New Zealand Crane Activity Falls to Decade Low

Auckland, New Zealand – March 2026: The Q1 2026 RLB Crane Index® released today reveals New Zealand’s construction sector remains under significant pressure, with a sharp decline in activity across the country’s main centres. 

Mr. Bradley Coley, Associate Director, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), said, “The number of long-term cranes fell from 116 in Q3 2025 to 102 in Q1 2026, driving the national Crane Index down 12.1% from 147 to 129 points — its lowest level since 2016.”  

“The drop reflects the completion of several major projects, including aged care developments in Auckland and the removal of cranes from One New Zealand Stadium (Te Kaha) in Christchurch.” 

Despite the downturn, there are emerging signs the market may be nearing the bottom of the cycle. 

“While construction activity remains subdued, we are moving along the bottom of the cycle,” said Mr. Coley. “Lower interest rates and population growth are expected to support a gradual recovery.” 

This edition marks the 25th edition of the RLB Crane Index® in New Zealand.  Highlighting the growth in high rise construction since the Index’s inaugural edition in 2014, there were 71 cranes sighted across the country’s city skylines with 25 cranes in Auckland at that time.   

Today, looking at the seven key centres across New Zealand monitored by RLB, 102 long-term cranes were recorded on developments over the past six months: 58 cranes in Auckland, 14 cranes in Tauranga, 11 cranes in Queenstown, 8 cranes in Christchurch, 4 cranes in Wellington, 4 cranes in Hamilton and 3 cranes in Dunedin. 

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s reduction of the official cash rate from 5.5% in July 2024 to 2.25% in November 2025 is beginning to stabilise parts of the residential sector. However, activity remains well below peak levels, with residential crane numbers holding steady at 29 — significantly down from a high of 76 in Q3 2022. Residential cranes now account for 28.2% of total crane activity nationwide. 

Non-residential construction has weakened further, with the index falling 16% to 128 points (73 cranes). The decline has been driven by reduced activity in commercial, recreation, and aged care projects, although this has been partially offset by increased activity in civil, civic, and healthcare developments – highlighting the continued importance of public and infrastructure-led investment. 

Regionally, Auckland remains the epicentre of construction activity, with 58 cranes -more than half the national total – although the city recorded a slight decline.  

Christchurch experienced the most significant drop, down 15 cranes following the completion of major projects, while Dunedin and Hamilton saw modest gains. Tauranga remained stable, and both Wellington and Queenstown recorded softer activity levels. 

Across the country, 56 cranes were removed from sites during the quarter, while 42 new cranes were installed, highlighting a lack of replacement projects entering construction. 

Mr. Coley continued, “A key challenge for the industry is the limited pipeline of committed projects.”  

“Commitment beyond the design stage remains a major issue for the market, and even where projects do proceed, they are unlikely to reach construction in the near term”.” 

Official data reinforces the slowdown, with the total volume of building work in 2025 falling 8.5% year-on-year to $28.2 billion. However, there are encouraging signs for future activity, with new dwelling consents rising 9.3% in the year to January 2026, reaching 36,944. 

Tier 1 contractors continue to report historically low levels of crane activity and limited visibility of near-term opportunities, reflecting cautious market conditions and delayed project commitments across both public and private sectors. 

Looking ahead, external risks remain. While it is too early to assess the full impact of the Iran conflict, potential pressures on oil prices and global supply chains could contribute to cost escalation, making procurement flexibility increasingly important for future developments. 

“A sustained recovery will depend on stronger project commitment and confidence from both public and private sector clients,” added Mr. Coley. “In the meantime, the sector is likely to remain constrained, with recovery led by selective residential and infrastructure projects.”