Activity in the manufacturing sector remains solid, but is expanding at a slower rate.
April's result was the second highest for the manufacturing sector since September last year. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The BNZ - Business New Zealand Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) fell 1.2 points in April to 56.8 when compared with March.
A reading above 50 indicates the sector is expanding.
Despite the monthly fall, it represents the second highest result since September last year.
Production, employment and new orders fell last month, while deliveries rose.
Craig Ebert, a senior economist at BNZ, said expansion in the sector remained on track.
"There weren't any significant jags in the main component detail of the PMI for April, leaving them all looking good... overall, April's PMI was another deserving of a big tick," he said.