The number of building consents fell in August after a strong gain the month before.
Statistics New Zealand says the number of new dwellings fell a seasonally adjusted 4.9 percent after a strong 20 percent gain in July
However, the number of consents is 11.3 percent higher than August last year, with activity in Auckland and Christchurch driving the national figures.
When the volatile apartment consent figures are stripped out, consents fell 2.7 percent in August, although the trend in building consents is rising and at its highest level in more than decade.
