Data notes shift in the type of homes built
Dwelling consents across New Zealand have been breaking records month-after-month, setting a new record in August 2021 despite the COVID-19 alert level 4 lockdown for 10 of the 22 working days in the month, according to the latest Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) data.
It reported a record 4,490 new homes consented in August 2021, a slight increase from the previous record of 4,310 in June 2021.
Stats NZ construction statistics manager Michael Heslop commented: “August was another record-breaking month, with 4,490 new homes consented, despite the country being in lockdown for two weeks.”
For the year ended August 2021, New Zealand saw a record of 46,453 new homes consented, up 24% from the previous August year. In Auckland, new home consents rose 34% during the same period, including a 56% increase in the number of multi-unit homes consented compared with the year ended August 2020.
Read more: Stats NZ reports the latest on NZ home consents
Most of the growth in the number of home consents over the years has been from multi-unit homes, including townhouses, flats, and units; apartments; and retirement village units, according to Stats NZ.
In the year ended August 2021, Stats NZ found 21,164 multi-unit homes consented, up 35% from the previous August year. Meanwhile, the number of new stand-alone houses consented rose 16% in the latest year to 25,289.
In Auckland, Stats NZ recorded 12,972 multi-unit homes and 6,957 stand-alone houses consented in the year ended August 2021.
Minister for Building and Construction Poto Williams commented that the latest figures reflect the government’s support for the building sector, showing that more homes are being built than ever before.
“This government’s investment in the construction sector is creating more jobs, helping us to retain and grow construction skills, and building more warm, dry, secure housing at a critical time. More people have moved into construction than any other sector since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is fantastic for our communities, our economy, and our housing delivery programme. A strong sector means we can build back better,” Williams said in a statement.
