This page explains the updates to the data sources used to compile the international trade release.
We make data updates annually, in line with international best practice, to ensure that our statistics continue to reflect our changing world.
The changes made in this release fall into three categories:
- methodology improvements
- new or updated information becoming available
- corrections to our outputs due to internal errors in data processing.
Contents
Low-value goods imports
Travel services exports
Education travel services
Insurance services exports and imports
Financial services exports and imports
Personal, cultural, and recreational services exports
Goods imports
Low-value goods imports
Low-value imported goods (LVIG) refers to imported goods with a value of NZ$1000 or less (excluding goods and services tax (GST)).
In the June 2025 quarter, we introduced a temporary method outlined in International trade: June 2025 quarter - data sources and methods.
This year we are revising the method to use Customs and NZ Post data that was previously unavailable. This allows us to better estimate the value of small packages and more accurately account for their contribution to the total value of LVIG. Values for the September 2019 to March 2026 quarters will be revised downwards again as a result.
The new method for estimating LVIG is as follows:
- We use an aggregation of five component parcel imports sourced from Customs. These components have previously been unavailable for price and volume.
The five components are:
- import entries
- inward cargo reports (ICR)
- parcel post*
- express mail service (EMS)*
- letter post.*
* While these components are supplied by Customs, they are sourced via NZ Post and matched with the Customs data-for-mail (DFM) system. This helps to differentiate imported parcels (goods) from letter-only post.
Travel services exports
In the June 2026 quarter we are implementing a new method for estimating travel services exports. The method's two components are:
- visitor population
- average daily spend.
The population component is based on administrative border crossing data, which we use to estimate the number of visitors per day in New Zealand in each quarter. The average daily spend component is based on International Visitor Survey (IVS) data. Estimates of visitors per day and average spend are calculated for each combination of country of residence, purpose of travel, and length of visit.
This new method builds on an approach using border crossing data that was developed when the IVS was suspended in March 2020. For more information on changes to estimating travel services exports, see International trade: June 2024 quarter - data sources and methods.
This update to travel services exports improves the measurement of seasonal patterns in visitor spending in New Zealand. Administrative border crossing data is used to estimate when visitors are in New Zealand, rather than allocate visitor spend to the time of departure, as was done in the previous method.
This change also provides flexibility to incorporate or substitute alternative spend estimates if other data sources become available or if the IVS cannot take place, such as when it was suspended due to COVID-19.
Revisions are for the March 2014 to March 2026 quarters.
Education travel services
Exports
We have revised the March 2025 to March 2026 quarters (inclusive) based on the latest Export Education Levy data compiled by the Ministry of Education and the updated student visa numbers compiled by Immigration New Zealand.
Imports
We have revised the March 2025 to March 2026 quarters (inclusive) to better reflect prices of tuition and living costs for New Zealanders studying overseas, and to use updated New Zealand resident arrival numbers.
Insurance services exports and imports
We have revised the June 2023 to March 2026 quarters (inclusive) based on updated source data and validation of the series against other information sources, such as annual financial statements from companies.
Financial services exports and imports
We have revised the March 2024, June 2024, and December 2024 quarters based on updated data.
Personal, cultural, and recreational services exports
We have revised film exports using external data sources. This affects the June 2024 to March 2026 quarters (inclusive).
Goods imports
We have made other updates to our data from the March 2014 to March 2026 quarters (inclusive), based on updated data provided by individual Annual Enterprise Survey respondents and improvements made to our conceptual measurement method.
Technical enquiries
International accounts team
[email protected]
04 931 4600
