Building Consents Issued: March 2009

Building consent statistics for the month of March 2009 show the trend for the number of new housing units
authorised, excluding apartment units, has continued to fall since June 2007, Statistics New Zealand said
today. The trend has fallen by more than half since June 2007, and is currently at its lowest level since
this series began 17 years ago.

The seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartments, fell 1.3 percent
in March 2009.

In March 2009, there were 1,091 new housing units authorised, including 104 apartment units.
The value of non-residential building consents fell 6.4 percent in March 2009 compared with March
2008. However, for the year ended March 2009 compared with the year ended March 2008, the value
of non-residential building consents rose 6.3 percent while the value of residential building consents fell 26
percent.

Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
30 April 2009
END

See also the Hot Off The Press information release Building Consents Issued: March 2009