Jobseeker beneficiaries in Canterbury have jumped by 18pc in the past year as the massive rebuild winds down.

A new annual migration record was set for a 20th month in March, as more people moved across the Tasman from Australia.

Stats NZ figures show 2379 new dwellings were consented last month, the highest for a February since 2004 and up 35 per cent on the same month a year ago.

New Zealand's merchant trade surplus reached $339 million in February.

Retail spending on electronic cards rose for a 10th straight month in February, led by an increase in consumables.

New Zealand wholesale trade dips in fourth quarter on decline in basic material products.

Total building activity increased to its highest level since records began 26 years ago.

New Zealand saw a new record net gain in migrants of 65,900 in the year to January, driven by increased arrivals from Asia and Australia.

The unemployment rate has unexpectedly fallen to a six year low of 5.3 per cent.

Figures show more people are moving from Australia to New Zealand than vice versa.

The value of honey exports jumped to $285 million in 2015 from $202 million in 2014, according to the latest data.

On average there were 37 building consents for new dwellings consented in Auckland every day last year.

INTERACTIVE: A dramatic spike in the number of businesses dealing with real estate closing has taken the industry by surprise.

Fresh milk, chicken and groceries prices all dropped significantly in 2015.

New Zealanders spent a record $6b shopping in December, the highest ever monthly figure recorded by Statistics New Zealand.

Renting has become more common while the number of dwellings that are owner-occupied is decreasing.

Unemployment rate rises to 6 per cent - the first rise in three years.

In just over 20 years, the combined Asian, Pacific and Maori population in Auckland is forecast to outnumber Europeans and others.

Residential building consents fell 4.9pc in August as the Canterbury rebuild shifts its focus toward commercial work.

New Zealand's annual net migration rose to a record in August as Indian and Chinese students continued to flock to courses offered by local educational institutions.

Our economy grew - but less than expected in the second quarter of the year, as agriculture and mining recovered.

Last month saw the highest number of new dwellings consented in a month since March 2005.

The country's trade deficit was smaller than expected in July as exports of fruit and meat drove overseas sales higher.

Guest nights fell across all accommodation sectors except backpacker stays.

The jobless rate is up as the number of new jobs created fails to keep pace with an expanding population.

The Government says a new plan to lure migrants away from Auckland will boost regional economies, but admits it will do little to ease Auckland's housing pressures.

Migrant arrivals climbed 15 percent to 115,700 in the year, while departures fell 8.1 percent to 57,400.