New Zealand manufacturing activity continued to expand in August, although the pace moderated from July. The seasonally adjusted Bank of New Zealand-BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index fell to 53.1 from 54.3, remaining above the survey’s long-term average of 52.5. Businesses identified cost-of-living pressures and the Middle East conflict as factors weighing on growth. Readings above 50 indicate expansion, while those below 50 signal contraction.