Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Thu 14 Jan 2021)
New dwelling consents up 20%pa
Consents in Auckland up 55%pa
House consents break their falling streak
The key numbers...
- Total new dwelling consents rose 20%pa in November, with the 3,881 new consents making November the second highest month on record, behind only October 1973 (4,081 consents).
- Auckland was responsible for the lion’s share of growth, with total consents up 55%pa. Growth was incredibly strong in apartments, townhouses, and retirement building, up 132%, 131%, and 88%pa respectively. New house consents were the only type to disappoint in Auckland, falling 7.5%pa.
- House consents managed to break their falling streak, with consents in the three months to November sitting 3.0%pa higher, the first positive result since lockdown.
- Although many areas showed continued strength, Wellington consents continued on a weaker path, down 21%pa in November.
Consent growth
Year-end annual % changes
...and our reaction
- Auckland consents continue to grow strongly, assisted by the Unitary Plan, the continued housing shortage, and the resulting strength in house prices.
- The incredibly hot housing market is obviously encouraging new building activity in the market, with consents remaining near, and inching closer, to all-time record highs.
- We expect consents will likely remain elevated in the near term, as heat from the housing translates into support for new builds, particularly as interest rates are sitting at record low levels.
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