Abstract
Housing is both a social right and a necessity that provides for social connection and the positive
functionality of a place. In high-amenity towns, access to housing is compromised by having
to meet the accommodation needs of permanent residents, but also those of seasonal workers,
tourists, and second home investors. In this scenario, particularly when urban growth rates are
high, housing availability and affordability can diminish. Queenstown, New Zealand, as a high-
amenity tourist town, experiences these challenges that impose upon this social right to housing.
Queenstown’s natural environment and recreational activities create an amenity-rich
environment that makes it a desirable place to live. Housing provision has, however,
consistently failed to sustain the persistent population growth, the reality of which provides the
motivation for this research. This study aims to critically assess the ability of current and
proposed future solutions to address the housing crisis in Queenstown by investigating the
causes and drivers of the housing crisis, evaluating the planned housing solutions, assessing
their current and potential success, and determining gaps and barriers with the current housing
solutions. This research employed a constructivist paradigm and a mixed methods research
approach. Primary methods of data collection consisted of expert interviews and a questionnaire
to gather community insights. Secondary methods included a literature review, a policy
analysis, and an integration of secondary material to further validate primary insights.
Findings indicate the negative implications that housing challenges have imposed on the
community, which persist to the present, giving further urgency to seeking a resolution.
Queenstown is facing a housing availability crisis due to influences such as visitor
accommodation, enabled through home-sharing platforms, and significant demand increases.
The tension between development and maintaining natural amenities is a substantial barrier to
resolution. In turn, the unaffordability of homes remains a barrier for many community
members as a direct result of competition, demand, and the typology of developments in the
area. The impact these challenges have on Queenstown is detrimental, changing community
dynamics, increasing hardship, and housing uncertainty. Housing interventions have been
introduced within the district, however, whether they are likely to make a tangible impact on
the current situation is a subject of debate. Community awareness of current efforts was low,
proving a disconnect between the community and council. Advances in community housing provided by the Queenstown Lakes Housing Trust proved beneficial; however, they are not
without their challenges. Queenstown Lakes District Council has initiated many planning
efforts to seek a solution, demonstrating the desire to make a change. In saying such, the
longevity of the housing crisis and the consistent barriers, including the focus of policy in
practice, the lack of central government involvement and infrastructure funding, reveals that
Queenstown is only at the start of resolving these significant housing challenges. This research
successfully contributes to the broader knowledge of housing challenges in high-amenity towns
by providing well-rounded community insights into their impact. Furthermore, the research
reveals the intricacies of affordable housing provision in small towns which are experiencing
significant growth. This research adds value and importance in terms of imagining a
Queenstown that can better house those who choose to live there.
Affordable Housing; Small Town Growth; Tāhuna Queenstown; Mixed methods;
Policy Analysis.