14 January 2008
New housing units continue to decline
The trend for the number of new housing units authorised is still declining, Statistics New Zealand said today. The
latest five months all show a decrease.
In November 2007 there were 2,189 new housing units authorised, a decrease of 43 housing units compared with November
2006. Consents for 66 new apartment units were issued, 113 fewer than in November a year earlier.
There were 53 fewer housing units authorised in the North Island and 10 more authorised in the South Island, compared
with November 2006. Half of the 16 regions authorised fewer units.
The largest decrease was 38 units, in Northland, and the largest increase was 32 units, in Auckland. The trend for the
value of residential buildings is also declining. Despite this, residential building consents authorised in November
2007 were up 4.2 percent from November 2006, to $695 million.
Non-residential building consents totalled $401 million in November 2007, up 6.7 percent from November 2006. The
largest increase was for hospitals and nursing homes.
Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
14 January 2008
ENDS