New Zealand's again avoided a recession

Broad-based growth in this year's first quarter ... has driven a one point six per cent rise in GDP.

It follows a one per cent fall in the December quarter.

The Herald's Liam Dann says the first quarter of the year had been expected to be tough.

He says it's the peak of the tourist season, the cruise ships are usually in, and we're usually having the arrival of international students - who didn't turn up.