New Zealand building consents rise in July

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – The number of new dwelling consents approved in New Zealand rose a seasonally adjusted 5% in July compared with a 2.2% fall in the previous month, official data showed on Wednesday.

Excluding apartments, flats, and retirement village units, the number of consents for new houses was up 0.4%, after a 5.5% fall in the previous month.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)