Tauranga City's building sector is experiencing a slight reprieve as the trend for consented new houses appears to be flattening after two years of growth, according to latest statistics.

Priority One's building consents report for September show the total value of building consents in Tauranga City is $33.5million, slightly down on last month's $36.2m, but well ahead of the $19.5million recorded in September 2012.

Three new dwellings at Bethlehem Country Club valued at $1.3m contributed to this month's $33.5million worth of building consents issued.

A total of 147 consents were recorded in September, down 17 from August's 164, but above the 130 lodged in September 2012.

In a similar trend, single dwelling consents are valued at $17.9m, down on the $23m from August, but $5.3m ahead of September 2012's $12.6m. Commercial consents are valued at $7.2m, a total of $2.7m behind last month's $9.9m.

Priority One says four large commercial consents contributed to the $7.2m figure; a new $1.9m warehouse and offices in the Tauriko Business Estate, the $1.5m oil storage tank on Totara Street, three new dwellings at Bethlehem Country Club valued at $1.3m and $1m worth of remedial work at Ocean Shores Village.

Statistics New Zealand figures for August also show the number of new dwellings consented for the city dropped to 84 from the 106 in July. The 84 new consents are still well ahead of the 56 consented in January and the 47 in March and April.

In the Bay of Plenty, 118 new consents were issued at a value of $36million, slightly down on July's 133 consents and $37m. It is still the second largest amount of consents issued so far this year, ahead of the 106 recorded in April valued at $27m.

Nationwide, 1633 new houses were consented, as well as 127 new apartments – the highest level since early 2008.

Industry and labour statistics manager Tehseen Islam says while the national amount of building consents is up 64 per cent from the most recent low point in March 2011, it is still 30 per cent below the peak in September 2003.

'Following a sustained rise from 2011 to 2013, the trend for new houses seems to have levelled off, says Tehseen.

'The number of new houses jumped 13 per cent in April, but hasn't changed much since then.”

Together, Auckland and Christchurch consented 55 per cent of the new houses and apartments.

For August, total value of all building consents, including both new work and alterations, was $1,016million – $678m of residential work and $338m of non-residential work.

Earthquake-related building consents in Canterbury were valued at $59million including 58 new houses.

Since September 4, 2010, $1216m of building consents have been identified as earthquake-related. This includes consents for 1059 new houses and apartments.