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Stats NZ logged just 2,627 new dwelling consents in June – a noticeable drop from May’s 3,151. Of those, the split was almost perfectly even: 1,302 standalone homes and 1,325 multi-unit options. But look at the last 12 months, and a trend emerges.
Standalone house approvals rose by 6.3% to 15,858, while multi-unit consents slid 3.2% to 18,121. That’s a quiet but persistent swing back to single-family living, pushing back on the recent wave of high-density housing.
Beyond housing, the total annual value of non-residential construction inched lower by 0.9% to NZ$9 billion – stirring questions about confidence across New Zealand’s broader building industry.
A tilt towards standalone homes could have developers and investors reconsidering project plans and land strategies. Over the past year, total dwelling consents barely budged, up just 1% to 33,979, so firms may need to adjust as demand takes a step away from townhouses and apartments.
For contractors tied to multi-unit builds, this could mean leaner times ahead, while single-family specialists may end up busier in the months to come.
New Zealand’s renewed interest in standalones signals bigger shifts in how people want to live and cities may need to grow. Policymakers could face pressure to revisit planning and infrastructure rules, given that detached homes demand more land and services.
Meanwhile, a dip in non-residential approvals hints at businesses playing it safe for now – a subtle sign that confidence across the wider economy, while steady, lacks real momentum.
