Housing consent numbers remain at low level

Building consents were authorised for 1,165 new housing units, excluding apartments, in August 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today. This is the highest monthly number since September 2008, although it remains at a low level.

Consents were issued for 30 apartment units in August 2009, the lowest number for any month since December 1995. Apartment numbers can vary considerably from month to month.

In August 2009, the seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartments, rose 2.8 percent, following an 11.4 percent rise in July 2009. Although the level is still low, it is at its highest since September 2008. Including apartments, the seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised rose 1.7 percent, following a 4.5 percent rise in July 2009.

The trend for the number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartments, has been increasing in recent months, although it remains at a low level. When apartments are included, the trend has been increasing since January 2009, although it has eased in recent months.

For August 2009, the value of residential building consents was $440 million, while the value for non-residential building consents was $384 million. The largest contributor to the value of non-residential building consents was social, cultural, and religious buildings, which included several indoor sports facilities in August 2009.

For the August 2009 year, the value of consents issued for residential buildings fell 27 percent, while the value for non-residential buildings rose 8 percent, compared with the August 2008 year.

Geoff Bascand 29 September 2009
Government Statistician