Building consents rise in November

The building sector perked up in November, with the number of building consents issued up a seasonally adjusted 2.8 per cent on the previous month, according to data out today from Statistics New Zealand.

A seasonally adjusted 2005 building consents for new dwelling units were approved in November, up from a revised 1950 in October, but down 13 per cent on the 2954 issued in November the previous year.

Excluding apartments there were 1953 seasonally adjusted building consents issued in November, up from 1796 the previous month.

The total value of consents issued for all buildings in November was $1.09 billion, 8.8 per cent higher than the previous year. Residential buildings made up 59 per cent of this.

For the year ended November the total value of consents issued was $10.9 billion, up 2.6 per cent on the previous November year.

The value of consents for residential buildings fell $171 million over the November year, while the value of consents for non-residential buildings rose $447 million.

Six out of 16 regions issued fewer consents in November compared with the previous year. Auckland recorded the biggest decrease, down 628 units; followed by Northland, down 20 units. On the upside Bay of Plenty had the biggest increase, up 71 units, and Otago, up 68 units.

The North Island showed an overall decrease, while the South Island showed an overall increase.

- NZPA