• The ANZ bank’s survey for August showed a net 15.5 percent of companies were optimistic about the coming year, which was fractionally lower than July.

But businesses were slightly more confident for themselves, with nearly 34 percent expecting an improvement, compared with 31.4 percent in July.

The building and service sectors were the most confident, but agricultural based businesses trailed the survey although they were much less pessimistic.

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Construction

The construction sector remained strong despite the maturing Christchurch earthquake rebuild, ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie said. Photo: RNZ / Claire Eastham-Farrelly