Tauranga City takes the prize as the best performing economy in 2007. Tauranga City has performed consistently well placing a top six finish in each of the last three years – it claimed 6^th and 2^nd place in 2006 and 2005 respectively.

A review of business frame data has seen a shake-up in the BERL rankings, which have had to be revised for the last three years.

In 2007, Tauranga City was joined in the top six by Central Otago District, Napier City, Waimakariri District, and Franklin District and Hamilton City (tied for 5^th).

Dropping out of the top five were Selwyn District (9^th), Queenstown Lakes District (8^th), and Kaikoura District (36^th).

Tauranga City moved to the top spot in 2007 from 6^th place in 2006 with a solid all-round performance. It had the 19^th fastest growth in GDP, the 5^th fastest growth in Business Units, the 6^th fastest growth in employment, and the 8^th fastest population growth.

Central Otago retained 2^nd spot for the second year running. It also performed solidly and, with a better performance in business unit growth (where it came 33^rd), could well have secured the top spot. Central Otago had the 4^th fastest growth in both population and employment, and had the 5^th fastest growth in GDP.

Napier City was the biggest improver in the top five, moving from 53^rd in 2006 to 3^rd in 2007. The turnaround was driven by excellent performances in business units (3^rd), GDP (3^rd) and employment (5^th). The TA was let down by poor population growth, where it languished in 46^th place.

Waimakariri stayed steady in 4^th place for the second year in a row with the 5^th fastest growing population in the country. It also had solid placings in employment (13^th), business units (14^th) and GDP (27^th).

Two TAs tied for 5^th place - Franklin District and Hamilton City.

Franklin District improved from its 24^th placing in 2006.  Franklin had good results in business units (6^th), population (7^th) and employment (12^th) growth. Letting it down slightly was GDP growth, where it finished 37^th.

Hamilton City improved to 5^th equal from 11^th place in 2006. Securing its top five placing was solid growth in employment and businesses (both 10^th), a 12^th placing in population growth, and 30^th place in GDP growth.

In order of placing, the top 10 TAs also included Western Bay of Plenty District, Queenstown-Lakes District, Selwyn District and Porirua City. Queenstown-lakes had two first placings – population growth and business unit growth – but was let down by poor placings in employment and GDP growth.

Download the full report here.

For more information on the report or the BERL regional database contact jason by email or on +64 4 931 2208