Anita Vanstone: A planner's perspective
How Queenstown uses planning tools to turn development profits into perpetual affordable housing.
In this interview we speak with Anita Vanstone, the Strategic Growth Manager at Queenstown Lakes District Council, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the region's long-term planning and development strategy. With a background in urban planning, community development, and growth management, Anita works at the intersection of housing, infrastructure, and sustainability to ensure that the Queenstown Lakes area grows in a way that supports both residents and the natural environment. Her work focuses on balancing rapid population growth with the district's vision for liveable, inclusive, and well-connected communities, and she collaborates across council teams, government agencies, and the private sector to deliver integrated, evidence-based solutions for the region's future.
Anita addresses the district's significant housing affordability challenges, where Queenstown Lakes holds the distinction of being New Zealand's most expensive place to both rent and buy. She outlines how the council employs inclusionary housing mechanisms to secure land and financial contributions from development, working in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust and central government to deliver perpetually affordable homes. Through practical examples, Anita demonstrates how strategic value capture can create housing opportunities for key workers, families, and elderly residents who might otherwise be priced out of the community. She makes a compelling case for national inclusionary zoning legislation, drawing on international precedents, and reframes housing as essential community infrastructure that requires collective responsibility. Anita emphasises that without proactive intervention, the district risks losing the teachers, healthcare workers, and service industry professionals who sustain the community's social and economic fabric.
