Residential building consents

Sweet turning sour

30 May 2019
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Paul Barkle

Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Thu 30 May 2019)

Annual dwelling consents
34,392
As of April 2019
Consents down 4.5%pa in April
Auckland dwelling consents down 10%pa in April

The key numbers...

  • It is possible that the timing of Easter and Anzac day have pushed dwelling consents in April down, leaving scope for a resurgance in May.
  • However, a lack of strength in house price inflation may be beginning to show through in the residential approval numbers.
  • Our outlook for new dwelling consents remains positive, but we are yet to see if soft underlying market conditions are going to undermine demand for new dwellings.

New dwelling consents

3244

...and our reaction

  • The number of new dwelling consents contracted 4.5%pa in April.
  • A fall in the number of consents in Auckland contributed the most to this decline, with 10% fewer dwellings approvals than in April 2018. The weak April result is disappointing for Auckland given its strong start to the year.
  • After an incredibly strong result in March, Otago's performance returned to a more normal (albeit disappointing) result in April, with the number of dwelling consents falling 16%pa. 
  • Apartment consents fell 46%pa in April, mostly due to a weak result in Auckland.

Latest updates

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Residential building consents

Residential consents fall 3.6% in June

Mon 3 Aug 2026
Monthly
40,581 Annual consents over the June 2026 year
19% June 2026 consents over the June 2026 year
3.6% June 2026 consents from May on a seas. adj. basis
Premium
Residential building consents

Residential consents fall 4.0% in May

Thu 2 Jul 2026
Monthly
39,737 Annual consents over May 2026 year
4.0% May 2026 consents from April on a seas. adj. basis
22%pa Townhouse consents over May 2026 year
Residential building consents

Residential consents jump up 11% in April

Wed 3 Jun 2026
Monthly
39,087 Annual consents over April 2026 year
11% April 2026 consents from March on a seas. adj. basis
19%pa Multi-unit consents over April 2026 year
Residential building consents

Residential consent momentum trends sideways

Fri 1 May 2026
Monthly
37,813 Annual consents over March 2026 year
3,300pm Consents trend sideways on a seas. adj. basis
14%pa Townhouse consents over March 2026 year