Canterbury reclaims top spot in ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard after strong growth

Canterbury has reclaimed the top position in ASB’s latest Regional Economic Scoreboard, a ranking driven by strong consumer spending, population growth, a resilient labour market and a firm housing sector.

The ASB Regional Economic Scoreboard, released today, uses the latest quarterly regional statistics and ranks the economic performance of New Zealand’s 16 Regional Council areas.

The Canterbury region returned to first place in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026 after taking second place for Q1, while Taranaki recorded one of the strongest turnarounds in the country.

Meanwhile, Auckland slipped to sixth place as weakness in the housing market continued to weigh on the region’s performance.

ASB’s acting chief economist Kim Mundy said Canterbury “has the full package right now”.

“Households are spending, businesses are investing, the labour market remains resilient and strong dairy returns are providing an additional boost to the economy,” Mundy said.