Building consents · Stats NZ figures to September 2026
Building consents in West Coast
155 new homes were consented in the West Coast Region in the year to September 2026, down 15% on the year before. They also consented $32.6m of non-residential building work, down 17% on the year before. Below: 2,463 consents we hold in West Coast, searchable and on the map.
New homes consented each month
Dwellings in new building consents, the West Coast Region, the last five years.
Since 1991: houses and everything else
New homes consented each year, houses against townhouses, flats, units, apartments and retirement village units. The most in one year was 268 in 2022.
Non-residential building work each month
The value of new and altered non-residential buildings consented — offices, shops, factories, warehouses, farm buildings, schools, hospitals — the West Coast Region, 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.
- Hospitals and health$9.3m
+2847% on the year before
- Farm buildings$5.7m
42 buildings · 12,377 m² new floor area · $455/m² new · +56% on the year before
- Offices$4.1m
−56% on the year before
- Factories and industrial$3.1m
6 buildings · 1,175 m² new floor area · $1,957/m² new · +38% on the year before
- Social, cultural and religious$2.5m
2 buildings · 287 m² new floor area · $976/m² new · −82% on the year before
- Shops, restaurants and bars$2.4m
+18% on the year before
- Warehouses and storage$2.1m
2 buildings · 1,191 m² new floor area · $1,738/m² new · −41% on the year before
- Education$1.9m
2 buildings · 290 m² new floor area · $3,531/m² new · +42% on the year before
- Hotels and motels$1.7m
2 buildings · 238 m² new floor area · $1,597/m² new · −26% on the year before
Councils compared
The year to September 2026 against the year before.
| Council | New homes | Change | Non-residential | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westland District | 56 | +8% | $4.9m | −16% |
| Buller District | 50 | −11% | $15m | +208% |
| Grey District | 49 | −35% | $12.7m | −56% |
Consents on record in West Coast
Individual building consents we hold, each on its property: 2,463 from 1 Jul 2019 to 1 Aug 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.
- Fires and heating542
102 in the last 12 months · typically $6,000
- Alterations and additions412
70 in the last 12 months · typically $10k
- New homes282
61 in the last 12 months · typically $440k
- Garages, sheds and carports136
25 in the last 12 months · typically $50k
- Plumbing, drainage and wastewater130
22 in the last 12 months · typically $7,850
- Multiple homes39
9 in the last 12 months · typically $900k
- Relocated buildings38
9 in the last 12 months · typically $50k
- Repairs, recladding and strengthening35
6 in the last 12 months · typically $40k
- Decks, pergolas and verandahs29
7 in the last 12 months · typically $45k
- Minor dwellings and sleepouts27
5 in the last 12 months · typically $120k
Consents on record by month
The last three years. A recent dip is often records still to arrive.
Largest in the last 12 months
- $2.7mRbw - proposed three 2-storey dwgs lot 1: 6 bdrm, 4 bathrm, 1wc, dbl gge, timber retaining wall. Lot 2: 4 bdrm,3 bathrm, 1wc, gge, timber retaining wall. Lot 3: 4 bdrm,2 bat 21 Wharf Road, Karamea
- $2.3m260116 - future lots 1-5 - apartment complex with 5 units. Units 1-4 have 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with internal access single gge. Unit 5 has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & internal access single gge 66 Hall Street, Cobden
- $2mConstruction of 5 dwgs with attached garages in 3 blocks, subject to section 77 certificate. 17 Martins Creek Road, Westport
- $2m4 x 3 bdrm 1 bathrm dwgs 119 Hoffman Street, Hokitika
- $2mConstruction of 5 attached dwgs with garages 76 Derby Street, Westport
2,463 consents
- Alterations and additions$5,000
Alterations to dwg. Add a kitchenette including a sink to existing bdrm. This building is consented as a single household unit.
- Repairs, recladding and strengthening$200k
Partial demolition, recladding, & internal alterations to the existing dwg, installation of an insert solid fuel heater & chimney construction, & construction of a new gge.
