Builders busy with jump in consents

Welch Builders owner Ian Welch wants to employ another carpenter now the building scene is a lot busier after spending several years in the doldrums. Photo / Paul Taylor

May building consents issued for new dwellings in Hawke's Bay have jumped 138 per cent - from 18 in 2015 to 43 this year, Statistics New Zealand figures show.

The value of the consents for the same period is up from $10million to $17 million.

The number of Napier City consents rose from six to 21.

The number in Hastings District rose from 11 to 19.

Master Builders Hawke's Bay president and Welch Builders owner Ian Welch is looking to employ another carpenter now the building scene is "a lot more busier", after spending several years in the doldrums.

The booming house-building sector had lifted spirits as well as bank balances.

"It's great to see more activity out there," he said.

There was a shortage of tradespeople across the board but there was still capacity to handle the increased work, "but that depends on how long this growth goes for".

A shortage of vacant sections for sale in Napier and Hastings could restrain growth "if they don't come on line on time".

Gemco Construction and Trades managing director Darren Diack said the commercial building sector was "extremely busy" and it was no time for complacency.

"There is the possibility of getting stretched," he said.

"You have got to look at your workload and not take on more than you can handle.

"We are managing it, unfortunately by saying no to a lot of projects because we haven't got the resources."

The company was hiring "but there are very few tradespeople", with few returning from Christchurch, where post-earthquake construction absorbed much of the country's building industry workers.

Nationally more than 29,000 new houses gained building consent in the year to June 2016, up 16 per cent from the 2015 year to June. "The annual total of 29,097 is the highest for a June year since 2004, when it was more than 33,000," Statistics New Zealand business indicators manager Clara Eatherley said. "Auckland and surrounding regions were the main contributors to this growth. Canterbury's total decreased over the year, but remains at a historically high level."

In Auckland there were 9651 homes consented in the latest year to June, up 16 per cent on the 2015 year to June.

The value of non-residential building consents rose 15 per cent to $6.1 billion in the 2016 year to June. Auckland had the biggest share of growth, followed by Canterbury.

Twelve of the nation's 16 regions saw more new dwellings given consent in June 2016 compared with June 2015.

Auckland was up 31 per cent, Wellington was up 213 per cent to 275 (including 159 retirement village units), Waikato was up 62 per cent and Bay of Plenty up 70 per cent.

The number in Canterbury was down 14 per cent from June 2015.

Nationally, new dwellings given consent were up 35 per cent from June 2015.