The number consents for new homes has dropped in the past month

ASB figures show building consents down 6.5 percent in April, adding to the previous month's 22 percent decline, as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Senior economist Jane Turner says the numbers actually held up better than expected, with some council workers processing applications from home.

She says as a whole, New Zealand productivity was about two-thirds of what it was in February.