Building work has its ups and downs

Building work in Wanganui is patchy according to a local builder - but he would not trade his lifestyle for the increased workload of a bigger city.

According to Statistics New Zealand, five consents for new homes were granted in Wanganui in April, the same number as the previous month. The total value of the homes was $1.5 million.

Nicholas Mills of Van White Builders said business had been erratic in Wanganui.

"No one's getting rich."

Things were tougher in the provinces than the big cities. However, he said, he had lived and worked in Auckland and Hamilton for years and did not miss it as he was enjoying being time-rich in Wanganui.

"In Auckland, you're financially rich and time poor."

Mr Mills, who does residential, rural and commercial work, had no idea what to expect of the rest of the year, saying work was only a phone call away.

"I'll either go broke or be a millionaire. I've got no idea."

He did not think business this year was any worse than in previous years.

"I'm still getting three meals a day and my dog gets two."

Nationally, apartment consents reached a seven-year high in April 2015, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Building consents were issued for 467 apartments, almost all of which would be built in Auckland.

Business indicators manager Neil Kelly said consents for houses and townhouses were also at average levels historically, while retirement village consents reached record highs over the past year.

In April 2015, a total of 2112 new dwellings were consented - up 1.4 per cent from the same month last year. However, the seasonally adjusted number fell 1.7 per cent in April, compared with March.

The regions that consented the most new dwellings in April were Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato.

Consents for all buildings totalled $1.2 billion in April, with $757 million for residential buildings and $419 million for non-residential buildings.

Of the non-residential consents value, Canterbury accounted for 31 per cent and Auckland 27 per cent.