Multi-unit builds drive annual consent growth

Home consents rise 9.3%in the year ended January 2026, and 14.8% in the month of January

In total, 36,944 new homes were consented in the year ended January 2026 – an increase of 9.3% compared with the year ended January 2025. This included 20,196 multi-unit homes (up 13.1%) and 16,748 stand-alone homes (up 5%).

“New home consents increased over the year, with multi-unit homes continuing to play a significant role in the annual rise,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.

Of the multi-unit homes consented, there were 16,175 townhouses, flats and units (+13.8% compared with the year ended January 2025), 2,436 apartments (+26.5%) and 1,585 retirement village units (-7.7%).

In the month of January 2026, there were 2,528 new dwellings consented – an increase of 14.8% compared to January 2025. This number comprised 1,190 stand-alone houses (+10.5%), 1,004 townhouses, flats and units (+3.7%), 189 retirement village units (+110.0%) and 145 apartments (+113.2%).

 

Regions on the up

Eight regions consented more dwellings in the year ended January 2026 compared to the previous year. Southland recorded the biggest increase with 459 (+44.3%), followed by Nelson with 257 (+21.8%), Wellington with 2,142 (+15.5%), Auckland with 15,779 (+13.3%), Canterbury with 7,398 (+11.6%), Otago with 2,674 (+10.7%), Waikato with 3,028 (+8.5%), and Tasman, which consented 307 (+3%).

The four regions with the most consents issued were:

• 15,779 in Auckland (+13.3%).
• 7,398 in Canterbury (+11.6%).
• 3,028 in Waikato (+8.5%).
• 2,674 in Otago (+10.7%).

 

Increased consents per 1,000 residents 

The number of dwellings consented per 1,000 residents increased to 6.9 for the year ended January 2026, compared to 6.4 in the year ended January 2025.

Three regions consented above national levels: Canterbury (10.6), Otago (10.5) and Auckland (8.7).

 

Non-residential building consents experience marginal decrease    

In the year ended January 2026, non-residential building consents totalled $8.9bn, down 0.3% from the year ended January 2025. This series can be influenced by price changes – non-residential construction prices (as measured by the capital goods price index) were up 1.6% in the year ended June 2025. The building types with the highest value were:

• Offices, administration, and public transport buildings – $1.8bn (+1.8%).
• Factories – $1.4bn (+20%).
• Education buildings – $1.3bn (+16%).