Bay of Plenty economy ranked top performer in latest Infometrics regional report 17 May, 2021 05:00 PM 5 minutes to read Aerial Photos showing Whakatane coast after a Tsunami warning on the Bay of Plenty Coastline. 05 March 2021 The Daily Post Photograph by Andrew Warner. Aerial Photos showing Whakatane coast after a Tsunami warning on the Bay of Plenty Coastline. 05 March 2021 The Daily Post Photograph by Andrew Warner. Slow growth in Rotorua's hard-hit economy has not stopped the Bay of Plenty from being ranked New Zealand's top regional economic performer. Dairy, horticulture, wood, and some of the best beaches in the country have seen the region's economy rise 3 per cent compared to the same time last year. The national economy slipped back 0.3 per cent.