Business and Economic Research

What Business and Economic Research does

Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) is a New Zealand-based, privately-held economic research consultancy founded in 1957 and headquartered in Wellington. The firm delivers commissioned economic research, policy analysis, forecasting, and economic impact assessments to government agencies, iwi/Māori organisations, industry associations, business enterprises, and community groups. Its work spans demographic, labor, sectoral, and cultural-economy analysis, with deep specialization in Te Ōhanga Māori (the Māori economy).

The company's product surface combines project-based consulting with two proprietary interactive dashboards: the GDP Dashboard, which visualizes production GDP, expenditure GDP, annual change, and industry-specific metrics filtered by year and industry, and the Te Ōhanga Māori Dashboard, covering population, employment, households, GDP, and collectives/businesses. Data inputs draw on official statistics via Infoshare. Other core offerings include the Quarterly Economic Brief (published continuously since 1957), Economic Insights articles spanning roughly twenty topic areas, and Our Mahi commissioned research services categorized into People, Te Ōhanga Māori, Development, Pro bono, Economy and Policy, and Global.

BERL generates revenue through custom-quoted professional services engagements rather than disclosed productized pricing. It is an All-of-Government approved provider and a Living Wage Employer. Distribution is direct-to-client, supported by content marketing via website insights, a bi-weekly BERL Bulletin newsletter, and a LinkedIn presence. The technology stack is a conventional consultancy web platform (Drupal-based on berl.co.nz) rather than a SaaS product, with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, or AI-native systems.

Name

Business and Economic Research

Legal name

Business and Economic Research Ltd

Website

https://berl.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BERL is a Wellington-based economic research consultancy founded in 1957 that delivers commissioned research, policy analysis, forecasting, and impact assessments to New Zealand government agencies, iwi/Māori organisations, industry associations, and businesses, supported by proprietary GDP and Te Ōhanga Māori dashboards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Research & Consultancy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

Keywords

• Economic research
• Policy analysis
• Economic consulting
• Forecasting services
• Impact assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Research and Consultancy: BERL conducts commissioned research and provides economic analysis and consultancy services to government agencies, iwi, organisations, and businesses. Projects include economic impact assessments, policy analysis, forecasting, and strategic planning.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BERL provides independent economic research, policy analysis, forecasting, and consultancy services to government agencies, iwi, businesses, industry associations, and community organisations in New Zealand. Its commissioned work includes economic impact assessments, policy development support, economic modelling, and the publication of the Quarterly Economic Brief alongside interactive GDP and Te Ōhanga Māori dashboards.

Product overview

Business and Economic Research (BERL) is an economic research consultancy offering a portfolio of research products and services. The core offerings include the GDP Dashboard (interactive visualization tool for economic data), Te Ōhanga Māori Dashboard (Māori economy indicators), Quarterly Economic Brief (quarterly forecasts published since 1957), Economic Insights (topic-based analysis articles), and Our Mahi (commissioned research services). The company operates as a research-led consultancy providing economic analysis, forecasting, and policy research for business enterprises, iwi, public sector clients, and community groups in New Zealand. No technology platform, API, or SaaS product is offered—the services are consultancy-based research deliverables.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GDP Dashboard

Quantifiable outcome

• Len Lye Centre delivers $24.8 million in economic impact
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TāwhiriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2012, BERL has been a proud supporter of Tāwhiri, the creative force behind the New Zealand Festival, Wellington Jazz Festival, Second Unit, and Lexus Song Quest. BERL provides impact assessment expertise to help evaluate the significance of their events and assist in future development of creative activities in communities.
• Taranaki Arts Festival TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing supporter since 2010, producing economic impact assessments including yearly assessments for the Powerco Taranaki Garden Festival since 2012. BERL's work helps demonstrate the value that TAFT festivals bring to the Taranaki region.
• Royal New Zealand BalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partners since 2024, supporting the RNZB to better understand their economic and social significance within the arts sector, showcasing their contribution to communities, and highlighting the broader impact of ballet on society.
• Creative Capital Arts TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewest partner in 2025, BERL provides CCAT with tools to understand the full impact of their events through data analysis. CCAT delivers iconic Pōneke events including New Zealand Fringe Festival, CubaDupa, and Classical on Cuba.
• Federation of Māori AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose and mutually beneficial relationship since 1987. BERL is a respected partner and preferred provider of economic and policy advice to FOMA, while FOMA is a preferred provider to BERL in te ao Māori and te Ōhanga Māori space. Both organisations work in joint project teams to best serve Māori clients.
• Wellington City MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBERL supports the Wellington City Mission's work through research and advice for grant applications, professional expertise, ongoing funding, fundraising assistance, volunteering hours, and regular food bank donations. Integral to BERL's kaupapa about people and wellbeing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Infometrics: New Zealand economic forecasting and analysis firm producing regional and industry economic projections. Directly comparable to BERL in offering economic data, forecasting, and impact analysis to NZ government, iwi, and business clients.
• Sense Partners: Wellington-based economic and public policy consultancy. Closely comparable to BERL in scope, serving NZ central and local government with economic analysis, policy advice, and impact assessments.
• New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER): NZ's leading independent economic research institute, producing quarterly forecasts and policy analysis. Closest direct peer to BERL — both serve government and business clients with macroeconomic forecasting, policy research, and economic impact assessments in New Zealand.
• MartinJenkins: Wellington-based management and economic consultancy serving NZ public sector. Overlaps with BERL in policy and economic advisory work for government agencies, though broader in scope including organizational and operational consulting.
• Sapere Research Group: New Zealand and Australian economic and policy consultancy. Comparable to BERL in delivering public-sector economic research, regulatory analysis, and policy evaluation across government clients.

Broad incumbents

• EY New Zealand: Big Four firm with NZ public-sector economic and policy advisory capability. Comparable to BERL in addressing NZ government economic research needs, with broader consulting, tax, and transactions services.
• KPMG New Zealand: Big Four firm providing economic advisory and policy work to NZ government. Competes with BERL on substantial economic-analysis mandates while offering a wider portfolio of professional services.
• Deloitte New Zealand: Big Four firm with an NZ economics and public-sector consulting practice. Overlaps with BERL on large-scale economic impact and policy work for central and local government, with broader service breadth.
• PwC New Zealand: Big Four professional services firm with a substantial NZ public-sector advisory practice. Competes with BERL for larger NZ government economic and policy commissions while also offering audit, tax, and broader consulting services.

Regional players

• Covec: New Zealand economic consultancy specializing in environmental, resource, and regional economic analysis. Comparable to BERL in providing NZ-focused economic research and impact assessments, with a particular emphasis on environmental economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/business-and-economic-research-limited-berl-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Business and Economic Research