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Raglan Naturally

Housing

Housing is deeply connected to many of the focus areas within Raglan Naturally, impacting aspects such as Youth, Community Wellbeing, Business and Employment, and Destination and Visitor Management. Housing concerns were raised in various Focus Group conversations and featured prominently in community survey responses.

Housing has long been a challenge in Whaingaroa. We acknowledge the initiatives already undertaken, such as the Whaingaroa Affordable Housing Trust, established in 2007, which collaborated with Habitat for Humanity on a local housing project. Currently, the community is addressing housing issues in diverse ways, with the Whaingaroa Raglan Affordable Housing Project (WRAP) leading significant efforts.

WRAP has been actively examining housing and affordability issues in Raglan through research, community surveys, and town hall events to gain a deeper understanding of local needs. The group continues to work towards community consultation and co-designed housing solutions. Although a specific Raglan Naturally focus group for Housing was not formed, Raglan Naturally collaborates closely with WRAP to integrate their work into our community planning.

We invited WRAP to share their findings through Raglan Naturally. See below for community aspirations and potential pathways identified through WRAP’s work so far. For further details, refer to the two recent WRAP reports, “Householder Survey Report Summary” and “Raglan Housing Analysis,” available on the Raglan Naturally website.

Groups & Organisations

  • Whaingaroa Raglan Affordable Housing Project

Projects

Learn

  • Local Planning Documents

Get Involved

Stories

Aspirations

Community consultation led design for housing solutions.

Affordable housing development for Raglan.

Supporting and enabling other communities by sharing the Raglan experience, tools and information.

Advocating at regional and national level for recognition of the small community housing access and affordability issues.

Most common themes from the community

Air BnB controlled

Affordable housing

Social housing

Bed tax

Tiny homes

Possible pathways toward achieving these aspirations

Consider the explosion of properties let out on Air BNB versus permanent housing that is creating shortage.  Look at options like Paris has adopted.

Housing for the elderly or even over 50’s. Older folk are moving out as they can’t afford to live here.

  • Community-wide consultation hui in 2019 to reach out to those wishing to be part of a solution
  • Continued representation on the Waikato Plan Housing Initiative working group
  • Continued partnership with the Waikato District Council housing focus – see WDC Blueprint
  • Continued partnership with key sponsors WEL Energy Trust Vital Impact (Housing) Grant
  • Continued partnership with Raglan Community House, Raglan Chamber of
  • Commerce and Raglan Community Board
  • Continue to build relationships with landowners interested in affordable housing initiatives
  • Continued connection with community land trust and affordable housing provider groups in Waikato/NZ
  • Charitable trust structure for WRAP to enable recognition as charitable social enterprise
  • Seek funding opportunities from central government and other investors
  • Construct an advisory group of technical housing experts to input on the basis of community housing preferences
  • Present the WRAP/Raglan story at housing hui with the view to advocacy for small communities