Our Commitment to You
Everyone in Whanganui deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. Our community deserves neighbourhoods where people feel connected, supported, and valued - not just housed, but truly at home.
That's why Whanganui District Council intends to create a new, independent housing entity dedicated to one simple but powerful mission: building thriving communities where everyone belongs.
Why This Matters
Right now, hundreds of our older residents live in council housing that needs significant renovation to ensure itontinues to serve our community well. These aren't just buildings - they're homes to people who've built their lives in Whanganui, who deserve dignity and care as they age.
At the same time, our whole community faces a shortage of affordable housing. We're building about 90 new homes each year, but we need 2,000 over the next decade. That means 1,000-1,100 families and individuals who won't have access to the housing they need unless we act now.
What We're Planning
We're proposing to incorporate our current 275 ageing council units into a much larger portfolio of affordable homes over the next ten years. This isn't just about numbers - it's about creating genuine choices for people at every stage of life.
Our Current Reality
- 275 one-bedroom units built between 1946 and 1988, many becoming unsafe to live in within five years
- Hundreds of older residents paying rent capped at just 24-29% of their pension
- A community that's aging, with older people who need housing options that work for them
- No supported accommodation is currently available for those with complex care needs
- Fewer public housing options than we had two years ago
Our Vision for the Future
A new, independent housing entity that will:
- Put people first – Create homes and communities where residents feel genuinely connected and supported, with access to the services they need
- Expand housing choices – Develop different types of homes for different needs, from rental to ownership options
- Keep it affordable – Ensure housing remains accessible for those who need it most
- Stay local – Keep decision-making in Whanganui's hands, so the entity serves our community's unique needs
- Build for the long term – Establish stable funding and governance that will serve generations to come
What Makes This Different
This isn't just about replacing old buildings with new ones. We're creating something better:
Community-focused: Housing designed to bring people together, not isolate them. Places with shared spaces, support services, and genuine connection.
Locally led: Your community, your needs, your solutions. Decisions made by people who understand Whanganui.
Iwi partnership: Working together with mana whenua to build communities that reflect our shared values and aspirations.
Independent but accountable: A dedicated entity with the expertise and focus to tackle complex housing challenges, while remaining answerable to our community.
Moving Forward Together
This is about creating an intergenerational legacy - homes that will serve our children, our parents, and generations to come. It's about ensuring that everyone in Whanganui, regardless of age or income, has access to a safe, quality home in a community where they belong.
Because housing isn't just about four walls and a roof. It's about dignity, security, choice and connection. It's about home.
Initiative Updates
March 2026 | A new chapter for Whanganui housing - shaped by our community, built for our future
What we heard and why it matters
Too many people in our community are living in homes that aren't require significant upgrades, waiting too long for options that don't exist, or falling through the gaps between social housing and the private market. A new housing entity is being proposed to change that. Before any decisions are made, we went out and listened.
Housing is about people, not buildings
Every single person we spoke with said the same thing - housing is about dignity, choice, pride, and belonging. This isn't a construction project. It's about making sure people in Whanganui can live well, feel secure, and be part of their community.
The need is real, and it's now
No one we spoke with said to wait. Housing stock is deteriorating, the waitlist is growing, and we have reached a tipping point for growth and change in our community.
Partnership with Tupoho isn't optional - it's foundational
Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our iwi partnership is core to how this programme works. Tupoho brings a clear housing vision, an existing pipeline, and deep connections to whānau returning home to Whanganui.
"Changes are urgent. The deterioration of housing stock is a pressing concern and there's not enough understanding of what an ageing population means in practice." Tupoho
The council's job is to lead and enable - not go it alone
Stakeholders were clear: council's role is to set the right conditions for housing outcomes through leadership, partnership, and facilitation.
"It's about agility. Our role is enabling, creating the conditions for better outcomes. We need to facilitate, not direct." Mayor Andrew Tripe
There's a gap and we need to fill it
Too many residents of Whanganui fall between social housing and the private market. They don't qualify for intensive support, but they can't afford what's available either.
"Housing is about choices, pride, and dignity. The language we use shapes whether people see this as something for them or something done to them." Jenny Duncan, Steering Group Member
We'll be straight with you
Ratepayers want honest answers about cost and benefit - and they deserve them. Every decision made will be backed by evidence.
"It's not just about the physical aspect of home. It's about addressing the social, the health, the urban design considerations - creating places where people are supported through their lives." Tania Henare, Whanganui District Council Property Manager
Thank you to: Te Rūnanga ō Tupoho, Age Concern, Safer Whanganui, Mayor Andrew Tripe and our councillors past and present.