Consents see third consecutive monthly increase

A total of 3,098 new dwellings were consented in February, representing a seasonally adjusted 1.9% increase, on top of a 13.6% increase in January and 5.4% in December.

The February figure included 1,814 stand-alone houses, 446 apartments, 272 retirement village units, and 566 townhouses, flats, and units.

In the year ended February 2019, the actual number of new dwellings consented was 34,262 — up 9.7% from the year ended February 2018.

In the regions

Seven of the 16 regions consented more dwellings in February 2019 compared to February 2018, led by Auckland (up 575 to 1354; +74%), Waikato (up 81 to 345; +30%), and Canterbury (up 73 to 448; +19%). Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington, Otago, and West Coast were other regions to consent more dwellings month-on-month.

The remaining nine regions saw a decrease in consented dwellings in February 2019 compared to February 2018, led by Nelson (down 30 to 7; -81%), Hawke’s Bay (down 23 to 38; -37%), and Northland (down 22 to 93; -19%). Marlborough, Tasman, Southland, Taranaki, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty also saw decreases in that time.

Non-residential building consents 

In the year ended February 2019, non-residential building consents totalled $7.2bn, up 6.2% from the February 2018 year. The building types with the highest value were:

• Shops, restaurants, and bars — $1.1bn (up 32%)
• Educations buildings — $1.1bn (up 0.9%)
• Storage buildings — $973m (up 27%)