New Dwellings Trend Continues Decline
Consents were issued for 2,347 new dwelling units in July 2004, according to Statistics New Zealand. The trend series
for the number of new dwelling units has been declining since January 2004, following a period of steady increases which
began in April 2003.
Consents for 2,076 new dwelling units, excluding apartments, were issued in July 2004. The trend series for the number
of new dwelling units, excluding apartments, has been declining since October 2003.
Consents for 32,577 new dwelling units were issued in the year ended July 2004, up 3,620 (13 percent) from the year
ended July 2003. The total number of new dwelling units for the year ended July 2004 is the largest total recorded for a
July year since 1974.
Six out of 16 regions recorded more new dwelling units in July 2004 than in July 2003. Canterbury (up 34 units) recorded
the largest increase when comparing the two July months, followed by Wellington (up 25 units). The Auckland region
contributed 781 units (33 percent) to the total number of new dwelling units in July 2004, down 220 units from July
2003.
The total value of consents issued for non-residential buildings was $338 million in July 2004. Consents issued for
offices and administration buildings were worth $63 million (19 percent of the total) in July 2004. This was followed by
consents issued for education buildings worth $62 million (18 percent); shops, restaurants and taverns worth $49 million
(14 percent); and factories and industrial buildings worth $45 million (13 percent).
The total value of consents issued for all buildings was $903 million in July 2004, compared with $875 million in July
2003 and $777 million in July 2002. Residential buildings contributed 63 percent to the total value of all buildings in
July 2004, down from 65 percent in July 2003.
Ian Ewing
Acting Government Statistician