Highest number of new houses in five years

Building consents for new houses hit a five-year high last month, with rises across most areas of the country, Statistics New Zealand said today. There were 1,755 new houses, including apartments, consented in April 2013. This was the highest number since April 2008, when 2,373 were consented, including 771 apartments. "April was a bumper month for building consents for new houses across the country. While the numbers were higher in Canterbury and Auckland this month, compared with April 2012, the rest of the country also made a significant contribution to the increase," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said. "In particular, Wellington and Otago regions together consented 185 apartments, boosting new house numbers there." Housing consent numbers for April 2013, compared with April 2012, were: 1,755 new houses, including apartments (up 43 percent) 1,541 new houses, excluding apartments (up 41 percent) 214 apartments (up 76 from 138). The seasonally adjusted number of new houses, including apartments, increased 19 percent in April 2013, up from an 8.3 percent fall in March. Monthly changes in the seasonally adjusted number can be volatile, partly due to the rise and fall in apartment numbers. The trend for the number of new houses, including apartments, has increased for 25 consecutive months. March 2011 was an historic low in the trend series, and the level is now 61 percent higher. Earthquake-related building consents in Canterbury were valued at $52 million, including 49 new houses. Non-residential building consents were valued at $308 million in April 2013, up 35 percent compared with April 2012. Data for building consents is obtained from all territorial authorities in New Zealand.