New Dwelling Numbers Steady

New Dwelling Numbers Steady

Consents were issued for 1,797 new dwelling units in February 2003, a similar level to that recorded in February 2002, according to Statistics New Zealand. During December 2002 and January and February 2003, the average number of new dwellings authorised in each month was about 2,100. The average number of dwellings authorised in the same three months a year earlier stood at about 1,580.

Consents were issued for 27,769 new dwellings for the year ending February 2003, up 6,731 units or 32 percent compared with the year ended February 2002. The total number of new dwellings for the year ended February 2003 is the largest February year total recorded since February 1977. The total value of non-residential building consents issued in February 2003 was $206 million.

This follows totals of $176 million in January 2003 and $212 million in December 2002. Consents issued for hostels and boarding houses were worth $54 million, 26 percent of the non-residential buildings total in February 2003. Consents for education buildings contributed $30 million or 14 percent, and social, cultural and religious buildings contributed $24 million or 11 percent.

The total value of consents issued for all buildings in February 2003 was $605 million. Residential buildings contributed 66 percent of the total value for all buildings in February 2003, compared with 67 percent in February 2002. For the year ended February 2003, the total value of consents for all buildings was $7,892 million, up $1,144 million or 17 percent when compared with the year ended February 2002.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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