House consents up, but total dwellings trend flat – Media release

30 June 2016

Building consents for new dwellings are at a higher level than in 2015, but there has been little growth in recent months, Statistics New Zealand said today.

“The trend for new stand-alone houses is increasing, but for all dwellings is flat," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. "Fluctuations in apartments, townhouses, and other dwelling types offset steady growth in stand-alone houses."

In May 2016, 2,520 new dwellings were consented, including 1,956 new stand-alone houses. This is the highest monthly number of new houses since August 2007.

In seasonally adjusted terms the number of new dwellings fell 0.9 percent in May compared with April, following a 6.8 percent rise in April.

In May 2016, the regions that consented the most new dwellings were:

• Auckland – 732 (up 81 from the same month in 2015)

• Canterbury – 618 (up 69 due to an increase in apartments)

• Waikato – 317 (up 63).

Annual dwellings total still at 11-year high

In the year to May 2016, 28,387 new dwellings were consented, up 13 percent from 25,114 in the May 2015 year. This is an 11-year high. Most of the growth was in Auckland and nearby regions, while Canterbury decreased.

Auckland and Canterbury regions contributed most non-residential building consents in the year to May 2016, with the value growing in both regions when compared with the May 2015 year.

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1606/BuildingConsentsIssuedMay16.pdf

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1606/bciMay16tables.xls

ENDS

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