16 Oct 2025: Koutu land sale

Media: One News

Topic: Koutu property sale

Enquiry

1 News is doing a story on a housing deal on Haumoana Street in Koutu, Rotorua. We understand the Love whānau tried to buy two sections but were outbid by developer Grafraell, with the plan to build 11 small social housing units onto the sections.

Residents on Haumoana Street are upset for a number of reasons, mostly that they believe the deal was done behind closed. They say are not anti-housing, but disturbed that decisions have been made for them, using public money for developments they will need to live beside, in an area that already has one of the highest concentrations of social housing in Rotorua.

1 News would like to know:

• Why were these sections chosen for social housing units?
• Why were residents not consulted?
• Residents have been told housing “could be for kaumātua”, is this the case?
• Has a sale and purchase agreement already been signed?
• Has IRRS funding been committed by MHUD?
• We’ve been told some parties have called this a “done deal” while others say “no decisions have been made” – which is it?

We would appreciate these answers either in an interview, or via statement

Subsequent

Reporter asked if Koutu had the highest concentration of social housing in Rotorua

Response

We provided the following information:

The sections on Haumoana Street were privately owned and sold directly to a developer, with Council not involved in the sale process. We understand the developer has engaged with nearby residents, including the Love whānau, and construction is now underway. A resource consent has been granted for the development, and it aligns with what is provided for under the District Plan.

We recommend reaching out to the developer, the Community Housing Provider, and the MHUD, as they are best placed to provide detailed responses to your questions.

In response to your text question asking if Koutu is the highest concentration of social housing in Rotorua. No, it is not, it is the 6th of the 18 suburbs.

NOTE: The reporter then asked which suburb was the highest and was told it was Pukehangi North.