Waitomo Housing Strategy

Waitomo District

Client:

Waitomo District Council

Location:

Waitomo District

Completed:

2023

Project Services:

Strategic Advisory
Property Advisory

Project overview

In response to the growing challenges of housing stress, affordability, availability, and quality in the Waitomo District, Veros was engaged in 2023 by the Waitomo District Council to develop a comprehensive housing strategy. This initiative aimed at transforming the housing landscape through a strategic, data-driven approach, enhancing living conditions and opportunities for the community.

Project Objectives

To conduct a thorough examination of current housing conditions, identifying core challenges and opportunities within Waitomo.
To collaborate with stakeholders, gathering diverse insights on housing preferences, needs, and priorities.
To craft a detailed strategy with actionable steps toward improving housing within the district.
To finalise and present a compelling housing strategy for Council and stakeholder approval, setting the stage for implementation.

The approach to the strategy began with data collection and analysis, where Veros delved into housing trends, demographics, and economic indicators to grasp the district’s distinctive housing situation. This groundwork enabled a nuanced understanding of Waitomo’s unique challenges and opportunities. Following this, an extensive stakeholder consultation process was undertaken, drawing on the perspectives of a wide array of community members, developers, and government officials. Through a series of workshops and interviews, community-driven insights were woven into the strategy. From here the strategy was formulated, focusing on a range of targeted initiatives including regulatory adjustments, incentives for affordable housing development, infrastructure improvements, and bolstering social housing efforts, all tailored to the specific feedback and data collected. The culmination of this process was the presentation of the strategy to the Council. This presentation highlighted practical, actionable recommendations designed to catalyse improvements in the housing landscape of the district, setting a clear path forward for impactful change.

Project outcomes

Veros adopted a holistic approach that tackled the core issues of affordability, availability, and housing quality, laying the groundwork for a sustainable and comprehensive solution. This strategy was rooted in the principle of empowered community involvement, ensuring that it accurately reflected the diverse needs and aspirations of the community through active stakeholder participation. The outcome was a practical action plan that provided clear, actionable, and feasible recommendations, making its implementation by the council straightforward and effective. The strategy is set to make a lasting impact on the future well-being of the district, promising to foster a more inclusive and robust housing market that caters to the needs of its current and future residents. This concerted effort signifies a pivotal step towards long-term community enhancement, setting a strong foundation for the district’s ongoing development.

The Waitomo Housing Strategy stands as a testament to collaborative, evidence-based planning, offering a solid foundation for addressing housing challenges in the district. By connecting key market participants and community stakeholders, the strategy paves the way for collective action towards uplifting housing conditions. With a simple, yet effective action plan, the Waitomo District Council is equipped to foster positive changes in the community’s housing landscape.

Our partnership with the Waitomo District Council on this pivotal project highlights our commitment to driving meaningful community change. The strategy not only serves as a blueprint for future development but also as a symbol of hope and progress for the district’s residents, promising enhanced living standards and a stronger, more resilient community.