New Zealand Building Consents Slip in December

New Zealand's seasonally adjusted new dwelling consents fell 4.6% in December 2025, after a 2.7% rise in November. Annually, 36,619 new dwellings were consented, up 9.0%, lifting approvals to 6.9 per 1,000 residents from 6.4. December recorded 3,128 new dwellings: 1,494 townhouses, flats, and units, 1,299 stand-alone houses, 263 retirement village units, and 72 apartments. Stand-alone house consents fell 6.0%, but quarterly approvals rose 5.5%. Auckland led with 15,617 dwellings, up 12%, while Wellington rose 18%. Non-residential consents totalled $8.9 billion, down 4.6%, led by offices at $1.7 billion, factories at $1.4 billion, and education buildings at $1.4 billion. Waikato reached 3,044, Canterbury up 7,316 and South Island at 3,958.