Waikato and the Bay of Plenty's rankings came on the back of a recovery in retail sales and an improved housing market.
However the Psa virus presented challenges for the kiwifruit producing region of the Bay of Plenty and the number of visitors to the region as represented by guest nights remained low.
Northland fell back to the bottom of the table on a weak housing market, retail sales and construction during the June quarter, ASB said.
Consumer confidence in the region languished behind most other regions and unemployment, while falling, remained the highest in New Zealand, the bank said.
"Tourism is a key industry for Northland, and although guest nights remain subdued, the Rugby World Cup pool games should provide a boost to the hospitality industry in the region."
Public sector restraint was likely to have slowed growth in Wellington during the quarter, although retail sales in the region had held up well and consumer confidence topped the country.
Further south, ASB said there had already been a rebound in retail sales and in the housing market in Canterbury during quarter two, however employment, car registrations and guest nights had fallen against year-ago levels.
"We expect rebuilding to gather momentum over 2012, and this will strongly boost activity in the region."
"For now, the rebound in retail sales and housing turnover in quarter two indicates underlying demand is returning in Canterbury."
Otago topped the rankings for employment growth, but slipped back into the bottom half of the rankings on the overall scoreboard - reflecting a fall in retail sales, house prices, guest nights and construction activity.
NZ economic scoreboard:
1. Auckland
2 = Waikato / Bay of Plenty
4. Nelson
5. Tasman
6. Southland
7. Hawkes Bay
8. Taranaki
9 = Canterbury / Wellington
11. Otago
12. West Coast
13. Manawatu / Wanganui
14. Marlborough
15. Gisborne
16. Northland
The scoreboard takes the latest quarterly regional statistics and ranks the economic performance of New Zealand's 16 regional council areas.
