The number of new homes consented in the March 2020 year was 37,606, down slightly from 37,882 in the February 2020 year, Stats NZ said today. The March 2020 year figure is nearly 9 percent higher than that for the year to March 2019. On a monthly basis, the number of new homes consented fell 8.7 percent in March 2020 compared with March 2019. {chart} “The drop in new homes consented for March may partly be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, and some councils had difficulties issuing consents at the end of March,” acting construction indicators manager Dave Adair said. Two councils were ... (full story)