34,078 homes were consented in New Zealand in the year ended August 2025, according to the latest Stats NZ data. This represents a 1.3% increase for the year ended August 2024, indicating an uptick in construction activity that reflects the optimistic outlook of the sector as a whole.
“The number of homes consented has started to pick up in both monthly and annual terms, but is still down one-third from its peak in mid-2022,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.
“The uptick in consented homes has been driven partly by multi-unit developments in Auckland and Otago.” Multi-unit homes include townhouses, apartments, retirement village units, and flats.
Stand-alone houses consented rose 1.0% to 15,755 in the year ended August 2025, while multi-unit homes consented increased 1.6% to 18,323.
In monthly terms, 3,047 homes were consented in August 2025, up 2.3% from July, reflecting a seasonal bounce in building activity. Auckland recorded the highest number of consents in the month, followed by Canterbury and Waikato.
Analysts note that while the overall housing market faces challenges from higher interest rates, the continued growth in consents suggests developers are responding to ongoing demand, particularly in urban areas where housing shortages remain acute.
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