WELLINGTON New Zealand's trade boom is levelling off after 23 months of rising exports, according to official figures released on Tuesday.

The value of exports in the March quarter was 3.3 percent lower than the last three months of 2000 while imports rose 11.6 percent, **** Statistics New Zealand *** reported.

Exports of meat, wool and fruit fell in the quarter and were only partly offset by rising sales of dairy products, DPA reported.