3. Economic Growth—IndicatorsCHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister of FinanceEconomic Growth—Indicators3. CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister of Finance: Which sector can he report is mostly driving growth in view of last week's GDP figures which showed the New Zealand economy is the third-fastest growing in the OECD?Chris Hipkins: What a patsy!Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance): Thank you for that insightful question. The figures for GDP last week show that it is the private sector driving the majority of growth with GDP expanding 4 percent in the year to June on an expenditure basis. By comparison public sector GDP expanded by 1.7 percent. This is quite a turnaround from 7 or 8 years ago under the previous Government where for instance in the year to 2008 public sector GDP expanded by 4.6 percent and private sector GDP fell by 0.1 percent—and the economy had been in recession for all of that year. Part of the Government's focus in economic management is to have a thriving private sector and an effective and stable public sector.Chris Bishop: What reports has he received showing that the growing economy is delivering more jobs for New Zealand households and families?Hon BILL ENGLISH: One of the measures of economic progress is whether people can see that there are more jobs and better job opportunities. ANZ reports that job ads increased for the seventh consecutive month and are now 12 percent higher than a year ago. ANZ says: That's [the] sign of a strong labour market." Auckland job ads are up 14 percent; Wellington job ads are up 11 percent. The regions are enjoying even stronger growth in job ads: Waikato job ads are up 21 percent Hawke's Bay job ads are up 21 percent Manawatū ads are up 16 percent and Otago ads are up 15 percent. All are higher than Auckland and Wellington.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why has the Minister shirked from admitting what every economist recognises as the biggest driver of our current GDP mass immigration?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Because as so often with that member's assertions on economics he is simply not right.Chris Bishop: How is the growing economy being supported by growth in manufacturing?Hon BILL ENGLISH: I have paid some attention to the manufacturing figures because it has been a wee while since the Labour Party declared the manufacturing crisis. In fact since it declared that crisis manufacturing has grown pretty much every quarter and the so-called crisis continues. The recent BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index shows a reading of 55.1 with readings above 50 percent indicating growth. The sector has remained in solid expansion in nearly all months since 2012.Chris Bishop: How is the growing economy driving an increase in consumer and business confidence?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Consumer sentiment according to the ANZ lifted in September—the fourth consecutive increase and the highest reading since January. It reports a particularly strong lift in the outlook for future economic conditions with a net 31 percent believing they will be better off in 12 months' time. I would have thought that with the new positive strategy the Labour Party is following it would be pleased about that rather than critical."