Story: National income and GDP

Aluminium smelter, Tīwai Point

Aluminium smelter, Tīwai Point

This facility near Bluff, Southland, is one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world and employs nearly 1,000 people. In 2009 it was owned by Rio Tinto Aluminium, based in Brisbane, Australia, and Sumitomo Chemical Company of Japan. Gross domestic product (GDP) measures all the income and profits earned by the smelter’s production. To understand the impact of such ventures on New Zealand residents, the profits sent overseas to the foreign owners must be excluded. Unlike GDP, gross national income (GNI) excludes the earnings of foreign residents.

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Photograph by Janine Faulknor

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How to cite this page:

Jeff Cope, 'National income and GDP - National income', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/23588/aluminium-smelter-tiwai-point (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jeff Cope, published 11 Mar 2010