| 37 Taupō District Council - Oroko Rise REGIONAL Building Better Futures, One Project at a Time Project Management Surveying Civil Design Land Development admin@matangaprojects.co.nz | 027 5570 006 | www.matangaprojects.co.nz tldc@xtra.co.nz 021 353 218 WWW.TLDC.CO.NZ E N G I N E E R I N G S O L U T I O N S Subdivision Design/Consents | Surveying Services Construction Contract Management, Supervision and QA Project Management Services | Civil Engineering design Geotechnical Investigation Proudly Supporting Taupo District Council T T Kelly Deeks Council enters the housing market Stage 1 comprises 116 homes in total, with 62 lots having already been released to the market. Taupō District Council’s first residential subdivision, Oroko Rise, is already gaining strong traction, with the development, which went live in October last year, marking a major shift for the council as it moves into delivering residential housing at scale for the first time. Demand for homes in Oroko Rise is tracking strongly across both affordable and market segments, with well over half of currently available lots now sold and multiple homes now under construction. Stage 1 comprises 116 homes in total, with 62 lots having already been released to the market, and an additional 54 lots expected to come online towards the end of the year. Property and development manager, Chris Haskell, says the delivery model is underpinned by a consortium comprising established builders Penny Homes and Classic Builders alongside Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust, allowing the project to be delivered at scale and pace. The council identified affordable housing as one of five, key focus areas in its 2023 housing strategy, responding to clear signals from the local community about a growing housing shortage, rising rents, and demand that is outpacing supply. Chris says the decision for council to take a direct delivery role was about ensuring quality outcomes and building genuine communities, rather than simply maximising density. Affordable homes in the development range from $550,000 for a two-bedroom, one- bathroom home through to $650,000 for a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home, whilst three- and four-bedroom homes, available in a range of architectural styles, start from $699,000. This compares to an average house price in the town of $850,000. The affordable product is designed to suit changing buyer needs, particularly first-home buyers, who are prioritising smaller sections, lower-maintenance living, and warm, healthy homes, rather than large sections with ongoing upkeep. There have been some early challenges around density and infrastructure coordination, particularly with underground services. Project manager, Pete Bradshaw, says significant work was required with utility providers to accommodate stormwater, wastewater, power, data, and gas infrastructure within a tight roading corridor and compact section layout. Section sizes average at 240sqm, which has also driven the need to rethink how shared space is provided. A reserve area is being established to ensure residents have access to usable outdoor and community space, despite smaller private sections. Chris says the council is learning as it progresses through the first stage, with early sales already providing valuable real-world feedback that is influencing the design of future stages. The broader East Urban Lands development has capacity for further expansion, with another 104ha still available for future residential growth. Location has been a key selling point, with Oroko Rise being only 10 minutes from the town centre and close to supermarkets, cafes, schools and services. Penny Homes has recently completed the nearby mixed-use development, Kokomea Park, featuring a growing commercial hub that includes childcare, food and beverage, health and fitness, and other retail offerings. Chris says walkability and multimodal connectivity have been important planning considerations, allowing residents to move through the development easily on foot and connect across the neighbourhood.
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