http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.waikatohousinginitiative.org en-us Sat, 09 May 2026 03:38:06 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/115572/housing-housing-affordability-and-housing-supply/ By Lizard NewsGreat article from Alan Maxwell with some reflections on better use of existing housing stock. Clearly we need new homes built at scale, with a real focus on those in the affordable range with security of tenure preserved, but as Alan points out we can also encourage ways for existing larger family homes to be available to families once more - and "release" single (often elderly) owner-occupants who would like to downsize but have become economically trapped where they are.Further,... Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:20:40 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post115572 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/115571/immigration-is-smashing-renters/ By The Sydney Morning HeraldThis article focuses on the impact of international students on the rental market in Australia - I don't have a particular view on their solution, but it did make me reflect on the impact on the NZ rental market of general immigration now that settings have been loosened again. As we reflect on the last few years it's interesting to note that Covid's closed borders meant that NZ tested so-called "law" of supply and demand in the housing market. We held demand steady (... Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:09:56 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post115571 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/113469/taupos-rental-crisis-becoming-desperate--agent/ By The Waikato TimesA recent article on the shortage of rentals in Taupo - driven by the so called "empty rate" of houses that are there but unavailable for normal owner occupancy or rentals as they are either a holiday home left vacant for the owners occasional use or they are part of the AirBnB short term visitor and tourist accommodation market.Elsewhere in the Waikato we see similar outcomes on the Coromandel peninsula as well as in Raglan - all following in the footsteps of Queenstown where... Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:52:11 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post113469 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/113468/asb-champions-affordable-and-social-housing-with-innovative-accelerated-housing-fund/ By ASBInteresting new initiative announced by ASB -a new funding tool aimed specifically at enabling social and affordable housing projects that otherwise struggle to meet traditional bank lending criteria.  The WHI has long identified funding as one of the three "big rocks" to be shifted to unlock affordability (along with Policy & Regulation and Availability of appropriately zoned and serviced Land) -so this is a helpful initiative from one of NZ's major banks.... Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:44:19 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post113468 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/112292/rental-prices-on-the-rise-as-demand-outstrips-supply/ By Waikato Times It's definitely getting tougher for renters!This article highlights the latest figures for Hamilton where rents are rising by $20 per week, demand is also on the rise (by 3%) and number of listings for available listings on Trademe dropped by 21% for the city.And no better for the Waikato region as a whole; here rents rose by $25 per week to now match the city's median average rent of $550 per week, demand rose by 2% and number of listings dropped by 15%.That's a sure recip... Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:46:03 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post112292 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/112288/major-changes-to-hamilton-planning-rules-on-the-cards-for-2024/ By Hamilton City Council"Big shout out to Hamilton City Council who have now also announced their intention to progress with the notification of Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) as an important new lever to promote new retained affordability housing options.  It is a powerful response to the housing affordability crises that has seen median household prices in the city rise to around $750,000 to $800,000 representing a multiple of 7 times the median household income in Hamilton -severely unaffordab... Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:30:24 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post112288 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/111291/push-for-affordable-housing-councils-watch-on-as-waipa-sets-pace/ By Waikato TimesThe pressure’s on councils to help with affordable housing as building demand’s drying up - and one Waikato council is pushing to get cheaper homes included in large-scale developments.... Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:27:54 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post111291 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/111285/the-precise-nature-of-modern-covenants/ By Stuff NZ'We are talking more and more about Inclusionary Zoning -IZ- but it's rare to hear the opposite term.Yet that is another way to think of the use of covenants: it's a form of exclusionary zoning.  The stated reasons are often about protecting the property value for homeowners in these subdivisions -by specifying types of cladding, roofing materials, minimum dwelling sizes and so on -but has morphed into something must more that seeks to dictate to a much greater extent how residen... Tue, 03 Oct 2023 12:52:20 +1300 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post111285 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/110432/workers-living-in-cars-the-new-normal-in-queenstown/ By Newsroom"It’s not social housing that Queenstown needs, it’s homes for working people and those trying to get on the property ladder" That's the stark reality of the new normal according to Julie Scott who runs the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust. Queenstown is deeper in the housing crises than most parts of our region, a victim of its own stunning scenery and beauty, but parts of the Waikato are not far behind. And that's the focus of the Waikato Housing Initiative - not social ... Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:22:01 +1200 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post110432 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/post/110081/kainga-maha-wins-big-for-housing-innovation/ By Ahi (Australasian Housing Institute)On a positive note! There are examples of new models of affordable housing starting to happen around the country, and it can be designed to create connected and liveable communities - not just cheaply to meet an immediate need.We haven't yet visited The Residences at Karamu focusing on community housing and first home buyers - but am pretty impressed to see this affordable housing project (with dwellings offered at a 30% discount to median market pricing) b... Mon, 11 Sep 2023 10:48:42 +1200 http://www.waikatohousinginitiative.org/blog/#post110081