Our take on the latest Residential building consents (Fri 30 Jul 2021)
Residential consents
44,299
In the year to June 2021
Total consents up 18%pa over last year
New record monthly consents
The key numbers...
- Residential consents continue to come pouring through, with 4,310 new approvals in June, breaking the record for highest monthly consents for the second time in the last four months. June’s strong result brings annual consents up to 44,299, the highest level on record.
- Auckland remains the driver of growth, with 471 more consents in June than a year prior, up 33%pa.
- Despite such rampant growth nationally, not all regions are seeing their consents increase, with annual declines in monthly consents for Manawatū-Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Tasman, Marlborough, and Wellington in June.
- House consents were a key driver of growth in June, up 26%pa. Townhouse consents also continued their hot streak, with consents in June up 22% on a year prior.
Consent growth by dwelling type
Annual running total
...and our reaction
- The sustained absurd house price growth in recent months, in addition to incentives from the government to encourage new builds, is leading to record high consents.
- Capacity constraints are becoming an ever-increasing concern for the industry, with approvals sitting at record highs and the tightening labour market making additional workers very difficult to find.
- Cost pressures are building, particularly for imported goods, but difficulty in sourcing workers is also pushing up labour costs and subcontractors’ charges.
- Sustained high consent levels will continue to extend completions times for new builds, holding residential construction activity levels higher for longer.
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