Nearly 200 new affordable homes will be developed in Rotorua by mid-2027 under a community-led housing initiative backed by the Government, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced.
Of the 189 homes, up to 150 would be social housing to be delivered by June 2027 by the Rotorua Lakes Council, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and community housing providers.
A project consisting of 39 affordable rentals would be delivered in 12 months by Ōwhata Kōhanga Rākau, which is partly funded by HUD’s Māori Housing programme.
Rotorua was a “priority location” for housing, Potaka said, with disproportionate numbers of people in temporary and emergency accommodation and around 700 applicants waiting on the social housing register.
“Rental affordability has been a long-standing issue. Some whānau have struggled to find an affordable rental home so they’ve been limited to emergency and social housing.”
The initiative supported the recently developed Rotorua Housing Plan, which was shaped through extensive community consultation and aims to support iwi and hapū housing aspirations.
All motel emergency housing vacated by year end — Potaka
Potaka also said the Government was making “solid progress” towards ending contracted emergency housing.
“We prioritised exiting two motels located near Whakarewarewa Village and this will be followed by the exit of a further two motels by the end of July, with all remaining motels exited before the end of the year.
“Progress has been the result of the Government’s significant investment in the city, working with central government agencies such as HUD, leadership from Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell and the RLC, as well as by iwi and other local parties.”
The 150 social homes would be funded through $140 million allocated in Budget 2024 for 1500 new homes across the country.
The 39 affordable rentals were part of a separate $200 million package announced in February to deliver 400 affordable homes in high-need areas.
“Further to the 189 new homes announced today, the Government is also in the early stages of progressing a further 80 affordable rental homes for whānau Māori in Rotorua and we’ll have more details on this next stage soon,” Potaka said.
