what we learned from christchurch taking the risk out ... - PlaceMakers

INDUSTRY NEWSHousing consents continue positive trendJanuary growth driven by residential building in the North IslandJanuary 2013 saw anothermonth of growth as new housingconsents (excluding apartments)increased 9.6% on the previousJanuary. The seasonally adjustedgrowth figures continue a 22-monthtrend that has seen housing consentnumbers rise 50% since March 2011.January growth was all driven fromthe North Island, led by Auckland,Wellington and the Bay of Plenty.The regions with the largest consentvolumes were again Auckland, with372 consents in January, up 140 onJanuary 2012, and Christchurch, with378 consents, down one. Wellingtonconsents were up 31 (51%) to 92 andBay of Plenty was up 26 (42%) to 88.Overall, there were 1,312 newdwellings consented in January 2013(including apartments), an increaseof 19% on January 2012. Excludingapartments, the unadjusted numberof housing consents was up 39% to1,254 and apartment consents weredown 70% from 198 to 58.The value of residential consentsfor January was $517 million, 34%higher than the same month in 2012.The value of non-residential buildingsin January 2013 was $223 million,down 1.4% on January 2012. Consentsfor six of the eleven building typesincreased in January. Overall, thebiggest movers were storage buildings,up $16 million, and shops, restaurantsand taverns, down $29 million. Thethree largest contributors to nonresidentialbuilding consents wereeducation buildings (20%), offices andadministration buildings (19%) andstorage buildings (12%).In Canterbury, earthquake-relatedconsents were $60 million in January2013, including $14 million for nonresidentialbuildings, $28 million forresidential buildings and $18 millionfor the Ferrymead bridge. Canterburyconsent values in recent months hadranged from $45 million to $59 million.Overall, the consent value for allbuildings in January 2013 was$740 million, up 21% on January2012 with all the growth comingfrom residential buildings. The trendfor the value of all buildings overthe last three months has decreasedslightly after a year of moderategrowth.For the year to January 2013, thevalue of consents for all buildingswas up $1,563 million (18%) to$10,203 million.Kiwi builders first choice for rebuildCanterbury Skills and Employment Hub will connect employers with qualified Kiwis first12Anew visa rule, which cameinto effect on 29 January, aimsto ensure New Zealanders arefirst in line for job vacancies createdas part of the Christchurch rebuild,according to immigration ministerNathan Guy.“The new rule means visa applicationsto fill most jobs in Canterbury won’tbe processed until a check has beendone to ensure there are no suitableNew Zealanders to fill the vacancy,”he said.Employers are now required to registervacancies for trades, clerical and manualoccupations in Canterbury with theCanterbury Skills and Employment Hubbefore they support a visa applicationfor a migrant to fill the vacancy.If there are New Zealandersdeemed suitable todo the job, the Skills Hubwill help put the employerin touch with themIf there are New Zealanders deemedsuitable to do the job, the Skills Hubwill help put the employer in touch withthem. If not, a letter will be sentto Immigration New Zealand confirmingas much. Only then will the migrantbe considered to fill the vacancy.The rule change covers most jobs inthe Canterbury region, including trade,clerical and manual jobs. It does notinclude highly skilled occupationsor those on the Canterbury SkillsShortage List.Employers can register their vacanciesonline at opportunitycanterbury.org.nz.New visa application rules support Kiwis first