\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bradley Coley of RLB, which releases regular studies on the number of high-rise fixed and crawler cranes in New Zealand. Photo \/ RLB<\/p>\n
Despite the downturn, the market may be nearing the bottom of the cycle, Coley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile construction activity remains subdued, we are moving along the bottom of the cycle. Lower interest rates and population growth are expected to support a gradual recovery,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP) result<\/a> showed construction was the worst-performing sector, down 1.4% in the three months to December 31, 2025.<\/p>\n Construction was the largest contributor to GDP in the quarter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe volume of building work put in place, a key input into how Stats NZ measures GDP, fell 3.1% in the December 2025 quarter,\u201d Stats NZ<\/a> general manager and macroeconomic spokesman Jason Attewell said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was driven by a decrease in non-residential building activity.\u201d<\/p>\n RLB studies crane numbers in main centres. Auckland has more than half the national crane total, although the city recorded a slight decline in the latest quarter.<\/p>\n There are:<\/p>\n 58 cranes in Auckland;14 cranes in Tauranga, 11 cranes in Queenstown;Eight cranes in Christchurch;Four cranes in Wellington and four in Hamilton;Three cranes in Dunedin. Activity in the residential sector continued to be supported by an ongoing development pipeline, including new contributions from Simplicity Living.<\/p>\n Simplicity erected two tower cranes at its Morningside project.<\/p>\n Tier-two contractors Kalmar Construction and CMP Construction continue to lead crane activity, while tier-one contractors remain at historically low levels of work.<\/p>\n Christchurch<\/a> had the biggest drop, down 15 cranes, following the completion of major projects.<\/p>\n Dunedin and Hamilton had modest gains. <\/p>\n Tauranga<\/a> remained stable while Wellington and Queenstown now have fewer cranes.<\/p>\n There have been 56 cranes removed from sites during the quarter, while 42 new cranes were installed, highlighting a lack of replacement projects entering construction.<\/p>\n Coley said: \u201cA key challenge for the industry is the limited pipeline of committed projects.<\/p>\n \u201cCommitment 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The total volume of building work last year fell 8.5% to $28.2 billion.<\/p>\n Tier-one contractors continue to report historically low levels of crane activity and limited new opportunities.<\/p>\n Coley said that was reflecting cautious market conditions and delayed project commitments across both the public and private sectors.<\/p>\nCrane numbers are down. Photo \/ Ross Setford<\/p>\n
GV Simplicity Living’s 297-unit rental project Te Reiputa on the Mt Wellington Highway, Auckland. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
Christchurch’s new Te Kaha, where cranes once dominated. Photo \/ Smith Crane & Construction<\/p>\n