South Island districts took four of the top five places in a national study of economic growth across 73 territorial authorities by Business and Economic Research (Berl).
Queenstown-Lakes District took out the top spot, based on a first-placed ranking in resident population growth and business growth.
The district ranked thirdin employment growth and fourth in gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
Rodney District, the only North Island district in the top five, came in second overall.
The district placed third in resident population growth, fifth in business growth, sixth in employment growth and seventh in GDP growth.
Tasman District was third overall, taking third place in GDP growth, fourth in business growth, seventh in population growth and eleventh in employment growth.
Kaikoura took out fourth place.
The district ranked first in employment and GDP growth, and second for business growth, but was hampered by a 34th placing in resident population growth.
The top five was rounded out by the Marlborough District.
Berl's regional economic index ranks the districts on four base indicators: resident population growth, employment growth, GDP growth and the growth in the number of businesses.
A positive result across all the indicators is needed for a top ranking in the index.
Berl said: "This shows that it is not purely the main urban centres that are the drivers of growth in the economy."
At the other end of the spectrum, the district sitting at number 73 in the rankings was Ruapehu.
In Auckland, Manukau City was just out of the top rankings at number 6.
Waitakere City was 13, North Shore City 15 and Auckland City was number 32.
How they rank:
* Top five districts 1. Queenstown-Lakes 2. Rodney 3. Tasman 4. Kaikoura 5. Marlborough
