Building Consents Strong in March

Building Consents Strong in March

Consents were issued for 3,037 new dwelling units in March 2004, according to Statistics New Zealand. This is the highest total for a March month since 1976. The trend series for the number of new dwelling units has been rising since April 2003.

Consents for 31,423 new dwelling units were issued in the year ended March 2004, up 11 percent when compared with the year ended March 2003.

The total value of consents for residential buildings (including alterations and additions, and outbuildings) reached $674 million in March 2004, the highest total recorded since the series began in February 1973.

Ten out of 16 regions recorded more new dwelling units in March 2004 compared with March 2003. Canterbury (up 116 units) recorded the largest increase in new dwelling units when comparing the two March months, followed by Auckland (up 103 units) and Waikato (up 101 units). The Auckland region contributed 1,191 units (39 percent) to the total number of new dwelling units in March 2004.

The total value of non-residential building consents issued in March 2004 was $322 million. This follows totals of $213 million in February 2004 and $217 million in January 2004.

Consents issued for education buildings were worth $52 million (16 percent) of the total non-residential buildings value in March 2004. This was followed by consents issued for offices and administration buildings worth $51 million (16 percent), factories and industrial buildings worth $49 million (15 percent), and shops, restaurants and taverns worth $46 million (14 percent).

The total value of consents issued for all buildings in March 2004 was $996 million – the highest total recorded since the series began in April 1976. For the year ended March 2004, the total value of consents for all buildings was $9,682 million, up $1,630 million (20 percent) when compared with the year ended March 2003.

Ian Ewing

Acting Government Statistician

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