A possible sign of the economic recovery with Michael Hill's New Zealand operation reporting its first positive result in more than two years. 

In the six months to December the jeweller made $62 million worth of sales, increasing by 2.4%. 

First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson says jewellery's a good sign of discretionary spending and consumer confidence. 

He told Mike Hosking there are also positive economic signs elsewhere. 

Wilkinson says there's a lot of benefits in areas where these large projects are taking place and provinces are doing well, with agriculture also strong. 

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