What We're Doing Now

Council and its partners have made significant progress towards improving the housing situation in Rotorua. However, we know that there is still a substantial shortfall of homes and more will be needed to meet demand over the next 30 years.

To address this need, council continues to work at pace to support growth and enable the delivery of more homes.

Future focused planning

To ensure growth happens in the right way, in the right places and at the right time, Rotorua Lakes Council and Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council have developed a Future Development Strategy (FDS) to identify the best places for future housing and businesses. Having a plan in place will benefit our community and help protect our unique environment.

The FDS is a long-term strategy for the development of a well-functioning urban environment (the city including Ngongotahā) that provides for the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of its people, as well as directing how and where growth will happen over the next 30 years.

The FDS is reviewed every three years and a new FDS is required every six years.

Investing in infrastructure to support growth

Council is committed to investing in reliable infrastructure to support growth and ensure Rotorua is prepared for the effects of climate change and natural hazards.

Alongside setting out appropriate funding for investment in the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan, Council is working alongside various partners to attract Government funding to enable and support growth.

In 2020, the Government provided NZ Transport Agency and Rotorua Lakes Council with $55million to enable housing growth in Eastside. This money was used to upgrade Te Ngae Road and other transport projects.

In 2022, Council received almost $85million from the Government’s Infrastructure Accelerations Fund for stormwater projects that would enable housing growth across the district.

The Future Development Strategy and council’s 30-Year Infrastructure Strategy provide a clear future view to where growth is expected to happen and what infrastructure will be required to support that growth.