The number of building consents issued for new homes neared a two-year high in April.
Permits for new dwellings rose a seasonally-adjusted 15.5% to just over 1500 in April, Statistics New Zealand says.
The number of approvals is the highest since April 2008 but is still 29% below the peak reached in June 2007.
Including volatile apartment numbers, consents rose 8.5% to more than 1400.
An ASB economist says the data confirms that residential construction is set to gradually recover over the year but will remain subdued as migration eases and interest rates rise.
