HIGHEST 12-MONTH PERIOD SINCE 1974

Despite the month of July experiencing a decrease in consents from June, the July year total was the highest recorded over a 12-month period since 1974, reaching 35,472

A total of 3,420 new dwellings were consented in July — a seasonally adjusted 1.3% decrease, following a 4% decrease in June.

The July figure comprised of 2,101 stand-alone houses, 652 townhouses, flats, and units, 154 retirement villages and 513 apartments.

The 35,672 new dwellings consented in the year ended July 2019 is an 8% increase from the July 2018 year.

In the regions

14 of the 16 regions consented more dwellings in July 2019 compared to July 2018, led by Auckland (up 204 to 1,454; +16%), Canterbury (up 122 to 431; +39%), and Waikato (up 99 to 389; +34%). Northland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, West Coast, Southland, Tasman, Nelson, and Marlborough were other regions to consent more dwellings month-on-month.

Two regions saw a decrease in consented dwellings in July 2019 compared to July 2018, those being Otago (down 69 to 181; -27%), and Manawatu (down 23 to 76; -23%).

Non-residential building consents 

In the year ended July 2019, non-residential building consents totalled $7.6bn, up 11% from the July 2018 year. The building types with the highest value were:

• Social, cultural, and religious buildings – $1.1bn (up 62%).
• Shops, restaurants, and bars – $1.0bn (up 2.3%).
• Education buildings – $1.0bn (down 11%).