NZ design industry ‘worth more than agriculture’

New Zealand’s creative and commercial design industries contribute more than $10 billion annually to the country’s economy, according to a study led by Massey University.

It looked at 29 industries that involved design activity, ranging from the creative arts to interactive technology, manufacturing, food and beverages, agriculture and human health services.

The study argues that if NZ design was included as an industry sector in national economic data, it would be “be bigger than agriculture, and on a par with retail trade” in its contribution to GDP.