Some signs of turn-around in the building sector

The number of new homes consented in the three months to March, was up six-percent on the same period last year.

Consents for standalone homes were up 5.7 percent; while consents for townhouses, flats and units rose 7.2 percent.

28-percent more retirement village units and 23-percent more apartments were approved.

Despite that, new building consents in the year to March were still 3.3 percent lower than the year before.