Unemployment is down in the region despite a growing workforce, the latest Statistics New Zealand labour market report shows.
The report showed an extra 4800 people picked up work in the past 12 months, a rate outpacing the extra 4600 people who joined the workforce.
The unemployment rate dropped from 6.9 per cent last September to 6.5 per cent in the most recent quarter.
Almost 103,000 people were employed in the most recent quarter, almost 9000 more people than the September 2014 quarter.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wayne Walford said there was a positive business mood in the Bay, with a lot more jobs and activity.