The Top 50 share index ended the day up 55 points, or more than 1% higher, at 4596.
The largest listed company, Fletcher Building, rose nearly 3% to $9, Chorus rose 1.7% to $2.95, Mainfreight rose nearly 3% to $10.90, Ryman Healthcare fell nearly 2%, Skellerup fell nearly 4% and Xero dropped more than 3% to $17.30.
In Australia, better-than-expected building approvals and encouraging Chinese economic data pushed the ASX 200 index 1% higher to 5185.
The New Zealand dollar rose after the encouraging Chinese data and fading worries about an imminent military strike against Syria.
Just after 5pm, the kiwi was up more than half a cent to $US77.86 but finished the day little changed against the Australian at 86.84.
