Stats NZ

Building consents issued: December 2021

Building consent statistics are about the number, floor area, and value of new homes, non-residential buildings, and alterations approved for construction.

Use the open-source tool 7-Zip to decompress the CSV files below.

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Key facts

  • In December 2021, the seasonally adjusted number of new dwellings consented rose 0.6 percent, after rising 0.6 percent in November 2021.
  • In the year ended December 2021, the actual number of new dwellings consented was 48,899, up 24 percent from the December 2020 year.
  • The annual value of non-residential building work consented was $8.2 billion, up 16 percent from the December 2020 year.
  • In the year ended December 2021, the number of new dwellings consented per 1,000 residents was 9.6, compared with 7.8 in the December 2020 year.

New dwellings consented

In December 2021, 4,128 new dwellings were consented, comprising:

  • 1,823 stand-alone houses
  • 1,653 townhouses, flats, and units
  • 397 apartments
  • 255 retirement village units.

The number of dwellings consented each month can vary significantly due to timing of large multi-dwelling projects, such as townhouses and apartment buildings.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberNew dwellings consented, monthly, January 1995–December 2021ActualSeasonally adjustedTrend1996199820002002200420062008201020122014201620182020202201k2k3k4k5kStats NZ

New dwellings consented, monthly, January 1995–December 2021

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberNew dwellings consented, monthly, January 1995–December 2021ActualSeasonally adjustedTrend1996199820002002200420062008201020122014201620182020202201k2k3k4k5kStats NZ
DateTimeActualSeasonally adjustedTrend
1995-01-011,5061,8641,867
1995-02-011,9141,9531,825
1995-03-012,0601,7541,780
1995-04-011,4791,6811,736
1995-05-011,8301,6311,698
1995-06-011,7801,7681,674
1995-07-011,5031,6281,665
1995-08-011,7601,6761,670
1995-09-011,7591,6741,677
1995-10-012,0242,1091,689
1995-11-011,8781,6921,716
1995-12-011,6211,7661,767
1996-01-011,5121,7541,840
1996-02-011,9091,9051,914
1996-03-012,1872,0361,970
1996-04-012,0002,0411,988
1996-05-012,3372,1171,963
1996-06-011,6851,8481,908
1996-07-011,8441,7601,849
1996-08-011,8131,8101,810
1996-09-011,8131,7531,806
1996-10-011,8751,8591,828
1996-11-012,0451,8961,859
1996-12-011,8031,8831,878
1997-01-011,6431,9301,882
1997-02-011,7871,8901,889
1997-03-011,8211,8461,912
1997-04-012,0451,9231,961
1997-05-012,0941,9732,034
1997-06-012,0662,2142,116
1997-07-012,3442,2182,188
1997-08-012,1062,1682,232
1997-09-012,7302,4572,238
1997-10-012,1722,1542,208
1997-11-012,1662,1352,155
1997-12-012,1492,1322,086
1998-01-011,6011,9632,006
1998-02-012,0642,2491,916
1998-03-012,0461,8311,822
1998-04-011,6981,7751,732
1998-05-011,6371,5911,646
1998-06-011,5431,5691,574
1998-07-011,6481,5321,524
1998-08-011,5081,5461,505
1998-09-011,6611,4711,527
1998-10-011,4881,5381,586
1998-11-012,1071,9881,677
1998-12-011,7481,7871,794
1999-01-011,5501,9831,918
1999-02-011,7761,9892,032
1999-03-012,4022,1462,126
1999-04-012,2532,2272,203
1999-05-012,3772,3192,269
1999-06-012,0902,1302,323
1999-07-012,5282,4132,354
1999-08-012,4902,4042,357
1999-09-012,6332,3952,323
1999-10-012,1172,2442,256
1999-11-012,1821,9242,154
1999-12-011,9792,0492,033
2000-01-011,5271,9791,917
