PETER MEECHAM/STUFF Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said it was hard to explain the gap between consents being issued and properties finished. "These tend to be more complex requiring more specialised builders resulting in longer build times and larger lags between consents and construction. He said the Wellington gap seemed large because demolition and infill was less common. Stats NZ data shows the rate of residential building was up 4.4 per cent on the previous quarter in the first three months of this year. Wellington City Council spokeswoman Victoria Barton-Chapple said just because someone obtained a consent, it did not mean they would do anything.

Source: Stuff June 08, 2019 16:52 UTC