Pūrongorongo
Data & Insight Reports
These reports serve as an extension of the dashboards available on DISH, offering timely and comprehensive data and insights tailored to a broad range of audiences.
While the dashboards provide an at-a-glance overview, these reports delve deeper, offering further insights specific to the Murihiku Southland region. The reports provide up-to-date information to support local decision-making, planning, and development.
Tourism Reports
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Q1 2026 Murihiku Southland Tourism Report
The latest quarter saw continued positive performance across Murihiku Southland’s tourism sector, supported by strong visitor demand and increased travel activity across much of the lower South Island.
International visitation remained a key driver of growth, particularly through Fiordland and the wider regional tourism economy. Strong visitor spend, increased airport activity and continued growth in commercial accommodation occupancy highlighted the region’s ongoing appeal as a destination known for its natural landscapes and authentic experiences.
At the same time, some parts of the sector experienced softer performance compared to the same period last year, particularly within selected visitor attractions and events. These shifts reflect changing travel patterns, broader economic conditions and evolving visitor preferences.
Overall, the quarter demonstrated the resilience of Southland’s tourism sector and the importance of maintaining a balanced approach that supports both international growth and domestic visitation, while continuing to strengthen the region’s reputation as a high-quality visitor destination.
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Economic Reports
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Q4 Murihiku Southland Economic Quarterly Report
Murihiku Southland’s economy continues to show steady progress, with both overall economic output and income per person increasing over the past year.
Economic activity has grown faster than population, indicating improvements in productivity and value creation rather than growth being driven solely by population change.
At the same time, the number of businesses operating in the region has edged slightly lower. This suggests some consolidation across parts of the local economy as firms adjust to higher costs and a more cautious economic environment. Despite this, key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture and construction continue to provide a strong foundation for regional economic activity.
Population growth remains steady and broadly in line with national trends, helping support demand for local services, housing and retail activity. The labour market also reflects a mixed but generally resilient picture, with unemployment and underutilisation slightly higher than the previous quarter but still lower than a year ago.
Encouragingly, household-facing sectors have strengthened over the quarter. Retail spending has increased, visitor activity has lifted and the housing market has become more active.
Together, these indicators suggest that while some parts of the economy are adjusting to changing conditions, Murihiku Southland continues to benefit from a diverse and resilient economic base.
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Housing Reports
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Q4 2025 Murihiku Southland Housing Report
Note: The Tenancy Services data has been updated in this report, June 2026.
This report provides an overview of housing supply, demand and affordability across Murihiku Southland for the December 2025 quarter.
Drawing together demographic trends, building activity, market performance and social housing indicators, it offers a snapshot of how the region’s housing system is responding to changing economic and population conditions.
The latest data suggests Murihiku Southland’s housing market is transitioning into a more balanced phase following a period of strong growth and elevated interest rates. While building and sales activity have moderated from earlier peaks, both house prices and rents have continued to edge upward over the past year. This combination indicates that underlying demand remains present, even as households and developers take a more measured approach in the current economic environment.
Population growth continues to shape housing demand across the region. With more households living in Murihiku Southland and a gradually ageing population, there is increasing interest in a broader range of housing options. Smaller, accessible homes close to services are likely to become more important alongside the region’s traditional supply of larger standalone dwellings.
Overall, the housing system remains comparatively affordable by national standards. However, the data highlights that affordability pressures are not evenly distributed. Some households, particularly renters and prospective first-home buyers, continue to face challenges in securing suitable housing. Monitoring these trends will remain important as councils, government agencies and community partners work together to ensure housing supply keeps pace with changing needs.
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