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February 2006

Regional GDP Feasibility Newsletter 

1. Regional GDP Feasibility Study

Statistics New Zealand has embarked on a two-year development project to test the feasibility of producing regional gross domestic product (GDP) by industry. This newsletter contains links to updates and items of interest about the study, and contacts if you would like to know more.

2. Recent Milestones

December 2005

The Ministry of Economic Development received a progress report outlining the completion of the methodology phase.

February 2006

The regional GDP feasibility project is currently in the early stages of the feasibility assessment phase. This involves compiling provisional estimates of regional GDP for New Zealand, which will then be assessed according to a quality framework.

Once the feasibility of producing regional GDP on an ongoing basis has been assessed, the final report covering the findings and recommendations will begin. The final report is due in
December 2006.

3. Regional GDP Feasibility Study Article Published

In the September 2005 Quarterly Regional Review a feature article was published on the regional GDP feasibility study.

The article is a brief introduction to the feasibility study, outlining the background and scope of the project, the regions and industries to be covered, and the four phases of the study:

Data evaluation stage

Methodology stage

Feasibility assessment

Final output phase which will report on the findings and recommendations of the study.

The article that appeared in the Quarterly Regional Review can be viewed here. Find out more about the Quarterly Regional Review here.

4. Regional GDP Workshop Presentations

Statistics New Zealand held a regional GDP workshop on 6 October 2005. The objectives of the workshop were to share with stakeholders the scope of the project, progress so far on data evaluation and methodology, and the future direction of the project.

The workshop will incorporate feedback from shareholders into the current stage of the project – the testing of the proposed methodology, by compiling regional GDP estimates.

The workshop also aimed to improve stakeholder understanding of the regional GDP feasibility project, and to show that the project is following internationally accepted methodology. 

A PowerPoint presentation based on the information presented at the workshop can be viewed here.

5. Website Updates

The regional GDP feasibility page on the Statistics New Zealand website can be accessed here, and has recently been updated, including the addition of a glossary. This describes common terms and definitions from a regional GDP perspective.

6. Feedback

If you have any suggestions on how this newsletter could be improved, or if there is any more information you would like covered, please do not hesitate to email us at info@stats.govt.nz with regional GDP in the subject line, or using the contact details below.

7. Contacts

Chase O'Brien Phone: (03) 964 8983

John Stewart Phone: (03) 964 8965


Email:   info@stats.govt.nz