Residential building consent values up in June year, non-residential down

The value of consents issued for residential buildings rose 12 percent for the June 2010 year compared with the June 2009 year, Statistics New Zealand said today.

In contrast, the value for non-residential buildings fell 18 percent for the June 2010 year. Consent values remain at a low level.

In the June 2010 year, 15,384 new housing units, excluding apartments, were authorised, a 25 percent increase from the June 2009 year. However, this is the second lowest annual total for a June year since the series began in 1991. The June 2009 year was the lowest annual total.

"In the June 2010 year, 783 new apartment units were authorised, which is the lowest since 1994," business statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver said.

The monthly trend for the number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartments, has been increasing since early 2009. However, the level is 31 percent lower than the peak in June 2007.

The seasonally adjusted number of new housing units authorised, excluding apartments, rose 1.7 percent for the June 2010 month, following a 10 percent fall in May 2010. When the volatile apartment category is included, the number of new housing units authorised rose 3.5 percent, following a 9.5 percent fall in May 2010.

In June 2010, residential building consents were issued for:

• 1,316 new housing units, excluding apartments
• 57 new apartment units.

Data for building consents is obtained each month from all territorial authorities.