Our take on the latest Non-residential building consents (Mon 30 Sept 2019)
Value of non-res consents
$552m
As of August 2019
Total consents down 7.9%pa
Education consents up $78m from August 2018
The key numbers...
- Non-residential consents values eased 7.9%pa in August, with total consents worth $47m less than a year prior. Of that reduction, $30m came from fewer public consents.
- Education building consents, valued at $126m, accounted for 23% of all non-residential consents in August. The value of education building consents grew 161%pa in August.
- Most of the growth in education building consents came from Auckland, where education consents totalled $83m. However, other major non-residential building consents values underperformed in Auckland, resulting in total consents valued at $43m less than in August 2018.
- Otago was the only region to have a substantial increase in non-residential consent values, up 153%pa in August. Dunedin had $9m of consents in hotel-motel spending, while Queenstown-Lakes had boosts to commercial buildings ($8.4m), and shops, restaurants, and bars ($8.3m).
The sectors to watch
Contribution to annual % change, three months ended Aug-19
...and our reaction
- If it wasn’t for strong education building consents, August’s performance would have been terrible, particularly in Auckland.
- Over the last decade, Auckland has been a large source of growth in non-residential consents, but recent months’ data is raising questions about whether Auckland’s vigour will continue.
- Global growth expectations have been slowing markedly over the last year, undermining businesses’ willingness to invest, including in new buildings.
Latest updates
Premium
Non-residential building consents
Warehouses prevent further non-res falls in June
Mon 3 Aug 2026
Monthly
$701m Value of non-res consents in June 2026
7.4% Total non-res consents from May 2026 (seas adj)37%pa Warehouse consents from June 2025Premium
Non-residential building consents
Non-res consents weaker still in May
Thu 2 Jul 2026
Monthly
$789m Value of non-res consents in May 2026
19% Monthly consents from May 202549% Public sector consents from May 2025Non-residential building consents
Non-res consents mostly softer in April
Wed 3 Jun 2026
Monthly
$655m Value of non-res consents in April 2026
15% Monthly consents from April 2025
Office and education consents at lowest monthly levels in 5-6 yearsNon-residential building consents
Consents strong in March, but shadow of conflict looms
Fri 1 May 2026
Monthly
$862m Value of non-res consents in March 2026
15% Monthly consents from Mar 2025$119m Hostel consents from Mar 2025