Consents dip in September

While the number of new dwellings consented fell slightly in September, annual growth continues to track upwards

A total of 2,770 new dwellings were consented in September, including 1,843 houses and 415 apartments.

Seasonally adjusted*, the number of new dwellings consented fell 2.3% in September, following a 5.9% increase in August. It’s the first time in four months that the seasonally adjusted number has fallen.

For houses only, the seasonally adjusted number fell 1.7% on the back of a 3.1% fall in August.

Seasonally adjusted, the number of new dwellings consented fell for the first time in four months

In the regions

Ten out of the 16 regions consented more new dwellings in September 2017 compared to September 2016, led by Auckland (up 52 to 868; +6%), Bay of Plenty (up 36 to 229; +19%) and Manawatu-Wanganui (up 26 to 102; +34%). Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Northland, Otago, Southland and Tasman were the other regions to consent more new dwellings.

The biggest month-on-month drops were in Waikato (down 18 to 93; -6%), Wellington (down 12 to 282; -4%) and Taranaki (down 10 to 39; -20%). Nelson and West Coast were the only other regions to consent less new dwellings in September 2017 compared to September 2016, while the figure in Gisborne remained unchanged.

In the year to September, 30,892 new dwellings were consented, up 3% from the previous 12-month period. The regions consenting the most new homes in the September 2017 year were:

• Auckland – 10,317 new homes (up 2.9% from the September 2016 year).
• Canterbury – 5,122 new homes (down 18%).
• Waikato – 3,596 new homes (up 1.7%).
• Bay of Plenty – 2,596 new homes (up 4.8%).

*Seasonal adjustments removes the estimated effect of regular seasonal events, such as summer holidays and pre-Christmas purchasing, from statistical series to make figures for adjacent periods more comparable.