Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Manufacturing Index rose strongly, up 9.4 points in March to 63.6, the highest monthly result since the survey began in 2002. The result showed a strong boost in new orders and production, with manufacturers seeing an increase in demand both locally and overseas. Separately, the Performance of Services Index also climbed back into expansion, up 2.7 points in March to 52.4. The improvement was led by an increase in activities in sales and new orders.