2000-02-011,6201,7481,828
2000-03-012,0621,7751,767
2000-04-011,4051,6071,730
2000-05-012,1031,8351,708
2000-06-011,5981,6741,694
2000-07-011,7561,7431,675
2000-08-011,7161,5721,641
2000-09-011,7281,6171,597
2000-10-011,5851,5911,555
2000-11-011,7001,5171,529
2000-12-011,2851,4601,527
2001-01-011,3351,5361,548
2001-02-011,3971,6181,583
2001-03-011,7621,5951,623
2001-04-011,5851,7441,661
2001-05-011,8561,6491,688
2001-06-011,6401,7561,708
2001-07-011,6901,5921,729
2001-08-012,0201,8771,748
2001-09-011,6781,6891,759
2001-10-011,9311,7961,767
2001-11-012,1481,9041,781
2001-12-011,4971,7001,810
2002-01-011,4861,7071,852
2002-02-011,7452,0141,915
2002-03-011,9862,0241,992
2002-04-012,2062,1232,066
2002-05-012,2822,0762,136
2002-06-011,8642,0872,188
2002-07-012,7382,4732,228
2002-08-012,1052,0652,278
2002-09-012,4202,3602,322
2002-10-013,4123,2002,345
2002-11-012,4322,2052,344
2002-12-012,5322,6662,326
2003-01-011,9952,2582,308
2003-02-011,7972,0192,299
2003-03-012,5372,4462,306
2003-04-012,2322,3382,353
2003-05-012,4852,4282,422
2003-06-012,3892,5442,502
2003-07-012,6212,4282,570
2003-08-012,7042,7822,616
2003-09-013,0032,7532,660
2003-10-012,5082,3382,706
2003-11-013,0322,9502,745
2003-12-012,6112,5152,777
2004-01-012,6723,1252,801
2004-02-012,5292,7762,807
2004-03-013,0372,6352,786
2004-04-012,5432,8072,714
2004-05-012,5442,6532,608
2004-06-013,4473,3952,500
2004-07-012,3542,3352,409
2004-08-012,2962,2302,356
2004-09-012,2912,1292,335
2004-10-012,6192,6812,342
2004-11-012,6752,3622,360
2004-12-012,4162,3402,353
2005-01-011,8982,2902,309
2005-02-012,1452,2682,237
2005-03-013,0272,9172,163
2005-04-011,6171,7452,112
2005-05-011,9771,9552,086
2005-06-012,1292,1602,064
2005-07-012,0052,0782,053
2005-08-012,3012,0822,054
2005-09-012,2832,1082,073
2005-10-011,9011,9592,112
2005-11-012,2952,0332,157
2005-12-012,4452,4852,196
2006-01-011,9002,1812,210
2006-02-012,2542,3272,190
2006-03-012,2992,0942,146
2006-04-011,5581,9462,102
2006-05-012,3282,1492,093
2006-06-011,9942,0272,133
2006-07-012,1452,2582,195
2006-08-012,4372,1942,240
2006-09-012,5452,4022,247
2006-10-012,3772,3332,214
2006-11-012,2322,0342,161
2006-12-011,8832,0062,115
2007-01-011,8802,0732,090
2007-02-012,0922,1222,095
2007-03-012,2692,1982,123
2007-04-011,7822,1282,160
2007-05-012,3222,1432,182
2007-06-012,5742,7142,180
2007-07-012,1602,1312,154
2007-08-012,5082,2692,113
2007-09-011,9881,9862,064
2007-10-012,0871,9232,014
2007-11-012,1891,9791,967
2007-12-011,7391,9001,926
2008-01-011,7431,9991,885
2008-02-011,8741,8041,834
2008-03-011,5671,7241,764
2008-04-012,3732,4061,675
2008-05-011,6531,5871,577
2008-06-011,3801,4951,477
2008-07-011,4351,3331,383
2008-08-011,3281,3151,296
2008-09-011,6351,4721,218
2008-10-011,1731,1011,156
2008-11-011,1681,1351,109
2008-12-011,1271,1221,078
2009-01-018129911,065
2009-02-011,0591,0921,067
2009-03-011,0911,0591,080
2009-04-011,0091,1071,095
2009-05-011,2381,2271,114
2009-06-011,1001,1221,142
2009-07-011,2141,1161,181
2009-08-011,1951,2111,228
2009-09-011,4301,2831,279
2009-10-011,4241,3941,326
2009-11-011,5001,3781,366
2009-12-011,3531,3901,393
2010-01-011,0421,3291,406
2010-02-011,3751,4391,414
2010-03-011,5011,4551,421
2010-04-011,4001,4231,421
2010-05-011,3601,3541,403
2010-06-011,3731,3921,368
2010-07-011,4731,4121,317
2010-08-011,2291,1971,261
2010-09-011,2621,1681,207
2010-10-011,1231,1371,160
2010-11-011,4701,2541,119
2010-12-019941,0221,088
2011-01-018671,1171,063
