WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer confidence in New Zealand rose in the first quarter, reversing most of a drop that followed a national election last year, a survey showed on Tuesday.
The Westpac-McDermott Miller consumer confidence index rose to 111.2 from 107.4. A reading above 100 indicates more optimists than pessimists.
"It’s not unusual to see a bit of nervousness around major events like elections, or for the related wobbles in confidence to fade after a few months," a statement accompanying the survey said.
A centre-left Labour government took office in October, ending almost a decade of centre-right rule.
The survey said the hospitality sector has seen positive conditions and households were feeling more upbeat about the economy's long-term trajectory. The number of households saying they had increased spending on entertainment and dining out was at its highest level in 11 years.
(Reporting by Marius Zaharia; editing by John Stonestreet)
