Building slows Stats NZ reports that total building activity, in seasonally adjusted volume terms, fell 0.5 percent in the June 2017 quarter. Non-residential building activity was down 0.7 percent and residential building activity was down 0.4 percent, compared with the March 2017 quarter. "This is the second quarter in a row that building activity has fallen, as the post-earthquake residential rebuild in Canterbury winds down," prices and construction senior manager Jason Attewell said. "In unadjusted terms, building activity in Canterbury slipped to just under $1 billion a quarter for the first time in almost three years." In Auckland, overall building activity was almost $2 billion in the June 2017 quarter, including $1.3 billion on residential buildings. Non-residential building activity rose a seasonally adjusted 18 percent, following an 18 percent fall in the March 2017 quarter. The actual value in the June quarter was $671 million, near the December 2016 quarter high-point of $703 million. Nationally, the actual value of building work on new homes was $2.8 billion in the June 2017 quarter, making a total of $3.4 billion of residential work including alterations and additions. There was also $1.8 billion of work on non-residential buildings. Building consents for new homes continued to fall in July. The seasonally adjusted number of new homes consented fell 0.7 percent in July 2017, following a 1.3 percent fall in June 2017. “July’s fall was driven by the number of consented apartments, townhouses, and retirement units, which fluctuates from month to month,” construction statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said. “The fall for multi-unit dwellings was partly offset by an increase for stand-alone houses.” The seasonally adjusted number of stand-alone houses consented rose 8.5 percent in July 2017, more than reversing a 4.0 percent fall in June. The actual number of new homes consented was 2,762 in July 2017 (down 1.7 percent from July 2016), comprising: • 1,900 houses (up 7.9 percent from July 2016) • 367 apartments (down 14 percent) • 350 townhouses, flats, and units (down 20 percent) • 145 retirement village units (down 23 percent). Auckland region had the largest fall in July 2017, with 313 fewer new homes consented compared with July 2016 (down 29 percent to 774 new homes consented). The fall was driven by decreases in the volatile apartment and townhouse categories. Auckland’s numbers are quite volatile because almost half the homes consented are in multi-unit projects. On average, the region currently consents over 800 new homes a month. Otago region had the largest rise from July 2016, with 114 more homes consented – up 68 percent to 282 in July 2017, driven by a spike for apartments in Queenstown. In the year ended July 2017, 30,404 new homes were consented across New Zealand, including 10,051 in Auckland. The value of building work put in place estimates the dollar value and volume of construction work on residential and non-residential buildings each quarter, also known as building activity. The monthly data in building consents issued reflects an intention to build, while building activity starts after the consent is issued.