Master Builders happy with continuing upward trend

Media Release
29 September 2009

Registered Master Builders happy with continuing upward trend in building activity

The Registered Master Builders Federation says that figures released today by Statistics New Zealand, continue to give confidence that the construction industry is beginning to recover, albeit slow and coming off an unprecedented low level of activity.

RMBF CEO Warwick Quinn said that the 2.8 percent increase in consents issued for September is another month of growth and shows that consumers are starting to spend again in an industry that has long been the litmus test for the economy in general.

“We’re pleased that the trend is still heading in the right direction after 18 months of decline between mid 2007 and early 2009 but it’s just the start and we have a long way to go,” says Mr Quinn. “We need to be building in the order of 20,000 new homes a year to meet demand and we are still a long way off from that.”

“Our members are reporting increased enquiry and activity,” says Mr Quinn. The numbers show that increases are happening in some parts of the country most recently in the Waikato and Manawatu/Wanganui regions. Also the value of commercial building has improved by 5.9 percent since this same time last year.

With the summer months just ahead and builders readily available, Registered Master Builders believes there has never been a more competitive time to build than at present and homeowners should take advantage of this opportunity.

ENDS

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