Building activity has continued its steady growth since the start of the year.
Statistics New Zealand says consents for 1275 new houses were issued in September - the highest monthly number since August last year.
Some 155 consents were issued in the apartment sector.
Overall value of the consents for residential properties totaled $480 million - the highest figure since the same month last year.
However, Radio New Zealand's economics correspondent says the total number of residential consents remains 28% below the same month two years ago at the height of the building boom.
