A Great Barrier snapshot

Business premises, including lodges and homes, are heated with woodstoves/ burners. Power is solar or generatordriven. Water is collected off the roof, mainly, for tanks. If you want ‘off- the- grid living’ this is the place.

Tourism provides the major business opportunities and is the main source of employment – accounting for one-in-five jobs. Median income has risen from around $11,000 in 2006 to $ 30,300 in 2016.

GDP growth of 3.5 percent, in broadly the same period, was better than Auckland’s 2.3.

There are far fewer residents in the 15 to 34 age group as many leave for education and work. ‘Labourers’ and ‘Community and personal service workers’ are the only two employment categories where the Island is ahead of the rest of Auckland.