Residential building consents

Record high dwelling consents

2 Jul 2019
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Andrew Beattie

Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Tue 2 Jul 2019)

Annual dwelling consents
34,672
As of May 2019
Consents up 8.2%pa in May
Townhouse consents up 73% in May

The key numbers...

  • A strong influx of consent numbers shows the market is making progress towards catching up with the undersupply of housing, which is most acute in Auckland.
  • Last month’s weakness proved to be an anomaly, and we expect consent numbers to continue to grow this year.
  • Nevertheless, today’s Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion from the NZIER suggests that capacity pressures in the construction sector remain significant.
  • Strong growth in attached dwelling consents shows a push towards higher-density accommodation.

Attached dwelling consents

Annual running total
3279

...and our reaction

  • The number of new dwelling consents grew 8.2%pa in May, resulting in the most consents for a given month since the 1970s!
  • A large number of consents in Auckland and Waikato contributed to most of the resurgence, with both regions having record high months.
  • Consents for townhouses grew 73%pa in May, with most growth coming from Auckland.
  • Consents numbers outside Auckland were also strong, growing at 8.2%pa.

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