logo
Worldline NZ Figures Mark First Quarter Of Consumer Spending Growth Since March 2024

Worldline NZ Figures Mark First Quarter Of Consumer Spending Growth Since March 2024

Scoop02-07-2025
Press Release – Worldline
Auckland
Worldline NZ data released today mark the first quarter of annual consumer spending growth seen since the March quarter in 2024.
Consumer spending through all Core Retail merchants in Worldline NZ's payments network in June 2025 reached $3.60B, which is up +0.8% on June 2024, following adjustments for merchants coming and going from the network.
Bruce Proffit, Worldline NZ's Chief Sales Officer, says the slightly higher level of spending in June this year follows a similar pattern seen in the previous two months.
'Core Retail spending had lifted above year-ago levels in April and May, and the continued modest annual growth in June will mean the just-completed June quarter will be the first quarter of annual growth since early 2025.'
Proffit says while the 1.2% annual growth rate for the quarter may not be high, the turnaround may prove significant in the second half of 2025.
'While June is historically the slowest month of the year for retail merchants, June this year was set to be even slower than last year given a Monday replaced a Saturday in the calendar. So, it is especially encouraging to see positive annual growth recorded.'
However, Proffit also says figures recorded through Hospitality sector merchants point out some of the mixed nature of consumer spending at present.
'The consumer spend at Hospitality merchants in Worldline NZ's network was $0.85B over June 2025 and down -2.4% on 2024 but differed across the country,' he says.
'The decline was greater in Auckland/Northland (-4.3%), while the decline was only slight in Nelson (-0.5%), with the Nelson fall largely due to Hospitality spending dropping an average of -21% on the final Thursday-to-Saturday in the month, due to major weather events.'
Notably, consumer spending was up in the Waikato region (+3.3%), both before and after the annual mid-month Fieldays event held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.
Within the total Core Retail sector, annual spending growth for June was highest in Whanganui (+6.9%), Taranaki (+4.1%) and Nelson (+4.0%), while spending declined on the same month last year in Wellington (-1.8%) and Auckland/Northland (-0.7%).
Note:
These figures reflect general market trends and should not be taken as a proxy for Worldline's market share or company earnings. The figures primarily reflect transactions undertaken within stores but also include some e-commerce transactions. The figures exclude transactions through Worldline undertaken by merchants outside the Core Retail sector (as defined by Statistics NZ).
About Worldline in New Zealand
We are New Zealand's leading payments innovator. We design, build and deliver payment solutions that help Kiwi business succeed. Whether you're looking for in store, online or mobile payment solutions or powerful business insights, Worldline is here to help with technology backed by experience. www.worldline.co.nz
About Worldline
Worldline [Euronext: WLN] helps businesses of all shapes and sizes to accelerate their growth journey – quickly, simply, and securely. With advanced payments technology, local expertise and solutions customised for hundreds of markets and industries, Worldline powers the growth of over one million businesses around the world. Worldline generated a 4.6 billion euros revenue in 2024. worldline.com
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Nicola Willis criticised for cost of living ‘sermon' during post-Cabinet press conference
Nicola Willis criticised for cost of living ‘sermon' during post-Cabinet press conference

NZ Herald

timean hour ago

  • NZ Herald

Nicola Willis criticised for cost of living ‘sermon' during post-Cabinet press conference

