National MP for Rotorua, Todd McClay. Photo / File
Place-based assessments helped the Government better understand the causes of housing pressure and then work with local communities to respond to local issues, she said.
"Rotorua is experiencing many challenges, including strong population growth, housing affordability issues, as well as issues with unlocking access to land for housing.
"This, alongside a tight rental market, has led to increased housing stress for many households, increasing demand for public housing, and a strong reliance on Rotorua motels for emergency housing."
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development would be working with the Rotorua Lakes Council and local iwi Te Arawa "to find housing solutions" in the city.
It's the second time the place-based approach has been taken, with Rotorua following a similar initiative aimed at addressing homelessness and housing in Hastings, announced in December 2019.
Hastings, along with Rotorua, was one of six "homelessness hotspots" identified by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The others were Auckland region, Wellington region, Northland and Hamilton.
Woods said the move reflected an acknowledgement the Government did not have all the answers and may require different mixes of government and local solutions.
National's associate spokesperson for housing (social) and social development, Simon O'Connor. Photo / File
"Early work in Rotorua has identified problems with a lack of supply relative to population growth, and that the shortfall in supply has been most severe at the lower end of the rental market."
The council, Te Arawa and Kāinga Ora were "already working together" to identify vacant land suitable for transitional and public housing.
National MP for Rotorua, Todd McClay, said the assessment fell well short of what was needed.
"Rotorua will be deeply disappointed to hear the Government has started a working group to look at a problem that has been obvious for two years."
"You can't house a homeless person in a meeting."
He said solutions included capping the number of people who could stay in emergency accommodation at motels and "transitioning" homeless people who were from out of town back to their original community, as the majority of homeless were not from Rotorua.
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said the move would enable the community to tackle other issues of concern such as inner city safety.
"We are all worried and anxious. We are a caring community and I always hear how we need to support and walk beside the genuine homeless."
She said there was no "silver bullet or magic wand" and the city needed long-term solutions.
"We don't support options for people who want to live a homeless lifestyle and there is also no tolerance in our community for any disorderly behaviour of any type."
She said the initiative would also remove the need for an emergency shelter in the inner city.
However, the city needed more community police, more community mental health services to treat drug and alcohol abuse and family violence.
"Simply providing homes", wouldn't be enough, she said.
"We want to ensure people have homes that match their needs and that they have access to services and amenities they need to be supported, connected and resilient.
Te Arawa Lakes Trust chairman, Tā (Sir) Toby Curtis said he was pleased to see progress being made on the Rotorua housing plan.
The announcement reinforced the Government's commitment toward "this important kaupapa".
"Iwi will look forward to understanding the detail relating to housing solutions for our local community."
He believed the partnership between the council and Te Arawa would ensure it instigated a community-led project achieving "real housing outcomes".
National's associate spokesperson for housing (social) and social development, Simon O'Connor, said the assessment was a good move, but the Government should have acted more swiftly on the issue.
- Additional reporting: Jean Bell
Place-based in Hastings The place-based approach - which aims to address issues of housing and homelessness by an initial assessment of the specific context and issues facing an area - was first launched in Hastings in December 2019. In a media release at the time, Woods' office announced it would include 200 houses, including state housing and papakāinga affordable rental homes, 100 Housing First places, house repairs for families with children, short-term temporary housing for severely overcrowded houses and more wrap-around services for people receiving the emergency housing special needs grant.
