Resource consents are up 16 percent in the last month, the growth being driven by apartments in Auckland and retirement village units in Lower Hutt.
Data released today by Statistics New Zealand shows 2,752 new homes were consented in June 2016, up 35 percent from June 2015.
That number is made up of:
Non-residential consents also had strong increases, reaching a new high of $739 million in the month - boosted by a $180m consent for the new acute services building at Christchurch Hospital.
In 12 of the country's 16 regions, the number of new dwellings consented in June 2016 was higher than in June last year. The regions with the largest increases were:
Statistics NZ says the number of consents for new dwellings in Auckland appears to have slowed since late 2015, while Wellington seems to be on the incline, driven by consents for retirement villages.
Across the rest of the North Island, particularly Waikato, the trend is also up.
Consent numbers across Canterbury were were to 467, a 14 percent decrease on June 2015. The trend has decreased 18 percent since the peak in late 2014, but remains at a historically high level.
The trend for the rest of the South Island shows little change over the past year.
Building consents are at their highest level nationwide in over the decade, up 16 percent.
"The annual total of 29,097 is the highest for a June year since 2004, when it was more than 33,000," says business indicators manager Clara Eatherley.
The annual total was made up of:
More houses means more builders - and those in the profession are in high demand.
Recruitment Agency Hays says experienced construction candidates remain in such high demand that they often receive multiple job offers.
Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand, says employers are moving quickly - and are offering career progression in order to secure their preferred candidate.
"Most regions in New Zealand are experiencing increased residential activity, while the unprecedented investment in commercial construction and transport projects across Auckland is adding to the significant skill shortage,"
The Hays Quarterly Report for July to September 2016 lists the following professions in high demand across the regions:
Auckland:
Wellington:
Christchurch:
Queenstown:
Across the country, commercial quantity surveyors, senior commercial estimators, carpenters, builders and site managers are just some of the jobs that need filling.
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