RLB CRANE INDEX®

This drop in overall crane numbers highlights the continued pressure on the residential market and the decline in residential construction activity. The residential crane sector has dominated in recent times in Auckland. However, the proportion of residential cranes rose from 23.5% of all long-term cranes in Q3 2023 to 28.8% in this edition.

Currently, 15 long-term cranes are assisting residential construction activities on 12 projects. Most of these projects had cranes positioned on them during our last count. Only four new cranes commenced on residential projects for this edition. Many of the continuing projects will be nearing completion within the next six to 12 months, highlighting the potential for a significant reduction of residential cranes towards the end of 2025.

Auckland’s market appears to be at its lowest point, but with major infrastructure projects such as the City Rail Link and the Central Interceptor nearing completion, a consistent pipeline of major vertical building and horizontal infrastructure projects is required. New data centres of increasing scale continue to be planned in the pipeline, although there has been a noticeable drop in current data centre long-term crane activity from seven to one long-term crane. There are early signs of recovery with some large roading and water infrastructure projects, but these will take significant time to plan before on-site activity and new cranes are required.

Total building consents also reflect the slowing of activity in Auckland. There was a 4.0% fall in overall consents for the 2024 calendar year. Residential consents fell by 4.8%, and non-residential consents fell by 2.9%. These consent values correlate with the falling number of cranes across the Auckland region and point to a reduction in the forward construction pipeline, particularly in the vertical residential sector.

Stats NZ’s most recent building work put in place results for Auckland are similar, with building activity falling by 6.4% for the twelve months of 2024 compared to 2023. Activity in the residential sector fell by a significant 11.9% in 2024, while activity in the non-residential sector rose by 4.7%.

Across Auckland, only five new residential long-term cranes commenced. These were positioned at:

• Simplicity Living Apartments (Mt Wellington)
• New Residential House (Orakei)
• Pompallier on Ponsonby (Ponsonby)
• Sero Apartments (Henderson)

The civil sector increased by six long-term cranes at the following projects:

• Watercare Central Interceptor (Mount Albert, three cranes)
• Watercare Central Interceptor (Western Springs)
• Watercare Central Interceptor Point Erin (Westhaven)
• ACG Parnell (Newmarket)

Other new cranes placed in Auckland included:

Aged Care

• Metlifecare Gulf Rise (Red Beach)
• Summerset Village (Half Moon Bay)
• Keith Park Retirement Village Apartments – Ryman (Hobsonville)

Civic:

• WP1 Terminal Building (Mangere)

Commercial

• Building 2 Office (Greenlane)

Hotel

• Moxy Hotel (Central)

Notable projects that had multiple long-term cranes removed included:

• Ikea (Mt Wellington, four cranes)
• HV2 CDC Data Centre (Hobsonville, two cranes)
• The Veridian (Albany, two cranes)
• DCI Data Centre AKL02 (Rosedale, two cranes)