Building consenting in the South has mirrored the national trend with an easing during the month of September, but consents for the entire year were up 5.4% across the country.
A record 6059 consents for new townhouses, flats and units underpinned the overall 5.4% rise.
There were a total 32,548 new homes, of which 12,945 were in the Auckland region, during the year.
Consent values for September fell from $1.2billion a year ago to $1.09billion.
For the month of September, national consent numbers fell from 2770 a year ago to 2559.
The South Island was down from 293 to 280.
Otago declined from 80 a year ago to 71, Central Otago fell from 47 to 23 and Queenstown Lakes went from 91 to 77.
Statistics New Zealand construction statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said Auckland continued to lead the country, with 12,945 new homes permitted in the wider Auckland region in the year to September.
That number was close to the 13,000 new permits needed to keep up with population growth.
"Growth in new townhouses, flats and units between 2013 and 2016 was driven by activity in both Auckland and Canterbury, but more recently it was driven by Auckland,'' Ms McKenzie said.
ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny said while residential dwelling consents dipped a touch during September, nationwide consents for the year appear to be plateauing at a high level.
Townhouse consents were taking a growing share, setting a record for the year to September.
"Population growth on a nationwide basis is now slowing and as a result we believe the level of nationwide housing construction is close to a peak,'' he said in a statement.
Mr Penny expected house building activity to remain at relatively high levels over coming years in order for housing supply to catch up to demand.
BusinessDesk reported the actual value of residential building consents issued in September - including alterations and additions - was $1.1billion compared with $1.3billion in August.
The value of non-residential permits was $556million compared with $599million in August.
In the year to September, non-residential building consents totalled $6.7billion, up 4.9% on the year before.
That was led by education buildings, which totalled $1.1billion, up 16% on the year.
