Latest news with #Queenstown-specific
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
600 rental homes planned in Queenstown development
Six hundred build-to-rent units are on the way for Queenstown in a $500 million Simplicity Living development. The company owned by KiwiSaver and investment funds is managed by Simplicity NZ Ltd. It has already built 210 homes across Auckland, with another 889 under construction. It has just acquired a 6.1ha site on Ladies Mile, north of the Stalker Rd roundabout, for its first development outside the City of Sails, with an aspiration to build 2000 homes in the resort. Simplicity NZ managing director Sam Stubbs said they were working closely with the Queenstown Lakes District Council on the infrastructure required to enable construction to start. Once that was in place, and they had the necessary consents, "we're ready to go". Based on the Auckland developments, the first tenants could be living there within 13 months of the start. "We've always had our eye down here, because we thought that the economics of Queenstown makes sense because it's growing, the rents are good, and there's this massive need for housing people who live here," he said. The Queenstown development will likely comprise three-storey walk-up apartments, in one-, two- and three-bed configurations, noting there was a huge gap in the market for one- and two-bedders. Two live-in managers will also be employed. The units will primarily be built using concrete, brick and local schist, with an expected lifespan of over 150 years. "The idea for us on this one ... is to do a lot of green space, a lot of carparks, a lot of outdoor storage, because it's got to be Queenstown-specific," Mr Stubbs said. While initially the homes will be for long-term rent, they may consider selling some to retirees or first-home buyers. He also believed they would be able to build them "slightly cheaper" than in Auckland and while he could not put a figure on the rental cost, he noted Simplicity Living's rents were usually 5%-10% below market value. Regardless, Queenstown rents would justify the development cost. Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust chief executive Julie Scott said the proposed development "interconnects" with the work the trust was doing. The trust had 1480 eligible households on its waiting list, "and we know that we can't ... house them all tomorrow, or even in the next few years". Before work can start, though, infrastructure to the site needs to be sorted. Mr Stubbs said Simplicity wanted to help with that, too, but noted the council was getting all of the Ladies Mile landowners together to have a look at what was required — "we've never had that happen before". Queenstown Mayor Glyn Lewers said the "$60 million question" was who would pay for it. "We're quite happy for [the developer] to put the infrastructure in, and then we'll offset the development contributions at the other end when it comes to creating title. "Our debt limits and our capacity to do that front-loading of infrastructure, especially within growth nodes in this district, has become quite tight. "We'll put in where we can, and where we need to, but the way we're structured financially at the moment, we're looking for partnerships to actually provide this great social benefit." However, council was committed to working it out because the outcome was "so beneficial" to the area. Mr Lewers said he had been having "quite intense" conversations with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi about potential solutions for traffic implications. "The regional deal construct certainly helps that conversation."
Otago Daily Times
07-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Queenstown meeting of Luxon, Albanese trumpeted
All eyes will be on Queenstown this weekend. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will host Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with his fiancee Jodie Haydon, in the resort tomorrow and Sunday for the annual Australia New Zealand Leaders' Meeting. It is the first time the meeting has been held in Queenstown since 2021, when former prime ministers Scott Morrison and Dame Jacinda Ardern had a tightly controlled and scheduled meeting, primarily due to Covid restrictions. Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers said it was "brilliant" the leaders were meeting in the resort, and considered they could not pick a better spot to "show off New Zealand Inc to our Australian cousins". Mr Lewers would be spending some time with the prime ministers, including being part of Mr Albanese's greeting party. He would later be welcomed to Queenstown by Ngai Tahu at a powhiri, following which there would be bilateral talks. Other engagements include a business roundtable with the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum. A large media contingent from across the Tasman was expected to cover the visit, while some outlets were planning on doing other Queenstown-specific stories while in town. Mr Lewers said there were stories to be told, particularly around tourism and growth pressures, "and I'm open to talking with them about it". Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said the meeting was "a really big deal", and hoped the media coverage further bolstered the resort's reputation across the Tasman. "Australia is our most important international market — it's a market that we've been working hard on for 40-plus years — Australians love Queenstown, Queenstown loves Australians, community and industry alike. "We just get that great opportunity to showcase Queenstown and build on all that work we've been doing ... to show what a great destination we are for Aussies to visit." Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sharon Fifield said given what was happening around the world at present, it was good to see the two leaders continuing to strengthen their relationship. In a statement, Mr Luxon said one certainty in an otherwise uncertain work was the Australia-New Zealand relationship was the "bedrock as we look out into the world". "Australia is our only formal ally and a vital economic partner. "With a two-way trade of $32 billion, I look forward to discussing what more we can do as we tackle economic challenges on both sides of the Tasman."
