The Bay of Plenty has had the biggest increase in prosperity in the country, according to new data from Statistics New Zealand.
But a concerned budget adviser says there are few signs that lower-income families are sharing in the prosperity.
The latest Statistics NZ figures released yesterday show the Bay's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 7.7per cent topped the country in the year to March 2016, ahead of Auckland with 6 per cent and Otago with 4.8 per cent.
GDP is a measure used by economists to calculate prosperity.
Over a longer period of five years, the Bay of Plenty's growth rate of 21.6 per cent came fourth behind Marlborough (32.3 per cent), Canterbury (31.9) and Auckland (31.1).
Statistics NZ senior national accounts manager Gary Dunnet said the Bay of Plenty's growth was "underpinned by strong performances across the professional and administrative services, and agriculture, primarily kiwifruit".
Regional GDP growth was up across 12 of New Zealand's 15 regions.
Tauranga and Western Bay leaders welcomed the figures.
Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said there was more to the city's growth than the building boom.
"As more and more people are coming to work here, they're not just building houses but are also starting businesses too, and that's a good sign," he said.
"They are becoming part of the city."
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said there had been a strong performance in many sectors and industries. The agriculture and horticultural industries were booming, and there was "huge demand" in the construction sector. This was driving jobs growth and boosting the economy.
"There's a great vibe here."
Western Bay of Plenty District Council deputy mayor Mike Williams said population growth was a driving factor as the Bay of Plenty was probably one of the best areas in New Zealand to live.
The growth was sustainable as long as it was managed well, he said.
"Council has to look at not just how they handle the growth but where they place it and look at the make-up of the towns and cities."
Meanwhile, the kiwifruit industry was growing at "rocket pace", avocados had picked up, and Katikati was a tech hub which attracted specialised businesses, he said.
Priority One projects manager Annie Hill said its statistics provider, Infometrics, had calculated real GDP for Tauranga at 4.4 per cent and Western Bay at 6 per cent for 2016.
"We are experiencing very strong economic growth and have topped the country on most economic indicators over the last two years, particularly job growth and GDP growth, and have also had strong business growth."
But Tauranga Budget Advisory Service manager Diane Bruin said the average Joe Bloggs on the lower economic level was unlikely to see any benefits for six months despite more employment and confidence.
High rents had hit wage earners hard and rising wage rates would be great "but there is more competition for employment and while there is kiwifruit coming up which is good, it's still seasonal".
More people were also in debt that was self inflicted "as they sort of think the good times are coming".