Homes for our communities

Council’s vision is that All Western Bay of Plenty residents are well housed. This means residents have access to homes that are affordable, accessible, and habitable with secure tenure. From social housing to market homes to buy and rent, there is a big need for more housing in the district that’s tailored to meet the diverse needs of our communities.

Warm, affordable housing is a priority – for some it’s about opportunities to own or build homes, for others it’s about a secure rental home.

Council has its own Housing Action Plan which describes the actions Council can take, and how we could work with other groups to achieve the vision. Here are examples of what has been done and projects that are ongoing.

Making housing more affordable

Elder Housing

Council provides elder housing for members of our community over 65 years and with limited means. We have 70 units across the District; 19 in Waihī Beach, 17 in Katikati and 34 in Te Puke, which are provided at below market rental rates.

For more information about council Elder Housing visit our webpage here.

In 2021, we asked our community if we should keep our elder housing, but with a rent increase to cover costs and allow sites to be redeveloped, with no rate funding required. An overwhelming 88 percent of respondents supported Council pursuing this option, and the decision was incorporated into Council’s Long-Term Plan 2021-31. Since then, Council has redeveloped some of the elder housing units in Katikati, providing more affordable housing to the area.

Supporting affordable housing development

In 2022, Council agreed to provide reductions on financial contributions to the development of not-for-profit Community Housing and Papakāinga to support the development of affordable housing. This means significant reductions in development charges for not-for-profit housing development.

For more information on reductions visit our web page here.

Making housing more accessible to all

Accessible housing is housing that can be easily used by everyone of all ages, stages and abilities. Universal design is one way to achieve accessible housing. It creates homes that are safe, adaptable and liveable. It’s about getting the details right so the home can respond to people’s changing lives and needs.

Universal design principles aren't just about disability, they help future-proof housing. Different life stages such as pregnancy, childhood, injury and old age are all included in a universal design approach, ensuring that the house is ready for these changes from day one.

Guidelines for building accessible housing and using universal design principles are available from a range of sources.

Select here for details about universal design from Lifemark.

Making houses warm, dry, healthy and more energy efficient

Warm and dry homes make a real difference to the health and well-being of residents. There are a number of ways to get assistance with making your home warm, dry and healthy.

Council contributes funding to a healthy housing programme here in the Bay of Plenty known as 20 Degrees. This programme is dedicated to helping our community and our whānau achieve warmer, drier, and healthier homes that can reach 20°C on a cold winter’s night. The programme helps improve substandard housing as well as energy efficiency.

Select here for details about 20 Degrees.

There are handy resources available that can assist in assessing your home as well as advising on home improvements or building a new home that is warm and dry.

Select here for the Eco Design Advisor website.

Select here for a self-assessment checklist of how warm, dry and safe your home is, provided by Homefit.

The New Zealand government provides the Warmer Kiwi Homes program. The program covers up to 90% of the costs to purchase and install insulation and an efficient heater, to help you save money on your power bills while you enjoy a warmer, healthier home. The grants cover 80-90% of the total cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation installed in your home. The grants also cover up to 80% of the cost of an approved heater installed in your home. This could be a heat pump or an efficient wood/pellet burner for the main living area. Heater grants are capped at $3000 including GST. To be eligible you must own and live in a home built before 2008, you (the owner) must either have a Community Services Card or live in an area identified as low-income.

You can check your eligibility easily by going to the program’s website and entering your address or calling 0800 749 782.

Some banks provide no interest or low interest loans for upgrades that contribute to warm, dry, healthy homes. For example, one bank offers up to $50,000 interest free for five years to help you create a warmer, drier and more energy efficient home, if you have a home loan with that bank already. In this instance the loan could cover:

Heat pumps, including hot water heat pumps
Insulation
Double glazing
Ventilation

Another bank offers 3 years fixed rate of 1% for a loan between $3000-$80,000 if you have a home loan with that bank already. In this instance the loan could cover:

heat pumps
Insulation
Double glazing
ventilation systems

Some banks also offer no interest or low interest loans for upgrades to create a more energy efficient home. The upgrades listed above contribute towards energy efficiencies, and other upgrades could include water heating systems such as heat pump water heaters or solar water heaters.

See the Gen Less website for more information about energy efficient, warm dry homes.

Another source of information that helps deliver healthier, more efficient, lower carbon homes is Homestar Design Guide. Select here for details.

Local housing plans

Every community has its unique population so a 'one size fits all' approach to housing isn’t the best way to meet local needs.

Part of our focus is taking a local, or place-based, approach to tackling our communities’ housing challenges. Council has set up local housing networks in Te Puke and Katikati to address local housing needs. Of particular interest is housing for those most in need.

We’re working together with iwi, local businesses, developers, social housing providers, social and health service providers, community groups, and central government to implement local housing plans.

Te Puke

The first local housing network established in the district was Te Puke Housing Network. It is a collaboration between the main stakeholders involved in housing and is a good example of a local community coming together to address a complex issue. The Network developed a housing assessment, Te Puke Housing Place Based Assessment, followed by Te Puke Housing System Plan which sets out strategies to address housing gaps. The Housing Network is supporting the delivery of the housing strategies for Te Puke.

The housing assessment showed land for housing was being developed at a faster rate than expected and more residential land was needed to meet the growing housing needs. Around the same time central government introduced new standards to fast growing towns to enable more homes to be built faster. As a result, new Medium Density Residential Standards have been introduced for all the existing residential areas of Te Puke.

Select here for details of Plan Change 92.