2011-02-019731,0341,043
2011-03-011,0871,0111,030
2011-04-019271,0101,032
2011-05-011,1391,0801,051
2011-06-019951,0351,083
2011-07-011,1701,1561,117
2011-08-011,5091,4011,152
2011-09-011,2461,1601,179
2011-10-011,2381,2661,201
2011-11-011,3841,1571,222
2011-12-011,1271,2071,242
2012-01-011,0981,3411,261
2012-02-011,2041,2311,278
2012-03-011,5591,5281,292
2012-04-011,2301,3581,306
2012-05-011,3721,2431,329
2012-06-011,2771,3651,362
2012-07-011,4781,3901,401
2012-08-011,5131,4261,436
2012-09-011,5201,5721,463
2012-10-011,6391,5001,486
2012-11-011,6581,4071,504
2012-12-011,3811,5241,527
2013-01-011,3121,5381,565
2013-02-011,5421,6911,614
2013-03-011,4751,6181,661
2013-04-011,7551,6771,697
2013-05-011,9711,8131,715
2013-06-011,5391,7281,722
2013-07-011,8931,6671,734
2013-08-011,7481,7171,764
2013-09-011,8621,8801,811
2013-10-011,8911,7661,867
2013-11-012,2671,9571,925
2013-12-012,0352,1031,974
2014-01-011,6441,9802,009
2014-02-011,7681,9412,035
2014-03-011,9992,0482,058
2014-04-012,0822,1382,075
2014-05-012,1252,0572,077
2014-06-012,0022,1352,069
2014-07-012,2822,0302,050
2014-08-012,0592,0702,036
2014-09-011,9851,9032,038
2014-10-012,1522,0352,063
2014-11-012,4202,1972,101
2014-12-012,1992,1382,143
2015-01-011,7032,2312,174
2015-02-011,7581,9282,183
2015-03-012,2712,2682,177
2015-04-012,1122,1592,165
2015-05-012,1712,1812,158
2015-06-012,0422,0052,160
2015-07-012,8242,5102,180
2015-08-012,2912,2922,224
2015-09-012,2422,1552,287
2015-10-012,3492,3502,355
2015-11-012,8312,4602,406
2015-12-012,5382,5572,425
2016-01-011,6952,3612,415
2016-02-012,3792,4652,404
2016-03-012,3152,2592,408
2016-04-012,3612,4192,437
2016-05-012,5202,3842,495
2016-06-012,7522,7352,563
2016-07-012,8112,7292,616
2016-08-012,8342,4942,629
2016-09-012,6142,5782,603
2016-10-012,5752,7102,553
2016-11-013,0052,4552,506
2016-12-012,2052,4042,476
2017-01-011,7522,3562,461
2017-02-012,4182,5902,453
2017-03-012,7792,4962,459
2017-04-012,1062,4912,495
2017-05-012,7942,4432,545
2017-06-012,5602,5152,603
2017-07-012,7622,7312,663
2017-08-013,1662,8292,710
2017-09-012,7702,7812,717
2017-10-012,5492,5292,683
2017-11-013,2622,8152,632
2017-12-012,1692,5092,605
2018-01-011,9162,4092,628
2018-02-012,4122,5352,695
2018-03-012,9262,9532,773
2018-04-012,7292,8852,830
2018-05-013,4072,9632,848
2018-06-012,7922,8142,827
2018-07-012,7522,6232,772
2018-08-013,0752,7772,717
2018-09-012,5592,6892,701
2018-10-012,9262,7372,741
2018-11-013,1202,7612,818
2018-12-012,3822,7892,913
2019-01-012,4963,1333,003
2019-02-013,0983,2363,072
2019-03-013,1803,0713,110
2019-04-012,6052,7703,119
2019-05-013,7243,2113,125
2019-06-012,8873,0853,136
2019-07-013,4203,1333,158
2019-08-013,2653,1363,183
2019-09-013,3473,3543,195
2019-10-013,4123,2343,193
2019-11-013,2383,0003,184
2019-12-012,9553,2523,175
2020-01-012,5643,1503,176
2020-02-013,2853,4023,197
2020-03-012,9152,6813,227
2020-04-012,1742,3493,249
2020-05-013,5623,3443,253
2020-06-013,4773,3583,256
2020-07-013,3913,2093,277
2020-08-013,1563,2073,332
2020-09-013,6053,3403,432
2020-10-013,6593,6593,560
2020-11-013,8813,7033,697
2020-12-013,7513,8713,813
2021-01-013,0253,9903,889
2021-02-013,1293,2573,927
2021-03-014,2183,8733,955
2021-04-013,9944,0703,999
2021-05-014,1803,9734,064
2021-06-014,3104,1294,137
2021-07-014,2114,2144,203
2021-08-014,4904,3644,249
2021-09-014,4834,2704,262
2021-10-014,0434,1804,248
2021-11-014,6884,2034,220
2021-12-014,1284,2264,188

