The number of building consents for new houses slipped last month, although consents are still at their highest for four years.
Official figures show permits issued for new homes fell a seasonally adjusted 1.5% to 1519 in October, compared with the previous month, and 24% on a year ago.
Excluding apartment numbers, consents fell 2%.
Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon said October has maintained the past year's trend of strong growth in building consents from a low base.
But he said this is being driven by construction in Christchurch and Auckland.
