Our take on the latest Non-residential building consents (Thu 30 Jul 2020)
Value of non-res consents
$753m
In June 2020
Total non-residential consents up 50%pa in June
Office consents of $188m in June
The key numbers...
- The total value of non-residential consents grew a whopping 50%pa in the month of June, however, non-residential consents for the June quarter were down 17%pa, and down 18%pa in the first half of 2020.
- Office and warehouse consents led the charge, valued at $188m and $151m respectively.
- A $100m government office building consent in Wellington made the region a star performer, however for the country overall, private consents grew the fastest at 63%pa compared with 12%pa growth in public consents.
- Hostel and hotel consents fell 68% and 32%pa, illustrating the state of tourism in New Zealand.
Value of consents granted
$ million
...and our reaction
- June’s non-residential consent value was a strong result after 4 consecutive months of decline, and seasonally adjusted it’s the strongest month since April 2019.
- Non-residential consents were stifled well before New Zealand went into lockdown as investor nerves were unsettled by the mysterious pandemic unfolding around them.
- Looking outside the tourism sector, businesses in New Zealand may have found some solace in our successful health response to COVID-19, encouraging new investment. However, the highly variable nature of non-residential consents makes it hard to read into one month of data and the trend is still of decline.
- Also, the slower nature of commercial building planning and design means June’s result is likely to represent a lagged post-lockdown surge.
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 2025Office 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