Establishing a housing trust

In 2018, Council began looking closely at housing in Whanganui. Along with its 275 older persons' housing units needing significant investment, at the same time, the wider need for safe, affordable homes was growing, and new supply was not keeping pace. Council recognised that a home is the foundation of a liveable district, and that it could not meet this need alone. From this point, Council started working on the housing strategy.

Public consultation: May – July 2019

This strategy set out a vision and framework for addressing Whanganui's housing issues, grounded in the Leading-Edge Strategy's priority of a liveable district that works for everyone. It started from the view that a safe, warm, dry and affordable home within a great community is the foundation for people to live well and contribute to their families, communities and the wider district. The strategy covered the full housing continuum, from social housing through to affordable housing and the wider market, using the Housing Adequacy Framework.

• Proposed Housing Strategy Public Consultation  
• Our Housing Strategy

As part of the broader housing picture for Whanganui, Council undertook a full stocktake of its older persons' housing portfolio. The aim was to understand the condition and future of the 275 units it owns, and to investigate what actions Council could take to improve both the quantity and quality of older persons' housing in the district. The stocktake noted that, because of the age of the stock, the current model is not sustainable for Council without investment. This work showed how much needs to be done, and it informed the options Council has been weighing since.

• Older Persons’ Housing Portfolio

In 2022/23, Council set aside more than $1.8 million to advance social and community housing in Whanganui. The funding supported advocacy with central government, iwi-driven initiatives, growth of council's existing housing portfolio, scoping of residential conversion opportunities in the city centre, and development of a residential spatial plan. Council also continued to work with social support agencies to explore solutions to the growing number of residents seeking urgent housing support.

• Annual Plan

Council commissioned the Turley Report to provide a detailed assessment of the current condition of its older persons' housing portfolio. The report identified how the existing stock could be improved and where new homes could be built. It gave Council a clearer evidence base for the decisions that followed.

Council established a strategic governance group with Kāinga Ora and Tupoho Housing to support increased housing availability in Whanganui. The group brought together council, central government and iwi to work on the housing need in partnership.

• 2024 - 2024 Long Term Plan

Council asked the community what it wanted for Whanganui's future, and the vision that came back was far reaching: wellbeing for everyone, backed by affordable housing and stronger social and cultural connections. Economic wellbeing centred on housing, the strength of the local economy, income, and education and training opportunities, and 68 percent of people highlighted housing as a major concern.

• 2024 Long Term Plan Consultation Document

Council's Strategy and Policy Committee endorsed a business case approach to determine whether a housing entity could be the right vehicle for growing Whanganui's housing stock. This step allowed Council to test the options carefully before making any decision about establishing an entity.

The Strategy and Policy Committee recommended an agreement in principle that its preferred option is to establish a standalone entity with partners, with a community housing provider as the back-up option, subject to a business case.

• Strategy & Policy Committee Meeting Minutes

The Strategy and Policy Committee adopted the KPMG Business Case with the preferred option being a standalone entity with partners.

• Strategy & Policy Committee Meeting Minutes
• KPMG business case(PDF, 2MB)

After community support at 72%, Council decided to continue exploring the creation of an entity independent of council to grow and improve Whanganui's housing stock. An agreement was made that Council would loan fund $700,000 and repay the debt over 10 years, costing ratepayers around $90,000 a year, or $4.50 per rating unit a year. Before any decisions are made about council's existing housing portfolio, the community will be consulted, with more specific information on the impacts for ratepayers and tenants.

• Annual Plan Consultation Document

Built on the voices and aspirations of Whanganui people, the Strategy for Whanganui sets five enduring goals to Grow, Build, Protect, Activate, and Celebrate Whanganui. These are a guide to where we as a community want to go and how to get there.

• Strategy for Whanganui – Rautaki mō Whanganui

Planning stakeholder engagement and understanding current portfolio remediation.

Council held a workshop to consider the Insights Report alongside national housing system policy settings. This gave elected members a chance to weigh what the community and the evidence were telling them against a changing national picture before settling on next steps.

Council considered the options for establishing an entity independent of council, along with information about how it could be funded. This work set the context for the funding options that officers will report back on to inform the Long Term Plan 2027-2037.

After the Annual Plan was adopted, Council approved investigating the setup of a new housing entity, independent of council. To keep that work moving, Council is adding $500,000 in 2026/27 to support the work needed to establish it. 

• 2026 - 2027 Annual Plan

Council considered the funding and legal questions involved in establishing an entity independent of council. This work helped Council understand what it would take to set up the entity and how it could be funded and governed.

Council set strategic priorities to shape its council and committee work programmes. One priority is to lead an all-of-council growth and housing response that unlocks development and prioritises safe, warm homes across the housing spectrum. Councillors were also updated on the interest received in future developments and opportunities.

• Council Triennium Priorities

Council agreed to engage publicly, at the "inform" level, on its proposal to establish a charitable housing trust, independent of council, to grow housing in Whanganui. It also agreed to separate the establishment of the trust from the consideration of funding options. Those funding options will be prepared for consultation through the Long-Term Plan 2027-2037.

The Mayor updated the community on housing in Whanganui and on how Council is responding, outlining that with the housing system changing significantly across New Zealand, in how homes are built, how infrastructure is funded and who qualifies for social housing support, Council is choosing to act early.

The Strategy and Policy Committee approved the formation of a Trustee Recruitment Panel to support the recruitment and appointment of trustees for the proposed trust, with the intention that the first trustees will help guide the formation of the entity. The committee appointed independent member Susan Kosmala, Councillors Glenda Brown, Kate Joblin and Mike Hos to the panel.

• Resolve Strategy & Policy Committee - Extraordinary Meeting - 8 September 2026

Whanganui District Council is seeking founding trustees for a proposed new independent housing entity - built to grow affordable housing options and stand as a lasting commitment to our district's future.

This is a genuine founding role. The trust will have its own deed and its own governance, and the people who take it on will help build something from the ground up - with the scale and mandate to make a lasting difference for generations of Whanganui families.

We're looking for people who bring:

• Governance experience in a complex, regulated, or capital-intensive environment
• Financial and risk judgement suited to a newly established, growth-stage entity
• An authentic understanding of, and commitment to, partnership with mana whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations
• Housing, property, social service, or community development expertise
• Commercial acumen - the ability to recognise and develop opportunities, including partnerships with developers

Apply directly to: housingtrustee@whanganui.govt.nz

Applications close: Friday, 13 November 2026

Board Role Description(PDF, 300KB)