Consents pass 40k for first time since 2023 

In the year ended June 2026, residential building consents passed 40,000 for the first time since 2023 – reflecting substantial increases across many of New Zealand’s regions 

In total, 40,581 new homes were consented in the year ended June 2026 – an increase of 19.4% compared with the year ended June 2025. 

“This is the first time we’ve seen the annual number of new homes consented exceed 40,000 since 2023,” Stats Economic Indicators Spokesperson Michelle Feyen said. 

Figures were boosted by record consent volumes in the Otago region – added Feyen. 

“Queenstown-Lakes district consented more than 2,000 new homes for the first time on record, accounting for more than two-thirds of new homes in the Otago region,” she said. 

Of the 40,581 new homes consented, there were 18,627 stand-alone houses (+17% compared with the previous year) and 21,954 multi-unit homes (+21.2%).  

Of the multi-unit homes consented, there were 17,675 townhouses, flats and units (+23%), 2,505 apartments (+15%) and 1,774 retirement village units (+12%). 

Monthly increases 

In the month of June 2026, 3,471 new dwellings were consented – an increase of 32.1% compared to the month of June 2025. This number comprised of 1,658 stand-alone houses (+27.3%), 1,614 townhouses, flats and units (+36.8%), 132 retirement village units (+230%) and 67 apartments (+38.1%). 

The increase in consent numbers seems to reflect increased workload confidence by building firms. According to SEEK data, the month ending June 2026 saw a 35.1% rise in demand for construction workers – which made it the industry with the highest annual growth. 

However, application data could indicate that construction is due to experience another worker shortage. 

“Annually, demand for workers within the construction industry has jumped 35.1% year-on-year – the highest annual growth rate of any industry classification, driven by rising job ads across the major cities and the South Island,” stated the report. “Applications per ad for the industry have stabilised over the past quarter but have been declining in response to the rising demand, demonstrating that demand for workers is outweighing talent supply.” 

Regions on the up 

14 of 16 regions consented more dwellings in the year ended June 2026 compared to the previous year. Gisborne recorded the largest percentage increase with 227 (+58.7%), followed by Nelson with 324 (+35%), Canterbury with 8,647 (+33.1%) and Southland 444 (+29.8%). 

West Coast dropped the most, recording 166 consents (-18.2%). 

The four regions with the most consents issued were: 

• 17,097 in Auckland (+19.6%). 

• 8,647 in Canterbury (+33.1%). 

• 3,205 in Waikato (+14.5%). 

• 2,982 in Otago (+13.1%). 

Increased consents per 1,000 residents 

The number of dwellings consented per 1,000 residents increased to 7.6 for the year ended June 2026, compared to 6.4 in the year ended June 2025. 

Three regions consented above national levels: Canterbury (+12.4), Otago (+11.7) and Auckland (+9.4). 

Non-residential building consents decrease 

In the year ended June 2026, non-residential building consents totalled $8.8bn, down 2.9% from the year ended June 2025. The building types with the highest value were: 

• Offices, administration, and public transport buildings – $1.7bn (-2.7%).  

• Education buildings – $1.3bn (+4.2%). 

• Storage buildings – $1.2bn (-8.0%).