Band 9: The two line graphs below show New Zealand import figures from Australia and Japan in the years 1994 - 2004. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graphs illustrate the value of New Zealand’s imports from Australia and Japan between 1994 and 2004.

Overall, imports from Australia increased considerably despite several fluctuations, whereas those from Japan showed an opposite pattern, declining sharply after 2000.

In 1994, New Zealand imported goods worth roughly NZ$ 4 billion from Australia, compared with about NZ$ 3 billion from Japan. Australian imports then rose steadily to reach a peak of nearly NZ$ 6.5 billion in 1996 before dropping to around NZ$ 3 billion in 1999. Following this low point, the figure climbed again, peaking at just above NZ$ 7 billion in 2001, and finished the period at approximately NZ$ 8 billion.

By contrast, imports from Japan followed a downward trajectory overall. They rose gradually to about NZ$ 6.2 billion in 1996, dipped in 1998, and experienced a brief recovery to around NZ$ 6 billion in 2000. However, thereafter the value plunged dramatically, reaching only NZ$ 2 billion by 2004.

In summary, Australia became an increasingly important source of imports for New Zealand, while Japan’s contribution diminished significantly over the decade.