The seasonally adjusted number of new stand-alone houses consented rose 0.4 percent, after falling 6.2 percent in November 2021.

In the December 2021 quarter, the seasonally adjusted number of new homes consented fell 1.2 percent, after rising 2.6 percent in the September 2021 quarter.

Regional new dwellings consented

By region, the numbers of new dwellings consented in the year ended December 2021 (compared with the December 2020 year) were:

  • 20,529 in Auckland (up 23 percent)
  • 5,128 in Waikato (up 27 percent)
  • 3,656 in Wellington (up 20 percent)
  • 7,822 in rest of North Island (up 25 percent)
  • 7,714 in Canterbury (up 31 percent)
  • 4,046 in rest of South Island (up 16 percent).
Created with Highcharts 5.0.14RegionNumberNew dwellings consents, by region, year ended December 2019–2021201920202021NorthlandAucklandWaikatoBay of PlentyGisborneHawke's BayTaranakiManawatū-WhanganuiWellingtonTasmanNelsonMarlboroughWest CoastCanterburyOtagoSouthland01k2k3k4k5k6k7k8k9k10k11k12k13k14k15k16k17k18k19k20k21kStats NZ

New dwellings consents, by region, year ended December 2019–2021

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberNew dwellings consents, by region, year ended December 2019–2021201920202021NorthlandWaikatoGisborneTaranakiWellingtonNelsonWest CoastOtago01k2k3k4k5k6k7k8k9k10k11k12k13k14k15k16k17k18k19k20k21kStats NZ
Region201920202021
Northland1,1199951,480
Auckland15,15416,65620,529
Waikato4,2514,0365,128
Bay of Plenty2,1462,1632,591
Gisborne10198169
Hawke's Bay7141,0471,110
Taranaki561701861
Manawatū-Whanganui1,1751,2781,611
Wellington3,2203,0573,656
Tasman500550522
Nelson312253246
Marlborough276245245
West Coast139115218
Canterbury5,3085,8967,714
Otago2,2861,9792,341
Southland364343474

Enhanced regional new home data is now available in tables 3 and 4 of the ‘Building consents issued: December 2021’ excel file under Download data.

The year ended December 2020 included the COVID-19 alert level 4 lockdown period in late March and April 2020, which disrupted consent issuance across many territorial authorities.

