Building activity continues to increase throughout the country, with housing consents hitting a seven-year high.

The peak for consents was reached in November, when more than 2000 new dwellings were consented.

Many of those were for apartments in Auckland and Christchurch.

Those areas accounted for 70% of consent activity throughout the country.

In Dunedin housing activity remains relatively static, but this time of year is busy for tradesmen working on student flats.

Overall about a billion dollars worth of housing development is being consented each month nationwide.