Residential building consents

Residential consents grow with regional disparity

3 Dec 2020
Andrew Beattie's-profile-photo
Andrew Beattie

Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Thu 3 Dec 2020)

New dwelling consents rose 7.2%pa
Townhouse consents grew 43%pa
House consents drop 8.5%pa

The key numbers...

  • Total residential consents grew 7.2%pa in October, leaving year-end consent growth at 2.8%pa.
  • A total of 1,178 townhouse consents were issued in October (up 43%pa), the most in a single month on record.
  • Although apartment consents were up by 108%pa in October, they have been relatively weak in previous months, and year-end growth in apartment consents is still sitting at -23%pa.
  • Auckland and Canterbury Regions had strong growth in consents, up 15%pa and 22%pa respectively, led mainly by strong townhouse consents.
  • But activity in Otago, Southland, and West Coast is slowing down, with consents over the three months to October down 34%, 24%, and 23%pa respectively.

Annual dwelling consents

Annual running total
3782

...and our reaction

  • This time last year residential consent growth was quite strong, so to be still increasing from that point one year on is quite remarkable given the recession and pandemic.
  • The booming housing market is having some sway as property developers see a strong return on housing, particularly in Auckland. With a median house price of over $1m in Auckland and house price inflation running at 15%pa, there’s a strong incentive to build.
  • However, tourist hotspots of the South Island have come off the boil as investors are wary of the potential for price falls in these areas.

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. 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