NZ building consents rise 1.9 percent in February, propped up by retirement village units

NZ building consents rise 1.9 percent in February, propped up by retirement village units
March 28 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand building consents rose 1.9 percent in February as an increased intentions to build retirement village units made up for a fall in new housing permits. The number of consents rose to a seasonally adjusted 1,592 from 1,563 in January, according to Statistics New Zealand. Stripping out new apartment permits, which are typically lumpy from month to month, consents fell 3.6 percent to 1,451. Of the 142 apartment consents issued last month, 98 were for retirement village units. That comes as village operator...