3% (New Zealand 8.3%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow big are health, government and construction in the economy of Manawatū-Whanganui?
Health care and social assistance made up 8.7% of GDP in the year to March 2024, public administration and safety 7.9% and construction 7.0% (New Zealand: 7.2%, 4.4% and 7.8%).
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Manawatū-Whanganui?
The unemployment rate in Manawatū-Whanganui was 5.3% in the June 2026 quarter, compared with 5.4% for New Zealand and 5.0% in the June 2025 quarter. That is 5th highest of 10 areas that Stats NZ reports separately. These are survey estimates, not seasonally adjusted (as is the national figure used here); the sampling error is about 1.4 percentage points.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat percentage of people are employed in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Manawatū-Whanganui had an employment rate of 66.0% in the June 2026 quarter (New Zealand 66.5%; June 2025 65.1%). The employment rate is the share of people aged 15 and over who have a job. That is 4th lowest of 10 areas.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow many people are employed in Manawatū-Whanganui?
About 138,700 people in Manawatū-Whanganui were employed and 7,700 unemployed in the June 2026 quarter, out of a working-age population (aged 15+) of 210,100. Figures are Household Labour Force Survey estimates in thousands, rounded to 100.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Manawatū-Whanganui?
The labour force participation rate in Manawatū-Whanganui was 69.7% 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. That is joint 4th lowest of 10 areas.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyWhat is the underutilisation rate in Manawatū-Whanganui?
The underutilisation rate in Manawatū-Whanganui was 13.0% 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. That is 5th lowest of 10 areas.
Source: Stats NZ · saved copyHow Manawatū-Whanganui compares with other regions
GDP, year ended March 2025 (NZ$ million) (2025)
Manawatū-Whanganui ranks 7 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Waikato | NZ$38,306m |
| 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$11,088m |
GDP per person, year ended March 2025 (NZ$) (2025)
Manawatū-Whanganui ranks 12 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)
Manawatū-Whanganui ranks 7 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Northland | 5.9% |
| 5 | Bay of Plenty | 5.4% |
| 6 | Canterbury | 5.3% |
| 7 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 5.1% |
| 8 | Gisborne | 4.7% |
| 9 | Hawke's Bay | 4.6% |
| 10 | Otago | 4.5% |
Unemployment rate, June 2026 quarter (2026 Q2)
Manawatū-Whanganui ranks 5 of 10, highest first. Survey estimate for the ten regions reported separately; Gisborne/Hawke's Bay and Tasman/Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast are reported as combined areas and not ranked.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, June 2026 quarter |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Auckland | 6.5% |
| 3 | Bay of Plenty | 5.8% |
| 4 | Waikato | 5.5% |
| 5 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 5.3% |
| 6 | Wellington | 4.9% |
| 7 | Southland | 4.7% |
| 8 | Taranaki | 4.6% |
Employment rate, June 2026 quarter (2026 Q2)
Manawatū-Whanganui ranks 7 of 10, highest first. Survey estimate for the ten regions reported separately.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, June 2026 quarter |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Southland | 66.5% |
| 5 | Auckland | 66.4% |
| 6 | Bay of Plenty | 66.3% |
| 7 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 66.0% |
| 8 | Waikato | 64.7% |
| 9 | Taranaki | 64.2% |
| 10 | Northland | 55.4% |
Underutilisation rate, June 2026 quarter (2026 Q2)
Manawatū-Whanganui ranks 6 of 10, highest first. Survey estimate for the ten regions reported separately.
| Rank | Region | Underutilisation rate, June 2026 quarter |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Auckland | 14.0% |
| 4 | Taranaki | 13.4% |
| 5 | Bay of Plenty | 13.2% |
| 6 | Manawatū-Whanganui | 13.0% |
| 7 | Wellington | 12.9% |
| 8 | Canterbury | 11.7% |
| 9 | Otago | 11.4% |
More on Manawatū-Whanganui: 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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