Regional economic performance in New Zealand: How does Auckland compare?

In this study we investigate Auckland's economic performance relative to other large cities, to medium-sized urban centres and to small towns and rural area using data from the Income Survey to examine hourly earnings and other measures of labour productivity and utilisation. Our results tell a fairly consistent story. Auckland and Wellington have the highest levels of productivity performance based on almost all measures of earnings. In particular, both have significantly higher average levels of labour income, and wage rates than the three other comparison areas. Auckland has also experienced stronger growth in wages, in particular for wage/salary workers, than other regions.