Council endorses collective strategy to tackle homelessness in Rotorua

Rotorua Lakes Council has endorsed He Urunga Rau Koromiko 2026, a new collective strategic framework designed to manage, reduce and ultimately end homelessness in Rotorua.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said “We’re moving out of a crisis point and ensuring we never go back to those days where homelessness felt prevalent in our city. For the first time we’ve mapped out drivers of homelessness and how we can prevent it happening again in future.”

“Our community expects action on homelessness, Council has an important role to play in bringing partners together, advocating for Rotorua and I’m grateful for the coordinated response that will deliver better results” Mayor Tapsell says.

The framework has been developed through a collaborative impact process involving Rotorua Lakes Council, the Regional Public Service Commission, Te Tatau o Te Arawa, central government agencies, iwi-led organisations, community providers, and people with lived experience of homelessness.

Jordon Robertson, Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Poumanatū (Housing Manager), says “Māori are disproportionately affected by homelessness and severe housing deprivation in Rotorua and across Aotearoa. It is good to see the framework acknowledge this and the need for iwi-led and kaupapa Māori organisations to play a leading role in the implementation.”

Regional Public Commissioner Ezra Schuster said that this strategy builds on relationships that already exist across Rotorua and strengthens our partnership.

"Homelessness is one of the most complex challenges facing any community, and no single organisation or agency can solve it alone. The Council has shown important leadership in bringing partners together, and public service agencies are committed to continuing to work alongside Council, iwi and community organisations.” Ezra says.

Chief Executive Officer at WERA Aotearoa Charitable Trust, Israel Hawkins, established and leads the newly formed Manaaki Tangata Collective. This community response to supporting our rough sleeping whānau was created after recognising the need to better support people experiencing rough sleeping and chronic homelessness.

“Currently there are few options and resources for our people who have disengaged with housing. We look forward to working together to advocate for resources and partnerships and most importantly, to improve outcomes across housing, health, income, and safety to address the drivers of homelessness for whānau in Rotorua,” Israel says.

LinkPeople Regional Manager (Lakes BOP) Michelle Tiriana-Bishop says this is a great step forward for our community. When we look to the evidence on how communities around the world have ended homelessness – they have always taken a collective approach.

“We’ve already made some significant progress in housing whānau into permanent housing. This strategy will build on this momentum to support more whānau into healthy homes with support to sustain their tenancies and thrive in our wonderful community,” Michelle says.

Rotorua Business Chamber Chief Executive Melanie Short says the Chamber is really invested in Rotorua being a great place to do business.

“Being connected to the strategy reinforced for me that homelessness is complex and we need to work together as a community. I see this framework as a positive step in the right direction,” Melanie says.

Kiti-Ransfield, General Manager Te Waiariki Purea Trust, says it’s encouraging to see that the strategy includes specific priorities to support taiohi and young people experiencing homelessness as critical preventative action across the six workstreams.

Rotorua Trust Chief Executive, Blair Gilbert, also supports the framework. “This provides a clear path forward for services within Rotorua to work together in support of our wider community. It fits with our vision Mō Tātou Katoa – For Us All.”

Mayor Tapsell said the strategy reflects a long-term commitment to partnership and prevention.

“We have a responsibility to work together and do better for our community. The endorsement is a positive step towards preventing, reducing and ending homelessness in Rotorua through a more coordinated and effective response. "

Council will now work with partner organisations to establish governance arrangements, finalise and publish the strategy, and support the community providers to begin the implementation of the framework's key priorities.

Further information:

The framework aligns with Council's Long-term Plan 2024-2034 priorities, including housing, community safety, economic development, tourism, and supporting the aspirations of mana whenua and tāngata whenua.

The strategy includes six key workstreams:

• Community-led Coordinated Case Management and By-Name Register for people living without shelter
• A strategic housing placement table with healthcare access to fix the bottleneck across the housing continuum
• Community-led housing supply initiatives
• Proactive community engagement and public awareness
• Collective insights, data, research and advocacy
• Strengthening social infrastructure and prevention initiatives

Key stats

Severe Housing Deprivation in Rotorua:

The 2023 Census estimated approximately 1,494 people in Rotorua were experiencing severe housing deprivation. Homelessness in Rotorua is predominantly hidden rather than visible:

• 4.3% living without shelter (rough sleeping, cars, tents, shacks, mobile dwellings).
• 18% living in temporary accommodation.
• 29% living in overcrowded or shared housing arrangements.
• 48.5% living in uninhabitable housing.

A Homelessness Point-In-Time count and survey conducted by Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue in partnership with other providers and Rotorua Lakes Council surveyed 97 participants and identified that at least 45 people were rough sleeping in Rotorua.

According to MSD’s Housing Register data, there are currently 808 households on the Rotorua Housing Register.

The following was presented to elected members yesterday and provides an overview: he-urunga-rau-koromiko-homelessness-strategy-and-framework.pdf