NZ guest nights rise in March on year earlier

WELLINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - Guest nights in New Zealand short-term commercial accommodation rose 7 percent in March over the same month a year earlier, official data showed on Monday.

All five types of accommodation showed rises, with camping grounds showing the biggest increase, Statistics New Zealand said.

The government agency said the occurrence of the entire Easter holiday in March may have been a factor in the strength of the increase.

Eleven of the country's 12 regions recorded a rise in guest nights compared with a year earlier, with the Canterbury region having the largest rise.

The March gains compared with a 3 percent rise in February on a year earlier, and a 5 percent gain in short-term overseas visitors for March.