High Number of New Dwellings Issued

High Number of New Dwellings Issued

Consents were issued for 2,482 new dwelling units in May 2003, according to Statistics New Zealand. The total number of new dwelling units for May 2003 is the largest May monthly total recorded since 1976. For the three months ending May 2003, new dwellings issued have averaged 2,400 units. This compares with averages of 2,100 units for the three months ending February 2003, and 2,800 units for the three months ending November 2002.

In May 2003, consents for 324 new apartment units were issued, compared with 447 in April 2003, and 476 in March 2003. For the year ended May 2003, there were 5,881 new apartments, up 2,647 or 82 percent, when compared with the year ended May 2002.

Of the total number of new dwelling units in May 2003, 852 or 34 percent were from the Auckland region. When comparing May 2003 with May 2002, the number of new dwelling units issued in the Auckland region was 71 units lower. Other regions showing significant changes were Canterbury (up 84 units), Waikato (up 58 units), Bay of Plenty (up 45 units) and Wellington (up 42 units).

The total value of non-residential building consents issued in May 2003 was $199 million. This follows totals of $233 million in April 2003, and $211 million in March 2003. Consents issued for shops, restaurants and taverns were worth $46 million, 23 percent of the non-residential buildings total value in May 2003. Consents for offices and administration buildings contributed $25 million or 12 percent, and storage buildings, factories and industrial buildings, both contributed $22 million or 11 percent.

The total value of consents issued for all buildings in May 2003 was $724 million. Residential buildings contributed 72 percent of the total value for all buildings in May 2003, compared with 66 percent for May 2002. For the year ended May 2003, the total value of consents for all buildings was $8,154 million, up $1,128 million or 16 percent when compared with the year ended May 2002.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

© Scoop Media