Markets in Asia and the Pacific were higher at the close of the trading week.
The New Zealand benchmark index rose 42 points to close at 2961 on Friday on turnover of $110 million.
Top stocks were mainly higher. Fletcher Building gained 13 cents to $7.27, while Contact Energy also rose 13c to $6.14. Telecom was 1c lower at $2.80.
Auckland International Airport was up 8c to $1.72, while Air New Zealand was up 1c to 99c.
Big miners helped drive Australia's stock market to its highest close since November last year.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed up 25.7 points, or 0.63%, at 4089.8 points, the highest close since 10 November.
The broader All Ordinaries index gained 24.7 points, or 0.61%, to 4097.3 points, its highest level since 6 November.
Japanese share prices rose 1.55% on Friday, closing at the highest level in more than three weeks after Wall Street posted its best finish of 2009 in the wake of upbeat earnings news.
The benchmark Nikkei-225 index climbed 151.61 points to 9,944.55, the strongest close since 30 June.
The broader Topix index of all first section shares gained 11.79 points, or 1.30%, to 920.48.
Hong Kong share prices closed 0.83% higher, in an up-and-down session that saw the main index briefly cross 20,000 points for the first time since September, dealers said.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 165.09 points at 19,982.79.