Residential buildings
In March 2009, consents were issued for:
- 1,091 new dwellings, including apartments
- 987 new dwellings, excluding apartments
- 104 new apartments.
Excluding apartments, the seasonally adjusted number of new dwellings authorised fell 1.3 percent in March 2009, after rising 0.2 percent in February 2009. Including apartments, the seasonally adjusted number of new dwellings authorised fell 4.6 percent in March 2009, after rising 12 percent in February.
For the year ended March 2009, consents were issued for 16,234 new dwelling units, including apartment units, a 34 percent decrease from the year ended March 2008. Consents for new dwelling units (excluding apartments) fell by 37 percent while consents for new apartments fell by only 1 percent.
The trends for the number of authorised new dwellings, both including and excluding apartments, have fallen 56 percent since their recent peaks, both in June 2007.
The value of residential building consents was $408 million in March 2009, a 25 percent decrease compared with March 2008. The trend indicates that the value has fallen 46 percent since its peak in June 2007.
For the year ended March 2009, residential building consents valued at $5,633 million were issued, a 26 percent decrease from the March 2008 year.
Regional residential results
In 14 of New Zealand's 16 regions, fewer new dwelling units were authorised in March 2009 than in March 2008. Numbers fell by 361 units (34 percent) in the North Island, and by 115 units (23 percent) in the South Island.
The highest regional numbers of new dwellings authorised for March 2009 were:
- Auckland, with 315 units, down 23 units
- Canterbury, with 209 units, down 36 units
- Waikato, with 112 units, down 94 units
- Otago, with 82 units, down 40 units.
In 15 of New Zealand's 16 regions, fewer new dwelling units were authorised in the year ended March 2009 than in the year ended March 2008. Tasman was the only region to show an increase with 272 units, up 8 units.
The regions with the largest decreases for the March 2009 year compared with the previous year were:
- Auckland, with 3,699 units, down 2,303 units
- Canterbury, with 2,554 units, down 1,558 units
- Waikato, with 2,079 units, down 1,235 units.
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Non-residential buildings
The value of non-residential building consents was $332 million in March 2009, a decrease of 6.4 percent compared with March 2008. Seven of the 11 building types recorded decreases.
The largest changes for March 2009 compared with March 2008 were:
- hostels and boarding houses, up $31 million
- factories and industrial buildings, down $17 million
- storage buildings, down $15 million
- education buildings, down $13 million.
For the year ended March 2009, non-residential building consents valued at $4,564 million were issued, a 6.3 percent increase from the March 2008 year. Seven of the 11 building types recorded increases.
The largest changes for the March 2009 year compared with the March 2008 year were:
- offices and administration buildings, up $172 million
- education buildings, up $156 million
- shops, restaurants and taverns, down $156 million.
The three largest contributors to the value of non-residential building consents authorised in the year ended March 2009 were:
- offices and administration buildings, at 23 percent
- education buildings, at 13 percent
- factories and industrial buildings, at 13 percent.
All buildings
In March 2009, the value of consents issued for all buildings was $740 million, a decrease of 17 percent compared with March 2008.
For the year ended March 2009 compared with the March 2008 year, the total value of consents issued for:
- all buildings was $10,197 million, down $1,727 million (14 percent)
- residential buildings was $5,633 million, down $1,999 million (26 percent)
- non-residential buildings was $4,564 million, up $272 million (6.3 percent).
Revision
Building consent statistics for storage buildings have been revised, changing the value for December 2008, and the floor area for December 2008 and January 2009.
For technical information contact:
Tina Waterhouse or Clara Eatherley
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
Next release ...
Building Consents Issued: April 2009 will be released on 29 May 2009.