Story: South Pacific economic relations

New Zealand trade with the South Pacific, 1895–2007

Move the mouse over the bars on the graph to compare New Zealand's import and export rates with the South Pacific. Click on a trade type in the key to remove that type from the graph; click on that type again to restore it.

The different layers of this graph show how New Zealand's trade with the South Pacific has changed over the 20th century. Total imports peaked during the First World War, rose again slightly during the Second World War, then declined to their lowest-ever level by 2005. Exports remained roughly steady until the mid-1960s, peaked 10 years later, and by 2005 stood at roughly 10 times the level of imports. The graph also shows the changing levels of the two main imports – phosphate and sugar.

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How to cite this page:

Geoff Bertram, 'South Pacific economic relations - The balance of trade', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/24248/new-zealand-trade-with-the-south-pacific-1895-2007 (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Geoff Bertram, published 11 Mar 2010