Paekākāriki looks to its community to help with the housing crisis

Here Mark Amery explores innovative ways of increasing the number of people who can afford to live in the village.

Mark Amery
March 23, 2026

Small additional dwellings, Mark Amery writes, are part of the answer

It’s a fact: house prices now make the dream of owning land unaffordable for many. This includes the family and friends, young and old, of those who already own property.

This has led the Paekākāriki Housing Trust to launch this autumn an Additional Dwellings Project, with support from their local council.

This looks to empower this small, beachside village’s property owners to create affordable and appropriate one-to-two-bedroom additional homes on their land. The case studies the Paekākāriki Housing Trust is sharing range from kitset homes and architectural designs to converted sleepouts and a renovated, relocated old school dental clinic – all built and developed by local village professionals. Then there’s the option others have taken up of dividing and/or extending their current homes to provide a flat.

It’s work that’s been getting more attention recently with the government’s new, so-dubbed ‘granny flats legislation’.

Paekākāriki Housing Trust itself gained national media attention ten years ago when, as a small group of locals, it purchased a house for a beloved, local family facing leaving the village through providing 100% community funding. The Trust has since partnered with local iwi and social housing providers for the purchase of another house and worked to provide stable rentals with local property owners.

Starting Thursday April 2, the Additional Dwellings Project features a series of free workshops and site visits, and a series of films and case studies being developed to share online. They say it’s a way of capitalising on the enormous knowledge and skills already within their community.

“We are thinking of those we know it’s hard for: our mana whenua, our elderly, young adults, single-parent families, and creatives,” says Paekākāriki Housing Trust Chair, Tina Pope.

“Aotearoa remains in the grips of a housing crisis, and we know as a community we have a lot to share to make a difference in seeing those most vulnerable able to stay here. The village is full of inspiring diverse examples of additional homes. And full of professionals with expertise in this area.”

Pope notes that Kāpiti Coast District Council has picked up the idea, releasing an online guide for Kāpiti residential property owners thinking of adding an additional dwelling.

The government’s new legislation, as of January 15, allows small standalone additional dwellings up to 70 square metres in size without needing a building or resource consent. But there are, they say, plenty of conditions which mean owners need to consider what they want carefully.

“The options vary widely in cost and complexity,” says Pope, “but even the most expensive can pay themselves back over a realistic period, given the great demand that we have for housing. We can’t fix the market forces but our culture of connectedness and care, and proven track record as a housing trust sees us able to respond to this need through innovative, community-led solutions.”

The first workshop on Thursday April 2 will focus on the sharing of local knowledge on design options and is followed by an Additional Dwelling Guide workshop, run by KCDC and Homes For Good.

Workshops Three and Four follow on, looking at finance and legal options, and particular Paekākāriki challenges, like the capacity and location of septic tanks and the village’s sand dune terrain. In addition, walking tours will provide site visits to existing homes for Paekākāriki residents, with bookings to be made via [email protected]