Activity in the services sector has started the year strongly.
The BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Services Index for January rose 1 point to 57.8, its highest value since July last year.
A reading above 50 points indicates expansion.
There was expansion throughout New Zealand, with new orders increasing by half a point to 61.4, although down almost 6 percent from last year.
Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said the healthy peformance was encouraging following a weaker than expected reading in last month's manufacturing survey.
