Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Mon 30 Sept 2019)
Annual dwelling consents
35,658
As at August 2019
Attached dwelling consents rose 9.3%pa
Townhouse consents up 48% from last August
The key numbers...
- Construction intentions continue to increase across the country, with annual dwelling consents increasing to 35,658 – the highest since October 1974.
- Auckland continues to drive growth in residential housing activity, contributing 48% of additional consents over the year ending August 2019 compared to a year earlier.
- Attached consents rose 9.3%pa in August 2019, ahead of standalone housing consents, which rose 4.0%pa.
- In August 2019, 40% of all dwelling consents were for attached dwellings.
Denser housing increases in importance
Share of annual dwelling consents
...and our reaction
- Residential construction activity is set to continue at high levels, with consent numbers continuing to increase, particularly in Auckland.
- Declining property prices in Auckland haven’t deterred property developers yet, with consent volumes continuing on their upwards trajectory.
- The undersupply of housing in Auckland in previous years is keeping consent volumes on their upwards path, but with softer economic conditions forecast and Auckland property values heading lower, we believe consent numbers are close to their peak.
- Parts of New Zealand continue to shift towards denser housing, with the proportion of non-house consents increasing. Attached dwellings comprised 53% of annual consents in Auckland, followed by Wellington with 43%.
Latest updates
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Mon 3 Aug 2026
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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. basisPremium
Residential building consents
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39,737 Annual consents over May 2026 year4.0% May 2026 consents from April on a seas. adj. basis22%pa Townhouse consents over May 2026 yearResidential building consents
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Wed 3 Jun 2026
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39,087 Annual consents over April 2026 year11% April 2026 consents from March on a seas. adj. basis19%pa Multi-unit consents over April 2026 yearResidential building consents
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Fri 1 May 2026
Monthly
37,813 Annual consents over March 2026 year
3,300pm Consents trend sideways on a seas. adj. basis14%pa Townhouse consents over March 2026 year