'Spending more, taxing and borrowing more as Labour and other parties advocate for, didn't work in the past and it won't work in the future,' Luxon said. Finance Minister Nicola Willis during the post-Cabinet Press conference at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell 'The most important thing we can do to make you better off is to double down on our economic plan,' he said. Hipkins called Willis' and Luxon's address a 'sermon' that showed the pair was out of touch with the daily reality of New Zealanders. Although the party said they were going to get 'New Zealand back on track' as per their election campaign slogan, Hipkins claimed 'across the board, New Zealanders can see the country is going backwards.' 'Yet Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis just say – 'oh, that's all part of the plan, we've got this' – they haven't got it. 'Things are getting worse for the vast majority of New Zealanders and no amount of spin from them is going to change the reality that things are getting worse for New Zealanders under their leadership. 'I think we should start calling them Fisher and Paykel because they've got more spin than a front load washing machine.' Tax relief was a major part of National's 2023 election campaign amid flaring inflation and a cost of living crisis. The party campaigned on a series of policies aimed at helping the 'squeezed middle', including adjusting tax rates, increasing tax credits and FamilyBoost. These policies came into effect in July last year. Willis said today the average household is $1,560 better off after the Government's tax relief package. 'We have also introduced FamilyBoost, which with the latest expansion gives families up to 40 per cent off their childcare costs. 'We have removed the Auckland fuel tax, introduced 12-month prescriptions, increased the rates rebate for 66,000 seniors and increased Working for Families payments.' Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon arriving for the post-Cabinet Press conference. Photo / Mark Mitchell Luxon stressed that a year and half into the term, he and his party were still fixated on improving the economy and the cost of living. Things were still tough for many families but the economy was 'expected to grow on average 2.7% per year creating 240,000 jobs over the next four years. 'In the short term we are pulling every lever we can to help Kiwi families with the cost of living.' The Government also announced the scrapping of surcharges at the till, such as when a customer uses PayWave or their mobile phone to make a payment. 'New Zealanders are paying up to $150 million in surcharges every year. That's money that could be saved or spent elsewhere.' Luxon also said the changes the Government were making to construction would help reduce costs for businesses and New Zealanders. Earlier in the day, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced she would review safety rules for scaffolding, saying she had received many complaints from the construction industry that current regulations were too complex and expensive. Van Velden was light on the details of what specifically would be reviewed, but said officials would consult on proposed new rules that would give people a selection of safety options depending on how dangerous the job was. 'If it's not very risky, they will not need to use expensive scaffolding. 'For example, they will be considering whether a ladder could be used instead of scaffolding for a simple roof gutter repair or minor electrical maintenance when working at height.'

Clearer Rules And Prequalification Guidance To Support Construction
Clearer Rules And Prequalification Guidance To Support Construction

