The good news is the value trend has been rising for the past year.

Where is the growth represented?

In Canterbury, earthquake-related building consents totalled $47 million in May 2012, the second-highest monthly total since the Canterbury earthquakes began in September 2010. Of this, $30 million was for non-residential work and $17 million was for residential work, including 34 new houses.

Auckland had the largest regional increase in new houses (up 125), including 37 new apartments in May 2012. The Canterbury region also had a significant rise in the number of new houses (up 100), with the majority of consents for houses located outside Christchurch city in the surrounding districts.

"This is the highest value of residential building consents issued for a May month since 2008," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said. "The number of new housing approvals also rose this month to its highest level for a May month since 2008."

Housing consent numbers for May 2012, compared with May 2011, were:

• 1,372 new houses, including apartments, up 20%
• 1,304 new houses, excluding apartments, up 22%
• 68 new apartments, 26 of which were retirement village units, up from 66 apartments.

Here is a a full overview from Statistics New Zealand with a more detailed summary.