Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust
Pioneering affordable housing in New Zealand's most expensive district
Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust has emerged as a leading not-for-profit organisation addressing housing affordability in New Zealand's most expensive district since its establishment in 2007. Operating in a region where median house prices reach $1.7 million, QLCHT delivers innovative, place-based housing solutions including the award-winning Secure Home shared ownership model that enables local workers to access stable, long-term housing.
The Trust's collaborative approach involves close partnerships with council, developers, and community stakeholders to create housing options that support economic diversity and social wellbeing. By capturing value uplift from rezoning through Inclusionary Housing mechanisms and developing mixed-tenure communities, QLCHT has built a portfolio serving households across the income spectrum—from public housing tenants to assisted ownership participants earning up to $130,000 annually. This pioneering, community-driven model has established QLCHT as a national exemplar for addressing housing affordability in high-value markets.