- Decks, pergolas and verandahs$25k
Alterations to dwg. Extend existing deck. Replace existing balustrade with new & add new exterior stairs
- Alterations and additions$150k
Convert band hall to dwg
- Commercial alterations$155k
260679 - lot 7 - renovate bathrm, ensuite, convert wc/powder room to office, update laundry space in gge, remove internal wall to relocate kitchen & create open plan kitchen / lounge / dining, revise entry. Footprint remains the same.
- Alterations and additions$45k
Two new ensuites plus interior walls being altered
- New homes$400k
Construct a 3 bdrm house with attached gge.
- Commercial alterations$680k
Building alt (change of use - commercial to dwgs)
- Repairs, recladding and strengthening$50k
Rbw - housing (detached dwg) - fire damage remedial work, replace mid floor structure, cantilever deck with new glass balustrade, lower floor cladding
- Garages, sheds and carports$1
New 12x 6.6 ideal gge kitset shed amendment 1: drainage amendment
- Alterations and additions$30k
Interior alt of existing dwg. New interior stairs, new topping slab, new interior framing, relocated bathrm/laundry. Amendment 1: existing gge to be converted to master bdrm plus ensuite. Rumpus/t.V room with laundry area.
- New homes$350k
Construction of a new 4 bdrm dwg with detached gge
- Fires and heating$8,000
Install woodsman rmf multifuel fire to a domestic dwg
- Alterations and additions$5,000
Conversion of a small room off bdrm 2 in the plan to convert into a small bathrm with a toilet, shower & vanity as per floor plan
- Alterations and additions$150k
House extension forming a main bdrm with ensuite, new exterior stairs to new north deck
- Fires and heating$6,500
Install woodsman rmf multifuel fire to a domestic dwg
- Alterations and additions$3,000
Replacement of inbuilt fire
- Fires and heating$10k
Removal of old solid fuel heater & replacing with new woodsman's coaster
- Fires and heating$10k
Removal of old solid fuel heater & replacing with new woodsman strongman
- Fires and heating$10k
Removal of old solid fuel heater & installation of woodsman coaster
- Multiple homes$2m
Construction of 5 attached dwgs with garages
- Fires and heating$4,800
Alt to dwg - installation of masport clutha uleb, freestanding, dry, wood burner, cac 231303.
- Multiple homes$950k
Rbw - construction of four two-storey detached dwgs, each comprising three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, living, kitchen & dining areas, & a single internal gge. Includes stormwater tank instal
- Multiple homes$2.7m
Rbw - proposed three 2-storey dwgs lot 1: 6 bdrm, 4 bathrm, 1wc, dbl gge, timber retaining wall. Lot 2: 4 bdrm,3 bathrm, 1wc, gge, timber retaining wall. Lot 3: 4 bdrm,2 bat
- Fires and heating$6,000
Solid fuel heater - scandia warmbrite 140
ResidentialCommercial The dots are this page of the list.
Towns and cities in West Coast
Where the consents we hold are, most in the last 12 months first.
- Greymouth115 / 1,015
- Hokitika51 / 288
- Westport49 / 529
- Moana25 / 127
- Reefton17 / 143
- Whataroa12 / 32
- Karamea9 / 32
- Arnold Valley6 / 14
- Runanga5 / 54
- Harihari5 / 19
- Franz Josef/Waiau5 / 19
- Ross4 / 32
- Cape Foulwind4 / 25
- Ngahere4 / 12
- Ruatapu3 / 14
- Haast2 / 21
- Ahaura2 / 13
- Blackball2 / 5
- Kokatahi2 / 4
- Hector1 / 23
- Granity1 / 18
- Punakaiki1 / 13
- Inchbonnie1 / 3
- Fox Glacier0 / 6
- Maruia0 / 1
- Kumara0 / 1
Questions
How many building consents were issued in West Coast?
In the year to September 2026, Stats NZ counted 155 new homes consented in the West Coast Region, with $85m of residential and $32.6m 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.