28 July 2025: Redwood Park development, Chorus event
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Redwood Park development
Enquiry
I'm doing a story with Ben Green from Urban Homes about the next stage of the Redwood Park development in the upper Lynmore area.
With three stages, there plans to be 40 sections/homes developed over the coming two years.
Apart from social/Kainga Ora housing projects, are there any other residential large-scale subdivisions on the cards in Rotorua at the moment? I know there's work on the Sunny Downs farms land on Pukehangi Rd, but are there any others?
That something someone is easily able to find out for me? Or would it take a while to fish out?
I just wanted to add a line to the story saying it's one of XX subdivisions on the books in Rotorua at present, etc.
Response
From District Development General Manager Jean-Paul Gaston:
Following the highest level of completion of new homes for 15 years, there has more recently been a drop in new housing consent applications.
This reflects a reduction in the Kainga Ora build programme but we expect activity to increase again – although to a more limited peak than recently – through Community Housing Provider (CHP) and iwi housing developments, supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD).
Ongoing progression of housing development Eastside and fast tracking for Sommerset’s retirement village will also support additional homes over the next few years.
Development support continues in relation to approximately 28 large developments (ie developments of 10 or more dwellings) which includes 14 Māori housing developments.
A key objective of the Rotorua Housing Plan is to enable iwi and hāpu housing aspirations so that is very pleasing to see and part of the work we are doing in this space is a papakainga toolkit that will help guide iwi and hāpu landowners through the development process.
We look forward to seeing the progression of all planned developments to contribute towards our goal to address the housing shortage in Rotorua.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Chorus event at Rotoiti
Enquiry
I was hoping to get comment from the Mayor at the event regarding the importance of the development to the community.
Instead, would it be possible to supply a statement from the Mayor on the matter that I can include in any story.
Just covering how important it is for the community to have this high-speed rollout?
Response
From Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell:
"It was a real honour to be in our Rotoiti community to mark this significant milestone of 1800 households being recently connected across Rotorua.
“It's so important that this kind of investment is also reaching rural and lakes areas and locals are already calling it a game changer.
“In today’s world, digital connectivity is increasingly important, so we're grateful to Chorus for prioritising Rotorua, providing more options and investing in our future.
"Improved connectivity opens the door to greater opportunities for both individual households and our wider district. We thank the many people behind the delivery of this for our residents.”
