Our take on the latest Non-residential building consents (Thu 3 Dec 2020)
Value of non-res consents
$510m
In October 2020
Private consents down 0.8%pa in three months to October
Public consents up 38%pa in three months to October
The key numbers...
- Non-residential consents contracted 18%pa in October, with $114m less consents than a year prior. The weak result for the month left consents for the three months to October sitting 8.2% above the same period a year prior, suggesting that a weakening trend is starting to re-emerge.
- Accommodation buildings were weak in the three months to October, with hostels and hotel consents declining by $70m (23%) compared to the same period a year prior. Retail consents were the next weakest, with a $22m (10%) decline from the same three months in 2019.
- Growth in the three months to October has come from social, cultural, and religious buildings, up $170m (188%pa), followed by warehouse and factory buildings, up $71m (36%pa) and $51m (22%pa) respectively.
- Over the three months to October, non-residential consents have been weakest in the Waikato Region, down 36%pa. Growth, however, has still come through from Auckland, with $79m (11%pa) more non-residential consents over the same period.
The sectors to watch
Contribution to annual % change, three months ended Oct-20
...and our reaction
- Weakness in non-residential building is beginning to come through as could be expected. Private building consents are deteriorating rapidly, with total consents only being held up by a very strong public sector.
- The weak private sector is evidence of how businesses remain uneasy going into the summer period, and a Christmas period that could be make or break for the wider economy.
- Particular weakness is being felt in build types that have been most heavily hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with accommodation buildings feeling the lack of tourism, and retail buildings waiting for a boom or bust Christmas shopping period.
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