One look at new building consents for the Wanganui district and you soon realise why the country's Master Builders chief describes the climate as "lumpy".
"Certainly the situation is patchy in Wanganui, but rest assured, it's the same for the rest of the country," Warwick Quinn said yesterday.
In October last year
17 new building permits were issued for the district. This year it was down to three. And Mr Quinn can't see a quick-fix anytime soon.
"I think we are another year away from things getting back on a solid footing," he said.
"The building sector across the board was hit this year by a string of cost hikes, including GST, timber, concrete.
"Plus, people still don't feel secure about their employment while others keen to build are struggling to sell their existing homes."
Mr Quinn was hopeful that signs the banks were beginning to ease their lending criteria would take hold.
He said he knew of several building firms in the bigger centres that had hit the wall, but was unaware of any going under in Wanganui.
Casualties, of course, come in every slump. Nationally, building apprenticeships are down to 6000 from 9000 a few years ago.
"The problem with that is that some apprentices may be laid off with still a year of their training left. It's vital we get them through to the end."
Mr Quinn said there would be more work for builders next year, with money coming on stream for new homes in quake-hit Christchurch and for repairs to leaky buildings nationwide.
However, he said while that would bring relief, he was looking for a more sustained recovery in the building sector, not one driven by forces of nature.
Mr Quinn's view is supported by local builders.
One major firm said it couldn't see the gloom clearing for at least another eight months while another said work, such as renovations and alterations, was steady and he had taken on two apprentices recently.
One small firm said where once he had months of work lined up, he now had enough for the next two weeks.
"There certainly isn't the work around compared to a few years ago."
