4 May 2011
Registered Master Builders says record lows no surprise
The Registered Master Builders Federation (RMBF) says the latest building consent figures released today are no surprise
and merely reaffirm what the sector has been experiencing for the last twelve months. Residential building consents for
March 2011 were up marginally at 2.2 percent but down 28% since April 2010 to the lowest level since the series began in
1982.
RMBF CEO Warwick Quinn says, “The construction sector is well into its third year of recession and the contraction is
picked to continue for most of the year. This will result in the continuing loss of capability at the very time it needs
to be retained given what New Zealand is facing over the next few years."
Mr Quinn cites the Canterbury rebuilding work, the housing shortage in Auckland and the leaky home repairs needed as
known work streams and says the economy will also eventually recover to a point where there is a general increase in
construction activity.
“It is imperative the construction sector does not contract further as the industry will struggle to cope when the
market eventually responds. We hope the latest March figures are an indication that the market is stabilising as we
simply cannot afford to lose any more skilled trades people at a time when we need them the most.”
Mr Quinn says that there is spare capacity in the system at present and liquidity pressure was building in the
Canterbury region as a result of September and February quakes. Also, depending on the timing of work and where it is
situated, there is likely to be a redistribution of skills as trades people move around the country to meet demand.
The three regions with the largest decreases from March 2010 were Canterbury, Waikato and Otago. All increases were
small in comparison with the largest in Gisborne.
ENDS