Consents see out 2018 on a high

A total of 2,382 new dwellings were consented in December, representing a seasonally adjusted 5.1% increase, following a 1.9% decrease in November

The figure included 1,492 stand-alone houses, 273 apartments, 166 retirement villages, and 451 townhouses, flats, and units.

In the year ended December 2018, the actual number of new dwellings consented was 32,996 — up 6.1% from the December 2017 year.

Consents issued to central government agencies recorded a 40-year high, being granted consents for 1,999 new homes in 2018 — the highest number since the year ended November 1978.

Private owners and developers accounted for 94% of the total new homes consented in the year ended December 2018.

In the regions  

Eleven of the 16 regions consented more dwellings in December 2018 compared to December 2017, led by Canterbury (increase of 101 to 399; +34%), Auckland (increase of 62 to 938; +7%), Waikato (increase of 50 to 255; +24%), and Manawatu (increase of 47 to 115; +69%). Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Taranaki, Wellington, West Coast, Tasman, and South Island were other regions to consent more dwellings month-on-month.

Five of the 16 regions saw a decrease in consented dwellings in December 2018 compared to December 2017, led by Otago (decrease of 31 to 138; -18%), Southland (decrease of 17 to 16; -51%), and Marlborough (decrease of 10 to 18; -36%). Northland and Hawke’s Bay also recorded decreases compared to December 2017.

Non-residential building consents 

In the year ended December 2018, non-residential building consents totalled $7.1bn, up 9% from the December 2017 year. The building types with the highest value were:

• Shops, restaurants, and bars — $1.1bm (up 40%)
• Educations buildings — $1bn (up 0.6%)
• Offices, administration, and public transport buildings — $916m (up 20%)