An economist says new tourism and migration figures show the economy is starting to hum

Stats NZ data shows just over three-and-a-half million overseas visitors came in the year to December 2025, up six-percent annually.

It is the first time the annual figure's surpassed 3.5 million, since March 2020.

ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith says it is an extremely positive signal for the economy.

He says there are a record number of Australians visiting, and the low New Zealand dollar is encouraging more spending.