Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Tue 4 Feb 2020)
Annual dwelling consents
37,538
As of December 2019
Total new dwelling consents up 22%pa
Attached dwelling consents grew 40%pa
The key numbers...
- December was a strong month to cap off a strong year of residential consent numbers, with an additional 528 consents compared with December 2018.
- Auckland and Wellington were regions that showed the most strength, with consent numbers for 2019 being 18% and 16% higher compared with 2018, respectively.
- Auckland was the star performer in 2019, reaching a record high of over 15,000 new dwelling consents. The 2,292 additional consents in 2019 compared with 2018 accounted for 50% of total growth in residential consent numbers across the country.
- Attached dwelling consents rose 29%pa over the 2019 calendar year, rising at a much faster pace than standalone houses which grew by 5.1%pa over the same period.
Annual dwelling consents
...and our reaction
- Media attention has remained focused on housing supply throughout 2019 and the implications for the property and rental markets. Consistent growth in construction activity is expected to start relieving pressure over the next year.
- Housing growth, especially for high density dwellings, has been the strongest in regions most desperate for more housing such as Auckland and Wellington.
- Recent revisions to migration estimates by StatsNZ saw net migration sit nearly 10,000 people lower than previously thought which has curbed population growth expectations.
- However, addressing housing supply shortages will still take time, with capacity in the construction sector not able to grow at the same pace as consented intentions.
Latest updates
Premium
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. basisPremium
Residential building consents
Residential consents fall 4.0% in May
Thu 2 Jul 2026
Monthly
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
Residential consents jump up 11% in April
Wed 3 Jun 2026
Monthly
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
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. basis14%pa Townhouse consents over March 2026 year