New Zealand economy outlook positive

Credit agency Dun and Bradstreet have said the New Zealand economic outlook has improved this year with the improvement in key markets, including Australia, supporting New Zealand exports.

The agency Dun and Bradstreet have said they still forecast New Zealand’s economy to grow by 1.8 per cent this year, unchanged from the previous economic and risk report in January, but the risk trend has been upgraded to improving from deteriorating.

New Zealand is rated one of the top four safest countries in the region and among the top 20 in the world, the agency calculated.

"This is a significant achievement and it demonstrates the strength of New Zealand's economy at a time when the rate of recovery in many other developed nations remains sluggish," Dun and Bradstreet New Zealand general manager John Scott said.

"New Zealand is classified a low risk environment for business investment, however, as the rest of the developed world recovers, global competition will intensify.

"Therefore, we need to ensure our focus on reform, strong economic management and sound risk practices continue," Mr Scott said.

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