He Papakāinga, He Hāpori Taurikura - A Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities

Consultation has concluded

The finalised housing strategy is now available

Housing is one of the biggest issues the Rotorua community faces. As identified by the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, our wonderful district has attracted a growing population, but without homes being built to meet our needs, resulting in severe housing deprivation. That lack of housing affects all parts of the Rotorua community, but it disproportionately affects Te Arawa peoples. As a result, Te Arawa and Council have identified safe, secure housing for all our people as our top shared priority to ensure positive, thriving communities.

This draft Strategic Framework puts people and wellbeing at the heart of our work to deliver more housing and to ensure communities are supported, safe, healthy and connected, with homes that match needs, and access to services and facilities.

An establishment governance group has supported the development of this draft strategy. The group includes MHUD, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa, and has strong connections with the work programmes of other agencies such as Ministry of Social Development, Kāinga Ora and the NZ Transport Agency.

Feedback on the Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities has now closed

Ngā Whāinga Matua Me Ngā Paearu | Key Objectives and Measures

The objectives within the strategy apply to a diverse range of communities across the Rotorua district.

Key objectives and measures

Ngā Mahi Tutuki | Work Programme

There are ten streams within the proposed work programme. If you want information on a specific work stream, you can find a link to each one in the list below. The link will take you directly to a particular work stream although we do encourage you to read the entire strategy for context and background info.


The finalised housing strategy is now available

Housing is one of the biggest issues the Rotorua community faces. As identified by the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, our wonderful district has attracted a growing population, but without homes being built to meet our needs, resulting in severe housing deprivation. That lack of housing affects all parts of the Rotorua community, but it disproportionately affects Te Arawa peoples. As a result, Te Arawa and Council have identified safe, secure housing for all our people as our top shared priority to ensure positive, thriving communities.

This draft Strategic Framework puts people and wellbeing at the heart of our work to deliver more housing and to ensure communities are supported, safe, healthy and connected, with homes that match needs, and access to services and facilities.

An establishment governance group has supported the development of this draft strategy. The group includes MHUD, Rotorua Lakes Council and Te Arawa, and has strong connections with the work programmes of other agencies such as Ministry of Social Development, Kāinga Ora and the NZ Transport Agency.

Feedback on the Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities has now closed

Ngā Whāinga Matua Me Ngā Paearu | Key Objectives and Measures

The objectives within the strategy apply to a diverse range of communities across the Rotorua district.

Key objectives and measures

Ngā Mahi Tutuki | Work Programme

There are ten streams within the proposed work programme. If you want information on a specific work stream, you can find a link to each one in the list below. The link will take you directly to a particular work stream although we do encourage you to read the entire strategy for context and background info.


Consultation has concluded

Feel free to ask questions about the Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities.

  • Kia ora. There is a lot to read and I will get to read it. Can you give me quick answers to the following: What is the status of the land that the housing will be built on? Is there a plan to create a new sub division or suburb or just pop houses up in the odd space. Will the land and houses be freehold.

    Tawavale27$ asked over 4 years ago

    The Homes and Thriving Communities Strategy is working to deliver housing across the housing continuum in a variety of different ways - both Greenfield (new subdivisions/communities) and Brownfield (Infill/desensitisation etc). 

  • Kia ora RDL and Te Arawa Iwi - firstly what an awesome partnership you model with local iwi. My patai is after reading through the links I see that you are preparing to increase 'rental properties -as population demands' which is aimed at low socio-economic. However, what measures do you have in place to support hardworking families to afford housing?

    Karri-Ann Vercoe ONE party candidate for Rotorua asked over 4 years ago

    Good question - Creating 'affordable homes' is not straight forward and even the definition of what is affordable is not consistent. However, the Homes and Thriving Communities Strategy is working to support the delivery of houses across all levels of the housing continuum. With increased supply it is hoped that everyone can find the house that meets their needs.

  • I notice there is Papakainga that could possibly be offered help with housing, what about for maori that want to build on their own land instead of papakainga. Would that come under that housing offer or is it only for papakainga?

    Kahu Te Kiri asked over 4 years ago

    Good question - This decision sits entirely with the land owner(s) and the path they choose to develop their land. While the Homes and Thriving Communities Strategy is working to enable more homes and thriving communities the choice of how a land owner develops their land rests with them.

  • A question about Strategy for Homes and Thriving Communities - with all of these homes being built- where is the land for the new schools to accommodate all of these pupils? How is the Lakes DHB going to increase the capacity for the childrens ward and other wards- with this amount of new people. 4000 new homes do not come with only one person per home! just asking the question- hope you bother to answer it. thanks

    mkm asked over 4 years ago

    Thanks for the question. 

