Building homes by building trust. This is the aim of a new model of sector-led housing for the Kāpiti Coast.
A new approach to housing is taking shape on the Kāpiti Coast with Kāpiti Housing Solutions Trust set to deliver well-designed, sector-led, community housing for local people.
With construction soon to begin on the Trust’s first development at Rangiuru Road in Ōtaki, those involved say the project represents far more than delivering new homes. It is a stake in the ground for a new approach to local housing – one that places experienced leadership, long-term stewardship and local knowledge at the centre of creating homes that reflect the identity and need of the communities they become part of.
Kāpiti Housing Solutions Chair Alison Cadman says the Trust was established to provide strategic leadership and long-term oversight of housing opportunities across the Kāpiti Coast, and that developing modern, affordable rental homes at Rangiuru Road is an exciting first step for the Trust.
The Trust’s first development at Rangiuru Road will deliver 21 homes, with resource consent in place for a total of 46 homes across the site. Designed for local people finding it increasingly difficult to access suitable housing in the private market, the development includes shared open spaces, gardens, and areas for tamariki to connect and play.
Kāpiti Housing Solutions will own and manage the homes over the long term, ensuring they remain a lasting community asset for future generations.
“Our role is to help ensure Kāpiti has housing that reflects the identity of the community, and supports local people and whānau to continue living, working and raising their children close to the people and places that matter most to them,” says Ms Cadman.
Over the past eighteen months, the Trust’s Board has focused on establishing the new entity and building strong foundations for the organisation. At the same time, they have been planning, managing, and securing the right partners for the build project in Ōtaki.
“That meant establishing strong governance and bringing together the right people and partners to navigate a period of significant change across the housing sector. Throughout it all, our focus remained the same – making sure we got this right for Kāpiti.”
Kāpiti Coast District Deputy Mayor Martin Halliday says this is exactly what the Trust was established to do. It brings considerable expertise and focus to deliver the right types of housing to meet the needs of the Kāpiti community.
“This is about more than buildings; it’s about having a home that offers stability and enhanced wellbeing, ensuring local people can continue to live in, and participate in, their local community.”
Halliday says housing affordability remains one of the district’s biggest challenges.
“It’s a complex issue, and we all need to work together on the solutions. Council’s role has been to identify the need, set the right vision for the future and create the conditions for long-term success.”
Creating affordable, long-term housing options for Kāpiti residents is a key objective of Council’s Housing Strategy. To help achieve this, Council purchased the Rangiuru Road site in 2021 and secured funding from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to support the delivery of long-term affordable rental housing for local people.
Setting up the Trust
In 2024, Kāpiti Council set up Kāpiti Housing Solutions as an independent charitable trust so it could access opportunities not available to Council and work with partners to help address local housing needs.
Ms Cadman says the Trust is now entering a new phase.
“Much of our work to date has happened behind the scenes as we’ve established the organisation and ensured this opportunity remained on track. We’re now looking forward to being much more visible – sharing our journey, continuing conversations with the communities we serve, and becoming an organisation that people know they can approach with confidence.”
“Our success won’t only be measured by the homes we help deliver. It will be measured by the confidence people have in the way those homes are planned, managed and cared for – and by our ability to help local people continue living, working and raising their families here in Kāpiti.”
Having laid the foundations for the organisation itself, the Trust is now fully focused on becoming a consistent presence for local stakeholders – building trusted relationships while continuing to explore other innovative opportunities to support long-term housing outcomes across the Kāpiti Coast.
Trustee Kim Tahiwi (Ngāti Toa, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Muaūpoko) says this is ultimately about investing in Kāpiti’s future.
“This kaupapa needs to prioritise local homes for local whānau. It is important that our future generations have the opportunity to continue working and raising their whānau here in Ōtaki, while strengthening the neighbourhoods and communities that make this district such a special place to live.”
For more information, visit www.khs.org.nz