Building consents · Stats NZ figures to September 2026
Building consents in Thornton
131 new homes were consented in the Whakatane District council area in the year to September 2026, down 3% on the year before. They also consented $29.8m of non-residential building work, down 7% on the year before. In the statistical area around Thornton, 7 new homes were consented in the same year. Below: 35 consents we hold in Thornton, searchable and on the map.
Stats NZ publishes building consents down to the council, so the official figures on this page are for the Whakatane District council area, and new homes down to statistical areas, which is how Thornton’s own count is made.
New homes consented each month
Dwellings in new building consents, Whakatane District, 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 194 in 2005.
New homes in Thornton
Stats NZ’s new dwellings for the statistical area Thornton sits in (Thornton-Awakeri) — the suburb is smaller than one. In the year to September 2026: 7 houses, 0 townhouses and units, 0 apartments.
Non-residential building work each month
The value of new and altered non-residential buildings consented — offices, shops, factories, warehouses, farm buildings, schools, hospitals — Whakatane District, 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.
- Education$8.7m
3 buildings · 1,013 m² new floor area · $4,679/m² new · +82% on the year before
- Factories and industrial$6m
5 buildings · 1,496 m² new floor area · $2,624/m² new · −41% on the year before
- Social, cultural and religious$5m
1 building · 106 m² new floor area · $14,151/m² new · −45% on the year before
- Offices$4.6m
3 buildings · 579 m² new floor area · $1,606/m² new · −2% on the year before
- Farm buildings$2.6m
17 buildings · 3,119 m² new floor area · $814/m² new · +7% on the year before
- Hotels and motels$1.8m
+4365% on the year before
- Shops, restaurants and bars$620k
+15% on the year before
- Warehouses and storage$550k
1 building · +518% on the year before
Consents on record in Thornton
Individual building consents we hold, each on its property: 35 from 1 Aug 2019 to 1 Jul 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.
- Garages, sheds and carports8
typically $56k
- New homes7
1 in the last 12 months · typically $745k
- Alterations and additions6
1 in the last 12 months · typically $25k
- Fires and heating3
1 in the last 12 months · typically $1,600
- Pools and spas1
1 in the last 12 months · typically $12k
- Minor dwellings and sleepouts1
typically $1.1m
- Decks, pergolas and verandahs1
typically $80k
Consents on record by month
The last three years. A recent dip is often records still to arrive.
Largest in the last 12 months
- $600kRemediation due to a fire in 2024 where the main central lounge suffered significant damage. 40D Moore Road
- $160kBuild a transportable 6.0m x 11.5m two bdrm at 133 Thornton on temporary existing piles with temp 133 Thornton Beach Road
- $12kPool fence construction 880E Thornton Road
- $1,385Installed a fireplace. 95B Thornton Beach Road
35 consents
- Alterations and additions$600k
Remediation due to a fire in 2024 where the main central lounge suffered significant damage.
- Fires and heating$1,385
Installed a fireplace.
- Pools and spas$12k
Pool fence construction
- New homes$160k
Build a transportable 6.0m x 11.5m two bdrm at 133 Thornton on temporary existing piles with temp
- Garages, sheds and carports$98k
New standalone utility shed
- Decks, pergolas and verandahs$80k
Extension of covered veranda.
- Garages, sheds and carports$136k
Construct a gge
- New homes$900k
New 4 bdrm 2 bathrm with attached gge single storey home
- Alterations and additions$25k
Renovations to pre existing area of house. Removal of non structural walls. Plumbing to kitchenette
- Garages, sheds and carports$7,000
Add toilet shower & basin to shed
- Garages, sheds and carports$64k
Construct new dbl gge
- New homes$950k
New 4 bdrm res dwg with attached gge
- Fires and heating$2,500
Fireplace replacement
- New homes$600k
Construct 3 bdrm two storey domestic dwg.
- Fires and heating$1,600
Installing solid fuel heater
- Alterations and additions$50k
This building work contains builtready modular component(s).
- Minor dwellings and sleepouts$1.1m
Proposed 3 bdrm single storey home with attached 1 bdrm granny flat, attached garages with ons
- Garages, sheds and carports$48k
Proposed building of 8m x 8m gge
- Alterations and additions$2,000
Alt of existing ensuite shower. Existing 2 wall acrylic liner being replaced with tiled wall.
- New homes$745k
Dwg
- Garages, sheds and carports$30k
Proposed building of gge
- Alterations and additions$24k
New transportable pod
- New homes$770k
Proposed 3 bdrm dwg & onsite waste water system.
- Garages, sheds and carports$34k
Build an unlined versatile gge
- Garages, sheds and carports$100k
Additions to 4 bdrm domestic dwg with carport
ResidentialCommercial The dots are this page of the list.
Near Thornton
Questions
How many building consents were issued in Thornton?
In the year to September 2026, Stats NZ counted 131 new homes consented in the Whakatane District council area, with $49.6m of residential and $29.8m 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.