    MOE are aware of Rotorua's issues in terms of our housing shortage. The schools in Rotorua have further capacity at present to accommodate more students. MOE have also been apart of land planning discussion for future housing and need for associated education sites when required.

    The Lakes DHB have provided feedback to the Homes and Thriving Communities Strategy .


  • Māori tribes are given a lot of money that doesn’t filter down to the poorer members. Why doesn’t the local tribes provide for their own

    muzza asked over 4 years ago

    Thanks for the question - The answer to this question would be best directed and answered to those tribes. Thanks

  • When RLC speak sof cooperation with The arawa, what does this consist of? Is it changing land titles to make the building possible? Is it making exemptions to existing laws of what is allowed? ( Density, etc) Is RLC contributing financially and joint venturing in this project by investing money? Why is there such an emphasis on the fact that it's cooperation with the tribe? If it's just facilitating the build then they only do what they're meant to be doing. Cooperate by doing their job on the paperwork side.

    AJ asked over 4 years ago

    Kia ora, Te Arawa and RLC have partnered together to develop the draft housing strategy that is now out for feedback. Please feel free to attend the hui-a-iwi being held at Tamatekapua tomorrow (Tuesday 28 July) from 4-6pm. There will be Te Arawa representatives in attendance, and you'll also have an opportunity to ask questions around the detail and any other specific information you'd like.

  • I see healthy homes is relative to Landlords and Home Owners with no data provided here. If statistics are high for any reason we should know what percentage of ethnicity are owners. The true reflection of someones health is usually due to environmental or personal issues. Although Maori and Pacific are highlighted this is not a true reflection of how they got to this point. Also with immigrants arriving monthly, when making these decisions is housing and employment the first signs we indicate what comes first?

    Veena Kameta asked over 4 years ago


    Kia ora Veena, 

    Thank you for your feedback, we are currently working with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to analyse all data available (from Statistics NZ) to be able to inform the development of business cases for proposals to implement the strategy.

  • My question would be what is the council strategy in regards to Air Bnb? How many houses over the past 5 years have been removed from the housing stock and switched to commercial Air Bnb properties? How many Air Bnb are empty while we are having a housing shortage? How much does Air BnB contribute back to the marketing and promotion of our destination? How many does Air BnB directly employ vs other commercial accommodation operators? Which areas are most affected by Air Bnb and what affect is that having on housing availability in those areas? How many Air Bnb properties are located near schools and other educational facilities? Whats the actual point in building houses in Rotorua suburbs if the buyers are only going to covert them to Air BnB? What strategy will be put in place to prevent this?

    Haydn Marriner asked over 4 years ago

    Haydn,

    Thanks for the questions on Short Term accommodation (AirBnB, BookaBach etc) - we have tried to answer these in order as follows:

    My question would be what is the council strategy in regards to Air Bnb? Council has a rating policy where properties which are used as AirBnB (or similar platforms) for more than 100 days per annum are rated at commercial rate.

    How many houses over the past 5 years have been removed from the housing stock and switched to commercial Air Bnb properties? This is not a simple question. Air BnB may be for limited periods of time rather than permanent or long-term, they may be for just a room or part of a house not a whole house. Councils are not able to access the full information from AirBnB or similar platforms. Council has worked with Local Government NZ last year alongside a number of other Councils and raised the issue of this incomplete information. We understand the matter has been raised with Statistics NZ to consider whether the Statistics Act may be used to access this information.

    How many Air BnB are empty while we are having a housing shortage? This is unknown.

    How much does Air BnB contribute back to the marketing and promotion of our destination? Where they pay a commercial rate a portion of that rate supports the funding of Rotorua Economic Development which has this function. What each individual does to promote their property and the destination is unknown to council

    How many does Air BnB directly employ vs other commercial accommodation operators? Not information that Council can collect.

    Which areas are most affected by Air Bnb and what affect is that having on housing availability in those areas? Due to the changeability of AirBnB and similar platforms this is not a simple question to answer. We know that a number of properties used for visitor markets have been in lakeside communities over a number of years and this has not changed,

    How many Air Bnb properties are located near schools and other educational facilities? Unknown and changes.

    Whats the actual point in building houses in Rotorua suburbs if the buyers are only going to covert them to Air BnB? What strategy will be put in place to prevent this?  This is a very good question! Council is not able to control how private property owners use their properties legally. The rating policy is the current tool. 

    Thanks for all the questions and happy to hear more!

  • At this point without reading the whole strategy, first I would need a hardcopy to read this document carefully than I may be able to contribute to this document. I want to bring up the housing problems we the hau kainga in Ngapuna has but leave that for now.

    Irihapeti asked over 4 years ago

    Kia ora, we have hard copies available here at the Civic Centre on Haupapa St if you would like to pop in and collect one, or email us your address to letstalk@rotorualc.nz and we can send one to you in the post.