Our take on the latest Non-residential building consents (Tue 30 Mar 2021)
Value of non-res consents
$599m
In February 2021
Hotel and hostel building consents grew $37m
Public sector consents up 42% in February
The key numbers...
- February’s non-residential consent value was 24%pa higher than February last year, although year-end consents are still down 2.7%.
- Factory builds have been the growth story recently, up by 95%pa over the last three months. Even more surprisingly, hotel and hostel consents together valued at $103m, were up 56%pa.
- Retail and office building were the weakest build types, declining 50% and 30%pa respectively.
- Public sector consents totalled $201m and were up 42%pa, while private sector consents ($398m) were up 17%.
- Canterbury and Wellington contributed the most to non-residential consent growth, up 92% and 68%pa respectively.
Value of consents granted
$ million
...and our reaction
- February’s result was promising for non-residential consents, with public consents continuing their momentum while private consents rebounded after two months of decline.
- Most surprising was the strength in hotel and hostel consents in February. Some of this increase was due to the ongoing redevelopment work at Waikeria Prison near Ōtorohanga. There was also a $34m consent as part of the IHG hotel development in central Auckland, which is due to be completed by late 2022.
- Confidence is rebuilding as vaccines begin their roll out and the global economy looks closer to reopening, although persistent weakness in retail and a deterioration of office consents highlights how patchy the economy is still.
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