South Island consents rise

Consent numbers for the year ended March 2024 rose in the South Island by 6.4% – a sharp contrast to the North Island’s 7.1% decline 

There were 34,062 new homes consented in the year ended March 2025 – a 3.3% reduction when compared to the year ended March 2024. However, the South Island saw a 6.4% increase during the same period, with 10,491 new homes consented. In comparison, the North Island recorded 23,570 new home consents – a drop of 7.1%. 

“The increase in the South Island was driven by higher numbers of new homes consented in Otago, Tasman and Canterbury compared with the same period last year,” said Stats NZ Economic Indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen. 

“In the 12 months to March 2025, 2,556 new homes were consented in Otago – the highest number ever recorded for the region.”  

Of the 34,062 new homes consented nationwide in the year ended March 2025, there were 15,975 stand-alone houses – an increase of 5.3%. There were 9.9% fewer consents for multi-unit homes, which numbered 18,087. Of the multi-unit homes, there were: 

• 14,383 townhouses, flats and units (-11%). 

• 2,108 apartments (-3.7%). 

• 1,596 retirement village units (-7%). 

Regional outliers 

Five regions consented more dwellings in the year ended March 2025 compared to the previous year. Otago 2,556 (+30.9%), followed by Taranaki on 477 new homes consented (+22.9%), Tasman on 294 (+6.5%), Canterbury 6,651 (+1.2%) and Bay of Plenty consented 1,597 (+1.1%). 

The four regions with the most consents issued were: 

• 14,049 in Auckland (-4.4%). 

• 6,651 in Canterbury (-1.2%). 

• 2,876 in Waikato (-10.9%). 

• 1,893 in Wellington (-19.7%).  

When compared to the same month last year, March 2025 saw a significant jump with 3,398 new dwellings consented – an increase of 15.9% over March 2024. Of the 3,398 new dwellings consented, there were 1,452 townhouses, flats and units (+12%), 1,374 stand-alone houses (+9.8%), 495 apartments (+121%) and 77 retirement village units (-51.6%). 

Consents down per 1,000 residents  

In terms of dwellings consented per 1,000 residents, the figures for the year ended March 2025 declined compared with the year ended March 2024 (6.4 vs 6.7). 

Three regions consented above national levels: Otago (10.2), Canterbury (9.7) and Auckland (7.8).  

Non-residential building consents down 

In the year ended March 2025, non-residential building consents totalled $8.9bn, down 7.2% from the year ended March 2024. The building types with the highest value were: 

• Offices, administration and public transport buildings – $1.7bn (+2.6%). 

• Storage buildings – $1.4bn (-6.4%). 

• Factories – $1.2bn (-4.1%). 

Home consents up for March quarter 

There were 8,179 new homes consented in the March 2025 quarter, up 6% compared with the March 2024 quarter. 

Of those, 3,642 were stand-alone houses (+5.7%) and 4,537 were multi-unit homes (+6.3%). 

Of the multi-unit homes consented in the March 2025 quarter, there were: 

• 3,597 townhouses, flats, and units (+7.2%). 

• 673 apartments (+23%). 

• 267 retirement village units (-28%).