The number of new dwellings consented fell in March after a big rise in the previous month, and a fall in January, Statistics New Zealand said today. In March, the seasonally adjusted number of new dwellings fell 9.8 percent, following a 10 percent rise in February. A total of 2,315 new dwellings were consented in March 2016, which was 44 more than in March 2015. “Dwelling numbers grew strongly in the upper North Island and Otago, but were down in Canterbury compared with March last year,” business indicators manager Clara Eatherley said. Regions with the largest increases in new dwellings were Waikato, Bay of ... (full story)