New dwellings consented per 1,000 residents

The number of dwellings consented per 1,000 residents across New Zealand was 9.6 for the year ended December 2021, compared with 7.8 in the December 2020 year. The record number of new homes consented per 1,000 residents was 13.4 in the year ended December 1973.

National population estimates are updated quarterly, and subnational population estimates are updated annually in October, and are provisional. For more information about estimated resident population see Population.

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14RegionNumberNew dwellings consented per 1,000 residents, by region, year ended December 2019–2021201920202021NorthlandAucklandWaikatoBay of PlentyGisborneHawke's BayTaranakiManawatū-WhanganuiWellingtonTasmanNelsonMarlboroughWest CoastCanterburyOtagoSouthlandNew Zealand051015Stats NZ

New dwellings consented per 1,000 residents, by region, year ended December 2019–2021

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14NumberNew dwellings consented per 1,000 residents, by region, year ended December 2019–2021201920202021NorthlandAucklandWaikatoBay of PlentyGisborneHawke's BayTaranakiManawatū-WhanganuiWellingtonTasmanNelsonMarlboroughWest CoastCanterburyOtagoSouthlandNew Zealand051015Stats NZ
Region201920202021
Northland5.95.17.5
Auckland99.712
Waikato8.88.110.1
Bay of Plenty6.56.47.5
Gisborne21.93.3
Hawke's Bay4.15.86.1
Taranaki4.65.66.8
Manawatū-Whanganui4.756.3
Wellington65.66.7
Tasman9.19.69
Nelson5.84.64.5
Marlborough5.64.84.8
West Coast4.33.56.7
Canterbury8.49.211.9
Otago9.58.19.5
Southland3.63.34.6
New Zealand7.57.89.6

Non-residential building consents

In the year ended December 2021, non-residential building consents totalled $8.2 billion, up 16 percent from the December 2020 year. This series can be influenced by price changes – non-residential construction prices (as measured by the capital goods price index) were up 6.3 percent in the September 2021 year.

In the December 2021 year, the non-residential building types with the highest values were:

  • education buildings at $1.5 billion (up 22 percent)
  • factories at $1.3 billion (up 62 percent)
  • storage buildings at $1.1 billion (down 8.8 percent).
Created with Highcharts 5.0.14Building typeValue ($)Value of non-residential building consents ($), including alterations and additions, year ended December 2019–2021201920202021EducationFactoriesStorageHealthOfficesShopsSocialHotelsHostels andprisonsHostels and prisonsFarm0500M1 000M1 500MStats NZ

Value of non-residential building consents ($), including alterations and additions, year ended December 2019–2021

Created with Highcharts 5.0.14Value ($)Value of non-residential building consents ($), including alterations and additions, year ended December 2019–2021201920202021EducationFactoriesStorageHealthOfficesShopsSocialHotelsHostels andprisonsHostels and prisonsFarm0500M1 000M1 500MStats NZ
Building type201920202021
Education1,062,606,3891,193,158,1921,456,754,629
Factories792,760,874776,970,4791,262,535,764
Storage866,106,3571,155,051,2711,052,932,448
Health606,118,429527,836,3931,029,554,807
Offices1,002,524,943959,951,827995,034,878
Shops1,055,807,652762,994,993788,051,373
Social821,822,862596,350,261592,675,182
Hotels545,195,509545,957,067385,115,866
Hostels and prisons427,451,121238,626,711319,665,388
Farm279,704,001289,617,558307,990,344

More data

Use Infoshare for time-series data about building consents:

Subject category: Industry sectors
Group: Building consents – BLD

Definitions and metadata

Current methodology – Buildings consents issued from March 2015 – DataInfo+ provides the general methodology used to produce building consent statistics from March 2015 onward.

Building consents issued concepts from March 2015 onwards – DataInfo+ provides definitions of terms used in the release.

Building consents issued – DataInfo+ explains limitations of the data and changes over time.

Building consents issued frequently asked questions – DataInfo+ answers some common queries.

ISSN 1178-0231

Next release

Building consents issued: January 2022 will be released on 2 March 2022.

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