Scoop

time2 hours ago

  • Scoop

Clearer Rules And Prequalification Guidance To Support Construction

Hon Brooke van Velden Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety As part of wider Government health and safety reforms, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden will be consulting with builders and construction professionals to improve productivity. 'We're simplifying scaffolding rules and streamlining the prequalification process to make them more practical and better aligned with the level of risk. 'I have heard concerns from the construction sector that scaffolding rules are too complex,' says Ms van Velden. The current rules have led to a common view that scaffolding should be used in all situations regardless of risk. This has resulted in the overuse of costly scaffolding when it isn't required for safety. 'Over-compliance needlessly drags down construction productivity, increasing building time and costs for the sector, and impacting new builds and Kiwi homeowners. "My officials will be consulting on proposed new rules that will let people choose safe options based on how dangerous the job is. Officials are currently refining options for a risk-based hierarchy of controls for work at heights (i.e. when to use ladders, harnesses, scaffolding) to test with industry,' says Ms van Velden. 'Changes will ensure scaffolding use is better aligned with the level of risk. If it's not very risky, they will not need to use expensive scaffolding. For example, they will be considering whether a ladder could be used instead of scaffolding for a simple roof gutter repair or minor electrical maintenance when working at height. 'I believe changes to scaffolding rules should help reduce costs and speed up work for tradies, construction firms, homeowners and anyone else who needs construction, painting, maintenance or other work done at height. 'One of the other common themes I heard on the roadshow was frustration with the wide range of prequalification systems and the time and money they take to complete. I have listened, which is why I am acting to help this sector. 'Businesses feel like they have to jump through hoops to tick a compliance box when getting prequalified, even though the prequalification often involves little reflection of the real-world risks workers face. Some have said they have walked away from clients as the cost of getting prequalified is not worth the value of the work. 'A lack of consistency across providers means that suppliers need to get a new prequalification for every job they tender for, with one submitter saying they completed 76 in a year. That's not a good use of anyone's time or money. 'I've asked WorkSafe to work with industry to revise its prequalification guidance, including developing free-to-use templates to improve national consistency.' There is also a need for clearer guidance on overlapping duties. This is when multiple businesses share responsibility for managing risks on the same site, such as when builders and drainlayers are both working on the same site and must work together to manage risks. 'I have asked WorkSafe to develop an Approved Code of Practice [ACOP] on clarifying overlapping duties, as the current ambiguity may be encouraging the over-use of prequalifications in situations where it is not necessary. Clearer guidance will help businesses understand when and how they need to work together to manage risks.' Work is also underway to update the scaffolding certificate of competence categories, with a review of certificate fees to follow. These certificates show what types of scaffolding work a person is qualified to carry out, from basic to more advanced scaffolding. 'Concerns have been raised about the distinction between qualifications and actual competency. Many feel that on-the-job experience should be better recognised. There's also confusion about what constitutes sufficient training, and frustration with inconsistent advice from regulators. 'After consultation, I will be seeking Cabinet approval to update the categories and fees to ensure they better reflect current costs and industry best practice. 'I am confident that these changes, which are designed to address the concerns of the construction sector, will support safe and more efficient practices,' says Ms van Velden. 'These changes will save time and costs for businesses and workers as we cut red-tape to make it easier to do business. When our Kiwi businesses thrive, there are more jobs and lower prices for all New Zealanders.' Notes: These changes are part of the wider health and safety reform, which delivers on the ACT-National Coalition Agreement commitment to reform health and safety laws and regulations. Prequalification is a common way construction businesses check if a company or contractor is ready and able to do a construction job safely, before they're allowed to bid for or start work. Prequalifications are also often used by businesses outside of the construction sector – for example, local councils using them for groundskeeping tenders. However, prequalifications are most prominently used in the construction industry. A summary of all the changes and major milestones: Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations to simplify the scaffolding rule for construction, including the general work at height 3-metre rule. Targeted stakeholder consultation July - Sept 2025 Cabinet decisions in November/December Commencement mid 2026 Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regs to update the fee for scaffolding certificates of competence. Targeted stakeholder consultation July - Dec 2025 Cabinet decisions in March 2026 Commencement mid 2026 Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations to update the scaffolding certificate of competence definitions Cabinet LEG decisions Aug Commencement Sep 2025 WorkSafe will work with the industry to revise prequalification guidance and clarify overlapping duties by developing a construction roles and responsibilities ACOP. Targeted stakeholder consultation Aug - Sep 2025 Develop guidance and ACOP Oct 2025 – April 2026

Government proposes scaffolding rules change to align with risk level
Government proposes scaffolding rules change to align with risk level

RNZ News

time7 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Government proposes scaffolding rules change to align with risk level

Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver The government wants to streamline "complex" scaffolding rules to cut costs and boost building time. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden will begin consulting with builders and construction professionals on how to simplify scaffolding rules and the prequalification process. Prequalification checks are done before a company or contractor can bid on or start work, to verify whether they can do a job safely. In a statement, van Velden said there are concerns from the sector scaffolding rules are too complex and have led to a view that scaffolding should be used in all situations, regardless of risk. "Over-compliance needlessly drags down construction productivity, increasing building time and costs for the sector, and impacting new builds and Kiwi homeowners." she said. Photo: 123rf Officials will consult on some proposed new rules, which would let people choose safety options based on how dangerous the job was. "Changes will ensure scaffolding use is better aligned with the level of risk. If it's not very risky, they will not need to use expensive scaffolding. For example, they will be considering whether a ladder could be used instead of scaffolding for a simple roof gutter repair or minor electrical maintenance when working at height. She said many in the industry were frustrated with the time and money prequalifications took to complete. "Businesses feel like they have to jump through hoops to tick a compliance box when getting prequalified, even though the prequalification often involves little reflection of the real-world risks workers face. Some have said they have walked away from clients as the cost of getting prequalified is not worth the value of the work." "A lack of consistency across providers means that suppliers need to get a new prequalification for every job they tender for, with one submitter saying they completed 76 in a year." Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone WorkSafe will work with the industry to revise its prequalification guidance and develop an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) to cut down on their over-use. The inister said work was also underway to update scaffolding certificate of competence categories, with a review of certificate fees set to follow. "Concerns have been raised about the distinction between qualifications and actual competency. Many feel that on-the-job experience should be better recognised. There's also confusion about what constitutes sufficient training, and frustration with inconsistent advice from regulators," van Velden said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero], a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store