Frequently asked questions

Why is Taupō District Council developing a Housing Strategy?

The purpose of the strategy is to provide a framework for Council to address the housing need in the Taupō District.

Once feedback has been collected from the community and the strategy has been adopted, it will be used as a guiding document for Council staff and elected members when making future decisions that affect housing in the district.

It looks like the Housing Strategy is already written, is there any point providing feedback?

Yes! The Housing Strategy in its current form is just a draft. Everyone deserves a safe, suitable, stable and affordable place to live, so your feedback on the Housing Strategy is really important to us.

While the consultation process is not a vote, your submission ensures your views are taken into account by those making the decisions. Your feedback is essential to our decision-making, and we want to know if our ideas have your backing before we begin executing a housing strategy.

Go to the online feedback form

What is a Community Housing Provider (CHP)?

Community housing is a form of affordable housing working alongside private housing in the open market. Typically, community housing providers are not-for-profit groups meeting housing needs through a range of affordable rental and home ownership options. They provide an alternative to the public housing provided by Kāinga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and local authority housing.

Does Council intend to buy land, develop, build?

Council has already bought and sold land. We have traditionally not been a developer, however today fewer private sector developers are delivering affordable housing. Therefore, Council may have to become a developer for critical projects such as East Urban Lands.

How will Council prevent affordable houses being bought then on-sold for profit or turned into short-term rentals such as AirBnBs?

Council recognises this risk so who it partners with is extremely important. That is why it places a lot on emphasis on central government and Community Housing Providers.

Should Council really be getting involved in housing? Why not leave it to the housing market?

The market is not providing safe, suitable, stable and affordable places to live, which has negative impacts on the community. This is why Council is involved. Council receives consistent feedback that lack of housing is negatively affecting the community. Failure to attract skilled workers, economy remains low wage, business attraction is difficult.

Healthy homes lead to better health outcomes, security of tenure builds stronger communities and people are more invested in their community and environment. Our vision is to be the most prosperous and liveable district in the North Island and this goal ties into that. Housing is at the heart of building secure, connected, and caring communities, creating jobs and a diverse economy.

Why should Taupō grow bigger. The existing infrastructure and roading can’t cope?

Everyone deserves to have a safe, warm, dry home. New Zealand’s population is growing and Council have no choice but to carefully manage development to encourage well-planned communities with green space, good connections and areas for recreation. We actively plan ahead and invest for growth.

Why is it so hard to find a rental in the Taupō District?

Many households who wish to purchase their own home have been locked out of the housing market due to unaffordability. As a result, these households are spending longer in rental properties than they otherwise would have. There is a shortage of rental properties in Taupō and rents are increasing to a point where they are becoming unaffordable for median income households. Many rental properties in the district are already unaffordable for low-income households.

Learn more about our approach to affordable housing

Why is there an emphasis on Māori land and papakainga?

Council hopes to enable Māori to overcome barriers so they can use their land for housing, not the provision of housing itself. Data shows that in the Taupō District, Māori are significantly worse off in finding a healthy and affordable home for their whānau compared to other ethnicities.

Is Council going to try to tell Māori what to do with their land?

No. One of the guiding principles of the draft Housing Strategy is that Taupō District Council will continue to honour the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi).

This will be done through relationships with iwi partners, hapū, and mana whenua within the Taupō District. This includes addressing housing needs for Māori and further enabling housing diversity including traditional housing options such as papakāinga.

Learn more about our approach to Māori land and papakāinga

Does this housing strategy mean Taupō District Council is going to stop providing housing for the elderly?

No, Taupō District Council provides 57 housing for the elderly units throughout Taupō, Tūrangi and Mangakino, and will continue to do so. A key focus of this housing strategy is to look at ways Council can improve the quality and availability of housing for the elderly throughout the district.

Why can’t Council just pay to improve the quality of the elderly housing units?

This would come at significant cost to ratepayers. Substantive refurbishment and investment are required to make them more suitable and bring them up to standards.

At present, Council lacks the money to do this because the rents paid by the elderly are relatively low and do not cover the cost of bringing this housing up to a higher standard.

Learn more about our approach to elderly housing

What is social housing?

Social housing refers to housing that is provided by the Government or approved social housing providers to support individuals or families with low incomes or specific needs. It targets those who are unable to afford suitable accommodation in the private market.

Social housing is often offered at below-market rents and may include additional support services for tenants. The primary goal of social housing is to provide secure and affordable housing for vulnerable populations, such as low-income earners, the elderly, or people with disabilities.

Does Council provide social housing in the Taupō District?

The delivery of social housing is organised by community housing providers and Kainga Ora (central government). Council’s role will be to work these organisations to help facilitate.

Council’s elderly housing units are also a form of social housing. Council will continue to provide social housing for the elderly, but the existing stock is outdated and of a low standard. Housing for the elderly needs to be improved and suitable for their needs.

So, why is Council interested in social housing?

Council’s role takes the form of advocacy – for Kāinga Ora and Ministry of Social Development to transition people out of motels and into more permanent housing solutions - as well as collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Kāinga Ora, iwi, hapū, and community housing providers.

Council’s intent is to explore how it can better work together to invest in outcomes that will resolve the housing challenges faced by the community.

Learn more about our approach to social housing

You mentioned Council’s climate change work. What has been done so far?

Taupō District Council has always sought to reduce its impact on the environment, and we’re doing a number of positive things to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Council has a Climate Change Strategy which includes emissions reduction targets and an emissions reduction directive for the organisation. You can find more information at www.taupo.govt.nz/climatechange.

The next step in Council’s Climate Change work is an Adaptation Plan. This plan will look at ways we can ensure homes and buildings are climate resilient, and that new and existing developments are planned and managed to minimise risks to communities from climate change.

Learn more about our approach to healthy homes