Economic confidence in most of the regions slipped in the three months to September, with falling dairy prices, a slowing housing market and the general election weighing on people's minds.
The quarterly Westpec McDermott Miller regional economic survey shows that confidence improved in only the Bay of Penty and in the Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast regions.
Canterbury is still at the top of the survey, and remains the most optimistic region for the ninth consecutive quarter.
Northland, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay and Otago all slipped into pessimistic territory.
Westpac economis Anne Boniface said the survey suggests that the broader pace of economic growth is slowing from its peak in many regions.
