Building consents · Stats NZ figures to September 2026
Commercial building consents in New Zealand
Councils consented $8.72b of non-residential building work in New Zealand in the year to September 2026, down 3% on the year before. Below: 22,958 commercial consents we hold in New Zealand, searchable and on the map.
Non-residential building work each month
The value of new and altered non-residential buildings consented — offices, shops, factories, warehouses, farm buildings, schools, hospitals — New Zealand, the last five years.
What is being built
Non-residential building work consented in the year to September 2026, by type: the value of new and altered work, new floor area, and what new floor area cost to build per square metre.
- Offices$1.46b
180 buildings · 121,807 m² new floor area · $4,740/m² new · −21% on the year before
- Education$1.42b
273 buildings · 153,571 m² new floor area · $6,444/m² new · +12% on the year before
- Warehouses and storage$1.33b
330 buildings · 637,997 m² new floor area · $1,901/m² new · 0% on the year before
- Factories and industrial$972m
298 buildings · 252,754 m² new floor area · $2,872/m² new · −28% on the year before
- Shops, restaurants and bars$806m
141 buildings · 131,944 m² new floor area · $3,403/m² new · −1% on the year before
- Hospitals and health$733m
94 buildings · 73,398 m² new floor area · $6,196/m² new · −14% on the year before
- Social, cultural and religious$729m
213 buildings · 87,983 m² new floor area · $4,810/m² new · −11% on the year before
- Hostels, boarding houses and prisons$532m
68 buildings · 68,259 m² new floor area · $6,615/m² new · +183% on the year before
- Hotels and motels$372m
88 buildings · 50,941 m² new floor area · $4,612/m² new · +30% on the year before
- Farm buildings$371m
2,010 buildings · 719,402 m² new floor area · $493/m² new · +38% on the year before
Non-residential work since 1991
The value consented each year, in the dollars of the day (not adjusted for inflation).
Regions compared
The year to September 2026 against the year before.
| Region | Non-residential | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | $3.37b | +5% |
| Canterbury | $1.34b | −14% |
| Waikato | $808m | +18% |
| Wellington | $639m | −46% |
| Otago | $502m | +4% |
| Bay of Plenty | $445m | +4% |
| Manawatu-Whanganui | $359m | +2% |
| Hawke's Bay | $347m | +12% |
| Northland | $246m | +52% |
| Tasman | $142m | +81% |
| Southland | $137m | −36% |
| Taranaki | $128m | +25% |
| Marlborough | $127m | +122% |
| Nelson | $52.9m | −42% |
| Gisborne | $40.3m | −9% |
| West Coast | $32.6m | −17% |
Commercial consents on record in New Zealand
Individual building consents we hold, each on its property: 22,958 from 24 Feb 1993 to 6 Nov 2026. Councils publish their records unevenly, so these are what we have, not every consent issued — for the full count, see the official figures above.
What the work is
Consents in the last five years by the kind of work their description names.
- Commercial alterations2,513
513 in the last 12 months · typically $89k
- New commercial buildings1,268
265 in the last 12 months · typically $750k
- Fit-outs429
93 in the last 12 months · typically $150k
- Farm buildings141
21 in the last 12 months · typically $60k
- Relocated buildings111
18 in the last 12 months · typically $75k
- Demolition24
3 in the last 12 months · typically $300k
Consents on record by month
The last three years. A recent dip is often records still to arrive.
Largest in the last 12 months
- $46mStage 2 of 2 - Construction of 7 storey hotel - Stage 2 includes Superstructure. Services, Architecture, Facade and Fire 2 Hylton Place, Queenstown
- $18.3mErect Building (Stadium) 70 Morgans Road, Glenwood
- $14.9mConstruction of a new supermarket building for Woolworths New Zealand Limited (70 Sir Tim Wallis Drive, Three Parks, ) 85-99 Sir Tim Wallis Drive, Wānaka
- $13.8mConstruction of 12 residential units (Units 1-5 are two levels, Units 6-12 are three levels) and a common basement carpark of 12 parking spaces under the units 1 5. 2 St Lukes Lane, Queenstown
- $13mStage 1- construction of substructure works (slab is excluded) for staff accommodation building with external carparking. 90-94 Thompson Street 90 Thompson Street, Queenstown
22,958 consents
- Commercial alterations
Spec 16 dwelling to be constructed in Advance Build factory and transported to site on separate consent outside the district. Factory Dwelling designed to Very High Wind Zone. Excludes water temp testing and plumbing fixtures leak testing
- Commercial alterations
PIM Only - Remove existing single level building. Construct new two level commercial building
- Relocated buildings
Dwelling site consent amendment to add in site works to original consent - newly Factory built dwelling being relocated to site, where foundations, decks, connection to existing services and installation of fire place
- Commercial alterations
Transportation of factory built modular classrooms to new foundations built on-site. Includes on-site works for deck, walkway and canopy structure including timber and precast stairs, accessible timber ramp and associated site works and connection to services
- Fit-outs
Foundation piles, Storm Water & Wastewater disposal. Internal plumbing fit out + E3 details
- New commercial buildings$2m
Erect Shed
- Commercial alterations
Dwelling - Prefabricated dwelling constructed in Advance Build Factory in Waipapa and transported to site once we have applied for amendment when all the site information has been received
- Commercial alterations
Lot 80 - 3-bedroom factory build dwelling with multiple cladding types and mono pitch roof
- Fit-outs
Installation of machines, plumbing and electrical for laundromat self service retail fitout. No restricted building work
- Commercial alterations
A new 2279 Sqm single storey Commercial Building for a Health Centre, Chemist, Cafe and other health related business
- Commercial alterations
PIM Only - New Factory built dwelling to be delivered to site - 3 bedrooms, scullery 2 bathrooms, living area, dining, lounge, kitchen and laundry
- Commercial alterations
Dwelling - Prefabricated dwelling constructed in Advance Build Factory in Waipapa and transported to site once we have applied for amendment when all the site information has been received
- Commercial alterations
Foundation and subfloor for the 3-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations
Foundation and subfloor for the 3-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations
Foundation and subfloor for the 3-bedroom factory build dwelling.
- Commercial alterations
Foundation and subfloor for the 3-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations
Lot 2 - Foundation and subfloor for the 2-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations
Lot 4 - Foundation and subfloor for the 2-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations
Lot 6 - Foundation and subfloor for the 2-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations
Lot 1 - Foundation and subfloor for the 2-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations$6m
Building Addition Lactose Dryer and Evaporator Superstructure
- Commercial alterations
Foundation and subfloor for the 2-bedroom factory build dwelling
- Commercial alterations
Lot 5 - 2-bedroom factory build dwelling with gable and roof
- Commercial alterations
Lot 7 - 2-bedroom factory build dwelling with gable and roof
- Commercial alterations
Three new detached single-storey retail buildings
ResidentialCommercial The dots are this page of the list.
Regions in New Zealand
Where the consents we hold are, most in the last 12 months first.
Questions
How many building consents were issued in New Zealand?
In the year to September 2026, Stats NZ counted 41,091 new homes consented in New Zealand, with $20.7b of residential and $8.72b of non-residential building work.
What is a building consent?
Written approval from a council (a building consent authority) that planned building work complies with the Building Code. Most new buildings, additions, structural alterations, fires and plumbing and drainage work need one; some minor work is exempt under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004.
Where do these figures come from?
The official counts are Stats NZ’s monthly Building consents issued release (CC BY 4.0), covering every consent every council issues. The individual consents listed are ones we hold from councils’ records and other public sources; they are not a complete list for every council.