The Medium Density Residential Standards enable some new housing, but Te Puke is continuing to grow and more land for housing and business development is needed. So Council is leading development of a Spatial Plan for Te Puke. The Spatial Plan will set out how Te Puke could grow over the next 30 to 50 years. It will identify land for housing, business development, the community facilities and transport connections and the green corridors that are needed to make sure Te Puke is a great place to live.

Housing on Whenua Māori in Te Puke/Maketū

Council is currently working with Te Arawa ki Tai to progress their housing aspirations on whenua Māori. Council is supporting development feasibility on land blocks to determine how many homes could be developed on each block. The work will lead to new homes being developed on whenua Māori.

Ōmokoroa

Ōmokoroa has been identified as a growth area for the district for over 20 years. It is the main area in the district where new residential areas are being added to enable more homes to be built faster. New Medium Density Residential Standards are being added for the existing residential areas of Ōmokoroa.

Select here for details of Plan Change 92.

A unique partnership between Council and Classic Group delivered affordable housing through the Kaimai Views development. The development was required to deliver one quarter of homes at 80% of the market median house price, and one quarter of the homes at 90% of the market median; a total of 118 homes below the market median house price. All house and land packages are now sold, the last two homes settled early 2024.

This initiative helped ensure first home buyers could get a foot on the property ladder, in a growing community with schools, a town centre and business land due to be developed in the near future.

Katikati

The second local housing network established by council in the district is Katikati Housing Network. The Network has developed a housing assessment, Katikati Housing Place Based Assessment, and is the process of developing the Katikati Housing System Plan. The Plan will set out the strategies to address housing gaps and the Housing Network will support the delivery of housing strategies for Katikati.

Council is also well along the way of redeveloping Elder housing units in Katikati with tenants moving into seven new units built at Beach Road early 2023. The second elder housing development in Katikati, is redeveloping the elder housing units on Heron Crescent. The finished product will see the eleven original 40-year-old units replaced with 26 new modern units, Council has endorsed the build partner to develop the 26 units, all of which will be funded by central government grants.

Housing on Whenua Māori in Katikati, Tuapiro and Bowentown

Also in Katikati and in Tuapiro and Bowentown, council is working with Tauranga Moana iwi/hapū, (Ngai Tamawhariua, Ngāti te Wai and Te Whānau o Tauwhao ki Otawhiwhi), to progress their housing aspirations. For example, Council is supporting Ngāti te Wai with development feasibility for housing.

Council's role in SmartGrowth

We are a member of SmartGrowth, along with Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, tangata whenua and key central government agencies. We are a growing sub-region with many opportunities and huge potential. SmartGrowth holds the framework for future planning and development to manage our growth.

The SmartGrowth Strategy includes specific housing policy and council is part of the working group implementing a range of strategies, so we get housing that meets the needs of our communities.

Select here for SmartGrowth details.

Getting into home ownership

New Zealand government home ownership programmes

The New Zealand government provides several ways to assist people into home ownership. You do not necessarily need to be a first home buyer to access some of these programmes. For example the First Home Loan - can make it easier for you to get into your first home by lowering the required deposit to 5%.

For details on this and other New Zealand government home ownership programs select here. The website also provides a comprehensive ‘Guide to home ownership.’

New Zealand Housing Foundation

Shared home ownership provides a unique opportunity for working New Zealand households who are finding it difficult to buy a home. Using its long-established Shared Ownership programme, the Housing Foundation works closely with families to help them buy their first home. They are currently offering family friendly designs and their commitment to affordability in their development in Ōmokoroa.

Select here to view the Housing Foundation's Shared Ownership programme.

You Own

YouOwn is a privately funded organisation established to assist people into home ownership. YouOwn offers a co-ownership product for home ownership with funds specifically set aside to help buyers across the wider BoP region.

Select here to visit YouOwn's website.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Housing Action Plan 2024

2024 08 21 WBOPDC Housing Action Plan 2024_FINAL version for website pdf.pdf (PDF, 778.4KB)

Where to find help with housing

If you have nowhere to stay right now, Work and Income NZ (WINZ) may be able to help you find somewhere until you can get something longer-term. To see if WINZ can help call Work and Income on 0800 559 009 or; Senior Services on 0800 552 002 if you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension. There are WINZ Services Centres in Te Puke, Tauranga, The Mount and Greerton.

Work and Income may be able to assist with emergency accommodation, transitional housing, social housing, access to benefits and other financial assistance. For example, you may be able to get a Rent in Advance Grant and/or Bond Grant from WINZ, if you don’t have enough money to start renting a home.

You can check the market rent in the areas where you want to live to see how much you'll need to pay by selecting here.

Information about Western Bay of Plenty District Council's Elder housing is available on Council’s web page here.

Te Puke Housing Solution Service – some of their services include assistance with getting into housing, accessing income support from WINZ, referral to healthy homes services. For housing support services, please contact housing connector Tangi on 021 086 94766, Monday through Friday (except Thursday).

Need a hand to get a roof over your head is a brochure about ways to access housing and some community support services in the District.

If you are struggling to meet housing costs these options may help:

Accommodation Supplement and Temporary Assistance Scheme may be available from WINZ.

Select here for details on benefits and payments you can get from WINZ if you're eligible.

In recognition of the rising cost of living and the difficulties some people may have paying their rates bill, council has implemented rates postponement policies; Rates postponement for financial hardship and Rates postponement for homeowners aged over 65 years.

Select here to read more about rates remission and postponement options.

Central government also has a rates rebate scheme – if you are a low-income homeowner, you may meet the criteria for accessing a subsidy toward your rates.

Select here to read more about the rates rebate scheme.