Housing Consents Trend Down

Embargoed until 10:45am – 28 February 2007

Housing Consents Trend Down

The trend for the number of new housing units authorised has been steadily decreasing since August 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today. In January 2007, building consents were issued for 1,880 new housing units, 20 less than the previous January.

The trend for the value of all residential consents is also decreasing. However, the value of consents issued for residential buildings in January 2007 was $538 million, 7 percent higher than in January 2006.

There were 219 apartment units authorised in January 2007, compared with 113 in December 2006 and 179 in November. Apartment numbers are volatile and vary considerably from month to month.

For non-residential buildings, the value of consents issued in January 2007 was $245 million, 2 percent higher than in January 2006. Storage buildings had the largest increase, while education buildings had the largest decrease.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

ENDS

© Scoop Media