Housing consents up in October

Building consents issued in October 2011 show more new houses being approved, compared with October 2010, Statistics New Zealand said today. Most of the increase occurred in Auckland.

"New house approvals show a rising trend for seven consecutive months, following historically low levels," industry and labour statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver said. "Seasonally adjusted numbers fell markedly in September but are up again in October."

Seasonally adjusted housing numbers in October 2011, compared with the previous month, show rises of 11 percent (including apartments) and 7.1 percent (excluding apartments).
Housing approval numbers for October 2011, compared with October 2010, were:

• 1,238 new houses, including apartments, up 10 percent
• 1,149 new houses, excluding apartments, up 4.5 percent
• 89 new apartments, none of which were for assisted-living.

Consent values for October 2011, compared with October 2010, were:

• $736 million total building work, up $49 million
• $460 million residential work, up $45 million
• $276 million non-residential work, up $4 million.

In Canterbury, earthquake-related building consents totalled $26 million in October 2011. This comprised $19 million for non-residential work and $7 million for residential work, including consents for 13 new dwellings.

Data for building consents is obtained from all territorial authorities. For more information on building consent statistics, see Building Consents Issued: October 2011.