Agriculture is the principal industry on which the New Zealand economy is based.
Fertiliser use is a significant input in this industry. However, as fertiliser runoff is a main cause of nutrient loading of waterways, it is important to know the quantities used on the New Zealand landscape. Fertiliser use is a good indicator of the increasing demand being placed on both productive and marginal land, which, without fertiliser, would be unable to produce as quickly or to the same level of productivity. Indicators should be used in conjunction with other socio-economic indicators and are intended to complement the Ministry for the Environment's environmental indicators . Click on an icon below for other strands of socio-economic indicators.