A dip in the number of new houses has pulled down the number of building consents for the first time in six months.
Photo: 123rf.com
Official figures show the number of permits fell by a seasonally adjusted 2.3 percent in September on the month before.
It was the first monthly decline since April, with the number of consents for stand-alone house and apartment blocks falling.
The annual number of consents issued was up by 6 percent and remains close to 13-year highs.
Economists have said constraints in getting workers and materials for projects may be holding back the sector.
