Media questions about pressure of housing in Tekapo.
Request
I’m working on a story about pressure on long-term housing in tourist towns, including Lake Tekapo, and the impact this may be having on permanent residents and tourism workers.
I’ve seen Council’s recent statement on short-term visitor accommodation, as well as the June information showing that 296 Lake Tekapo properties were classified as secondary accommodation for rating purposes in 2025/26.
Could you please help me clarify the following three questions:
- What exactly is included in Council’s “secondary accommodation” classification, and how many of the 296 Lake Tekapo properties are currently being used for short-term visitor accommodation?
- Council said in July that it was undertaking compliance work around visitor accommodation. How many Lake Tekapo properties have been assessed so far, and how many have been found to be operating without the required consent or otherwise in breach of the District Plan?
- Has Council received any recent feedback from local businesses about difficulties recruiting or retaining workers due to a lack of long-term housing in Lake Tekapo?
I’m particularly interested in the impact on people who live and work in Lake Tekapo year-round.
Response
Council’s ‘secondary accommodation’ is a rating classification terminology (not a District Plan matter). We are unsure where the number 296 has come from, but we can tell you that 937 properties across the district are paying this rate in 2026/27.
The compliance work is ongoing, but approximate 200 properties in Tekapo have been assessed for compliance with the District Plan. Of those, about 65 properties may be operating without the required resource consent or in breach of resource consents held.
Council has heard from businesses over many years about the impact accommodation issues are having on their ability to recruit and retain workers.