Manukau still the fastest growing large city in New Zealand

In 2004, Manukau City had the best economic performance of among all the cities and districts with populations of over 100,000, according to the latest BERL report to Manukau City Council. Growth prospects are good for the current year.

Manukau grew faster than both the Auckland region and New Zealand on all indicators except business growth over the year. Resident population increased by 2.7 per cent, GDP by 6.3 per cent, GDP per capita by 3.5 per cent, employment by 5 per cent and labour productivity by 1.2 per cent.

The key sectors driving the Manukau economy are retail and distribution, manufacturing and building, and building services. The largest single sector is retail and distribution.

Growth was led by business services, and there was a 14.6 per cent increase in employment growth in this sector. The number of businesses in the city rose by 10.7 per cent or around 2,000.

Manukau City has a resident population of around 326,000 and has 108,000 FTE jobs (full time equivalent) in around 21,000 businesses. They generated around $7.9 billion in GDP, or around $24,000 for each resident.

The growth in resident population was higher than in the Auckland region as a whole and more than double the New Zealand rate. However some fast-growing smaller areas increased in population faster, and Manukau ranked fifth in population growth nationally.

Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis says the growth in the city is set to continue with a variety of major new projects just beginning. “The city has many strengths – lots of available land, excellent infrastructure and excellent access to transport links such as the airport and ports.

“The airport zone is mushrooming, and a major new development by Macquarie Goodman close by the airport will add even further impetus to its growth. But it will soon be rivalled by the newest big development, the Highbrook business park, which is to be built on the Waiouru peninsula

“The Council works hard to attract new companies and promote the benefits of Manukau both within New Zealand and overseas. I am delighted that this strategy is paying off, with Manukau continuing to have one of the highest growth rates in the country and thousands of new jobs being created.”

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