New Zealand's achieved its first trading surplus, since May last year

Statistics NZ trade data for March 2024 shows a monthly surplus of $588-million.

Factored into that is a 12 percent rise in exports -- but also a 25 percent drop in goods imports.

Export New Zealand executive director Josh Tan says fruit exports are the major factor in the rise in exports -- increasing about 74 percent.

He says that's led by a significantly better crop this year of both kiwifruit and apples.