Balance of payments

New Zealand's Balance of Payments (BoP) is a comprehensive record of New Zealand's relationship with the rest of the world.

International trade in goods and services is summarised in the BoP 'current account', along with investment income and transfers with the rest of the world. A current account deficit in any given period shows that expenses were greater than earnings over that time. A deficit must be matched by a net inflow of investment from the rest of the world.

Investment flows are represented in the financial account, which shows financial transactions involving New Zealand's assets and liabilities with the rest of the world. Types of investment include direct, portfolio, other investment, and reserve assets. Investment can be as either equity or debt.

The International Investment Position shows the level of New Zealand's international assets and liabilities at a point in time. The level is affected by financial account transactions and by valuation changes.

Information releases

• Balance of Payments and International Investment Position
  This quarterly release provides information on the value of New Zealand's transactions with the rest of the world, and provides a snapshot of the country's international financial assets and liabilities.

Data

• Infoshare
  Time–series data can be accessed using Infoshare, in the category 'Economic indicators' then the groups 'Balance of Payments' and 'International Investment Position'.
• International trade in services – tables 
  These tables provide detailed information on New Zealand's international trade in services. 
• International trade in services by country – tables 
  These tables provide additional information on New Zealand's international trade in services. Data is available by country for New Zealand's major trading partners.
• International investment tables
  These tables contain partner country information for international investment between New Zealand and the rest of the world. Information is available for transaction flows for years ending 31 March and investment levels at 31 March.

Reports and articles

• Introducing expanded external lending and debt statistics
  This paper accompanies Statistic’s NZ’s first release of a new series about New Zealand’s international lending and debt.
• Revised treatment of the Canterbury earthquakes' impact on overseas investment income
  To improve consistency in the macroeconomic accounts, Statistics NZ is further revising its treatment of the exceptional insurance and reinsurance claims that resulted from the Canterbury earthquakes occurring from September 2010.
• Improving New Zealand's macroeconomic statistics: changes up to December 2012
  This paper informs users of New Zealand’s macroeconomic statistics about planned data changes to be included this year in the international and national accounts.
• Improvements to New Zealand's international investment position statistics
  Statistics New Zealand has improved its measurement of New Zealand's international investment position. This paper summarises the changes, which have the effect of increasing the level of New Zealand's investment abroad.
• Treatment of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand's balance of payments and national accounts
  This article explains the treatment of economic activity associated with the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand’s balance of payments (BoP) and national accounts statistics – in the upcoming September 2011 and December 2011 quarter publications.
• The ultimate sources of foreign direct investment
  This paper investigates the ultimate sources of foreign direct investment in New Zealand at 31 March 2010. This approach differs from the normal presentation of partner country information on an immediate investor basis.
• Impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes on New Zealand’s international accounts
  This paper discusses the impacts of the September 2010 and February 2011 Canterbury earthquakes on the balance of payments (BOP) and international investment position (IIP) statistics.
• Revised treatment of the Canterbury earthquakes’ insurance claims in New Zealand’s international and national accounts 
  International reinsurance claims relating to the Canterbury earthquakes have been reclassified as capital transfers, rather than current transfers as initially published.
• Balance of Payments Income Revisions and the International Investment Position
  This article discusses the measurement of income flows in the balance of payments and how this aligns with measurement of the associated stocks of assets and liabilities in the international investment position.
• Insurance impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on New Zealand’s international accounts 
  This paper discusses the initial treatment of international reinsurance claims from the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand's international accounts.
• Improvements to income in balance of payments statistics
  Information on international income and taxation flows, as reported to Inland Revenue, has been introduced into New Zealand's balance of payments.
• Interpreting selected international financial asset and liability statistics 
  A guide to interpreting statistics on New Zealand's overseas debt.
• View all 

Information about data

• Balance of Payments Sources and Methods
  A guide to data sources and methods and the conceptual framework for New Zealand's international accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Where can I find information on New Zealand's overseas debt?
A: Overseas debt is located in Table 10 of the quarterly BoP and IIP, which presents 'net international borrowing' and 'net international lending'. The difference between these two figures is the 'net international debt'.

Q: What partner country information is available on international investment?
A: International investment data is presented by partner country in the annual BoP and IIP, for transaction flows and stocks. A full set of all available countries is included in the data section above.

Q: What partner country information is available on international trade in services?
A: Detailed partner country information is available here on trade in commercial services, sourced from Statistics NZ's International Trade in Services and royalties Survey (ITSS). However, please note that many countries and services categories cannot be published because the data is confidential. There is no partner country data available on transportation, travel, insurance, or government services.

Q: Do you make an estimate for remittances into or out of New Zealand?
A: Estimates for remittances are included in the current transfers series in the BoP current account. We are currently reviewing alternative data sources for remittances from New Zealand to the rest of the world.

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