Business good as house builds rise

Wangnaui City Photo/File

Ninety-seven new Wanganui dwellings were granted resource consent in the 12 months to February and a Wanganui builder says business is "bloody good".

Wanganui consent numbers spiked in May and October last year, with 24 and 23 issued in each month respectively, according to Statistics New Zealand data released this week.

The wider Wanganui and Manawatu region recorded 44 consents in February alone, worth $11 million. That was up on the 36 consents worth $9 million issued in February 2013.

Nicholas Mills of Van White Builders said business had been "bloody good" in the past year.

"It's been beautiful weather out there. I should be fishing but I've got to go to work," Mr Mills said.

As well as new builds, recent jobs had included house extensions, a commercial building, bathroom renovations, and work on the local hospice. However, builders themselves were struggling to profit from the increased business, he said.

"Our prices haven't gone up in 20 years but what's required from builders ... that really has."

Nationally, the 1768 new dwelling consents issued in February showed a 14.7 per cent increase from the 1542 issued in the same month last year. These included 1702 new houses and 66 apartments.

In the 12 months to February, Statistics NZ recorded a total of 21,842 dwelling consents, or a 25 per cent increase on the 17,481 issued the previous year.

However, the number of apartment consents dipped in February following five-year highs in November and December.

February's trend for all new dwellings was 95 per cent higher than a recent low point in March 2011.

"The trend for new houses has been increasing for almost three years, and is at its highest level since December 2007," Statistics NZ business indicators manager Neil Kelly said.

A total of $1.1 billion in building work was consented during February, including $726 million of residential and $376 million non-residential work.

Canterbury accounted for 30 per cent of all new dwellings in February, and Auckland 26 per cent.