Shared living planned for the Far North

A Far North charitable trust is working on a communal housing plan to make home ownership more affordable in the region.

The Far North Resilient Communities Charitable Trust is on the hunt for a block of land for its housing plan which will include standard houses for families, tiny houses for singles and couples and Abbyfield flats for the elderly.

Trust chairwoman Di Maxwell says an example of the housing model is Earthsong, a co-housing initiative in Ra¯nui, West Auckland, with 32 dwellings set in 1.6 hectares of organic orchard and native bush.

‘‘There has to be some alternatives for people,’’ she says. ‘‘These houses will be considerably cheaper than a stand alone house on a property. I see a real need for it, and not too many other people are willing to embrace alternative systems.’’

The median house price for the Far North is currently sitting at $480,000 up from $350,000 in January 2017. Maxwell - a former district councillor - says the trust has been working on the feasibility study for over a year and has been in talks with two building supply companies who have expressed interest in working on the project.

They hope to put around 20 new homes on a large block of land in the Kerikeri, Kaikohe, Ohaeawai or Okaihau area. Fundraising is to kick off in the next couple of months. There will be community buildings with a shared kitchen, a dining space, laundry, library, and a workshop or gym.

‘‘By providing these facilities for the use of all the community the size of the individual houses can be minimised and the cohesion of the community is enhanced,’’ Maxwell says. ‘‘Occupiers will be a mix of people who are drawn to the communal style living, to families who would

‘‘There has to be some alternatives for people.’’

Di Maxwell

not be able to afford home ownership in the standard sense.’’

Transition Towns Bay of Islands spokesperson Asha Andersen says it’s a ‘‘fantastic idea.’’ ‘‘We’re at a new point in time forcing people to reconsider how we do things. A lot of people are waking up to the fact that we need to move to a more low impact style of living, which means putting less pressure on our environment.’’

‘‘It’ll be an amazing opportunity for a lot of people including families who want a cheaper more community oriented style of living.’’

The Earthsong eco village in Ranui, West Auckland is a good example of how shared living could work in the Far North.

Di Maxwell is leading the charge for alternative housing.