Despite predictions of lower than global average GDP growth in New Zealand, two thirds of New Zealand 's businesses are optimistic about their outlook for 2010, a global survey has found. Business advising company Grant Thornton surveyed more than 7400 private businesses across 36 economies for its annual International Business Report (IBR) released on Monday. Optimism in New Zealand businesses had risen greatly from last year's survey when only 15 percent were optimistic about their 2009 outlook. This jumped to 66 percent for 2010, the most optimism reported since the 18-year-old survey started including New Zealand in 2003. New Zealand businesses were now the seventh most optimistic and that swing was encouraging, Peter Sherwin, a director of Grant Thornton New Zealand, said. Sherwin said the survey results are encouraging and businesses which have become more efficient during the recession will reap the rewards of the upturn. The survey found North Island businesses were more confident than those in the South Island, with 70 percent reporting a more confident outlook and 66 percent expecting increased revenues. In the south, 57 percent had a more confident outlook and 42 percent expected increased revenues. Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said he is not surprised businesses are feeling more confident than they were 12 months ago and similar recent surveys have also shown an uplift. O'Reilly said increased business confidence is good for New Zealand because companies are more likely to hire and invest. He added many local businesses will also be feeling more optimistic because they have not been affected as badly by the recession as those in the United States and Europe. 