Trend in the Number of New Dwellings Continues

Increasing Trend in the Number of New Dwellings Continues

Consents were issued for 2,508 new dwelling units in October 2003, according to Statistics New Zealand. Since April 2003, there has been a steady increase in the trend series for the number of new dwelling units.

Consents were issued for 2,399 new dwelling units, excluding apartment units, in October 2003. This is the highest monthly total recorded for new dwelling units, excluding apartment units, since the series began in January 1990. The trend series for the number of new dwelling units, excluding apartments, continues to increase.

Ten out of 16 regions recorded more dwelling units in October 2003 compared with October 2002.

Canterbury (up 117 units) recorded the largest increase in new dwelling units when comparing the two October months, followed by Otago (up 86 units) and Waikato (up 81 units). Auckland (down 1,195 units) recorded the largest decrease, followed by Wellington (down 100 units). Despite the decrease in Auckland, the Auckland region remains the main contributor to the total number of new dwelling units, with 750 units or 30 percent.

The total value of non-residential building consents issued in October 2003 was $255 million. This follows totals of $256 million in September 2003 and $212 million in August 2003. Consents issued for education buildings were worth $48 million or 19 percent of the total non-residential buildings value in October 2003. This was followed by shops, restaurants and taverns with $47 million (18 percent), factories and industrial buildings with $36 million (14 percent), and offices and administration buildings with $32 million (12 percent).

The total value of consents issued for all buildings in October 2003 was $815 million. Residential buildings contributed 69 percent of the total value for all buildings in October 2003, compared with 75 percent in October 2002. For the year ended October 2003, the total value of consents for all buildings was $8,742 million, up $1,171 million or 15 percent when compared with the year ended October 2002.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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