In brief
In the year to September 2026, New Zealand granted 41,091 new housing consents — the highest in four years — driven by a 20% increase in stand‑alone houses and a 16% lift in multi‑unit developments. Auckland accounted for more than half of the new consents, posting a 36% surge. Despite the overall growth, September consents fell 4.7% from a year earlier, echoing a seasonally adjusted decline.
Wellington, Nov. 3 – New Zealand approved a record 41,091 new homes in the year to September 2026, an 18 % rise from the preceding year, according to data released by the national statistics agency, Stats NZ, in a statement. The figure represents the highest annual consent level in four years, with stand‑alone houses and multi‑unit homes each seeing a substantial increase.
Stand‑alone houses accounted for 19,228 consents, a rise of 20 % or more than 3,200 units from the year before. Multi‑unit homes—encompassing apartments, townhouses and the like—comprised 21,863 consents, up 16 % over the same period. Both categories reflected a steady upward trend as demand for housing continued to outpace supply.
Statistical data point to Auckland as the chief beneficiary of the boom. The city approved 6,426 stand‑alone house consents in the twelve‑month period, a 36 % jump year‑on‑year. The agency noted that the more than 1,700 new consents in Auckland represented over half of the nationwide increase for the year.
September, the final month of the reporting period, saw 3,570 new homes approved, 4.7 % less than the same month a year earlier. On a seasonally adjusted basis, total new home consents fell 7.9 % from August to September, according to the Stats NZ statement.
These figures reflect ongoing challenges in the New Zealand housing market, including rising construction costs and regulatory pressures, while also highlighting regions like Auckland that are actively expanding residential capacity. The national outlook remains positive, as the 18 % overall increase underscores sustained demand and the government's efforts to streamline approval processes.