The number of consents for new houses fell last month but remains close to a 12-year high.
July's housing consent numbers fell but for the year more than 29,000 were issued.[thumbnail:69511:full] Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Official figures show consents fell a seasonally adjusted 10.5 percent in July from the month before, when they rose 22 percent.
If apartment numbers are removed, consents for houses decreased 5 percent.
However for the year ended July more than 29,000 consents for new dwellings were issued, the highest level since mid-2004.
Strongest growth was in Auckland, while Wellington and the Bay of Plenty were also buoyant.