New home consents rise 9 percent in 2025 as Auckland drives national increase

More than 36,600 new homes were consented across New Zealand in 2025, with Auckland accounting for more than half of the national increase.

Figures released by Statistics NZ today show 36,619 new homes were consented in the year ended December 2025, up 9.0 percent compared with the year ended December 2024.

“Auckland continued to account for a large share of new homes consented nationally,” Stats NZ economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.

“More than half of the annual increase came from the region.”

Auckland, Canterbury lead growth

The five regions with the highest number of new homes consented in the year ended December 2025 were:

• Auckland: 15,617 homes (up 12 percent)
• Canterbury: 7,316 homes (up 12 percent)
• Waikato: 3,044 homes (up 11 percent)
• Otago: 2,630 homes (up 12 percent)
• Wellington: 2,171 homes (up 18 percent)

Within Auckland, growth was led by the Ōrākei, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki and Howick local board areas.

Medium-density housing supports lift

The annual increase in consents was driven largely by growth in medium-density housing.

Compared with the previous year, consents included:

• 16,139 townhouses, flats and units (up 14 percent)
• 2,359 apartments (up 19 percent)
• 1,486 retirement village units (down 12 percent)

Consents for stand-alone houses totalled 16,635, up 5.4 percent over the year.

“Over half of the new homes consented in Auckland over the year were multi-unit dwellings, with the remainder being stand-alone houses,” Feyen said.

Consents per person highest in Canterbury, Otago

Nationally, 6.9 homes were consented per 1,000 residents in the year ended December 2025, up from 6.4 the previous year.

While Auckland recorded the highest number of new homes overall, Canterbury and Otago had the highest rates relative to population size.

Both regions recorded just over 10 new dwellings consented per 1,000 residents, compared with 8.6 per 1,000 residents in Auckland.