Building activity picks up pace

Consents were issued for 1639 new houses, a number not reached since May 2008. Consents were also issued for 168 new apartments.

Industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said: “When we compare these figures with the same time last year, the number of new houses in October increased 32%.”

Westpac said increasing activity in residential and non-residential construction work was likely to account for an increasing share of GDP growth over the next year.

There was a 6% rise in building consents in Auckland for the month but consents fell in Canterbury.

Statistics New Zealand identified $25 million of quake-related residential consents in the month.