There were 41,091 new homes consented in New Zealand in the year ended September 2026, up 18 percent compared with the year ended September 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
“Stand-alone houses were the biggest contributor to this increase, reaching their highest annual number since 2022,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.
There were 19,228 stand-alone houses consented, up 20 percent, an increase of more than 3,200 houses compared with the year ended September 2025.
The remaining 21,863 were multi-unit homes, up 16 percent over the same period.
Of the multi-unit homes consented in the year ended September 2026, there were:
- 17,756 townhouses, flats, and units (up 18 percent)
- 2,356 apartments (down 11 percent)
- 1,751 retirement village units (up 44 percent).
Auckland leads growth in stand-alone house consents
Auckland recorded 6,426 stand-alone house consents in the year ended September 2026, up 36 percent compared with the year ended September 2025.
This was Auckland’s strongest annual percentage increase in stand-alone house consents for a September year since 2010, when consents rose 43 percent.
“More than 1,700 additional stand-alone houses were consented in Auckland over the year, accounting for more than half of the increase nationwide,” Feyen said.
Canterbury also recorded strong growth in stand-alone house consents, up 27 percent to 4,831 over the same period.
Overall, Canterbury had 8,906 new homes consented, up 31 percent compared with the year ended September 2025, surpassing its previous September-year high of 8,718 in 2022.
Monthly new home consents fall
In September 2026, 3,570 new homes were consented, down 4.7 percent compared with September 2025.
Of these, there were:
- 1,733 stand-alone houses (up 8.2 percent)
- 1,305 townhouses, flats, and units (down 20 percent)
- 411 apartments (down 5.7 percent)
- 121 retirement village units (up 59 percent).
In seasonally adjusted terms, the number of new homes consented fell 7.9 percent in September 2026, compared with August 2026.