TinyHome Cohousing,

Te Tauihu

Exploring Affordable Housing for Connected Living in a Regenerative Neighbourhood

The Vision

The TH Cohousing Development team (team name TBD) are exploring the feasibility of creating an affordable, ecological TinyHome Cohousing-style neighbourhood in Te Tauihu (Nelson–Tasman).

This initiative brings together elements of:

  • Tiny Homes (TH)

  • Retained affordable living

  • Shared land ownership and resident-management models

  • Long-term housing security

  • Community-focused neighbourhood design: Common spaces and ammenities such as food gardens and orchard, workshop, gathering space, laundry, play space, and other such TBD, with parking at the perimeter.

  • Ecological stewardship and sustainability: Permaculture designed and regenerative land-use and circular waste, water, and energy systems.

Why This Project

    • House prices and rents have far outpaced incomes

    • Saving for a deposit is increasingly unrealistic

    • Rental tenure is insecure and often precarious

    • Single parents, older women, young adults, and essential workers are disproportionately affected

    • Conventional neighbourhoods design result in isolation and negative ecological & climate outcomes

    • Many people already live in TH but for those not owning land, they have no lawful, secure or affordable place to locate them

    • Planning rules make it difficult for landowners to offer affordable leased land without costly consents or being “illegally” under the radar

    • TH owners have tenure insecurity: Leases on private land are often insecure due to reasons such as the tenancy act not being applicable to land leases and land lessors changing their mind on lease agreements.

    • Because of precarious tenure, TH owners are at risk of losing that which they invest time, effort and money into: they are not able to confidently put down roots in their local community, create food gardens, set up other ecological systems.

    • TH owners often are isolated and have limited neighbourly connection on the land that they lease

    • By nature of their limited house size, TH dwellers are often limited in their ability to have room for guests, home-based gatherings, enough storage space, etc.Description text goes here

    • Secure land tenure without land speculation

    • Community without isolation.

    • Retained affordability for future generations

    • Design that is in harmony ecological systems.

Ownership & Management Models Being Explored

We are currently exploring three possible ownership and management structures:

1. Community Land Trust (CLT)

A non-profit organisation owns the land permanently to ensure long-term affordability and ecological stewardship. Residents hold long-term lease rights.

2. Limited-Equity Cooperative

Residents (and possibly mission-aligned supporters) hold shares in a cooperative that owns the land and/or structures. Share values are capped to prevent speculation.

3. Layered Model (CLT + Cooperative)

A Community Land Trust owns the land, and a resident cooperative owns the homes and manages day-to-day operations. This model balances long-term affordability with resident empowerment.

We are seeking expressions of interest from:

    • Already own (or are building) a TH (or have a TH they wish to rent out)

    • Do not own land or other property

    • Can afford modest ongoing lease and community costs

    • Are interested in shared, community-based living text goes here

    • Have suitable, affordable land in Nelson or Tasman

    • Are open to donation, partnership, or patient sale

    • Want their land to serve a long-term social and ecological purpose

  • People with expertise in:

    • Property and development

    • Planning and consenting

    • Law and governance

    • Finance and charitable structures

    • Housing and community development

    • Environmental & permaculture design and regeneration

    • Want to contribute skills

    • Are curious about alternative housing models

    • Work in aligned fields

    • May be interested in helping shape this from the ground up

We are currently scouting for suitable land and hosting a series of in-person and online exploration events over the coming months.

  • Minimum 8 TH sites of approximately 200–400m²

  • Around 1,000–3,000m² of collective land & facilities

  • So, we are looking for land at least 7000m2

This is an early-stage concept. We are inviting interest and collaboration.

The Team

Aurora August

A property professional with experience across commercial management, public service, and independent development. She brings strong strategic and financial expertise to community-led housing, and is passionate about creating projects where people and nature can thrive together.

Zola Rose

A housing strategist and community development leader specialising in community land trusts and regenerative neighbourhoods. A researcher, advisor, facilitator, podcast host, and Earth Fellow, she brings international perspective and systems thinking to affordable housing innovation across Aotearoa and beyond.

Becka May-Marie

A kaupapa-driven community leader with over fifteen years’ experience across charities, social enterprise, and local government. Co-founder of Renew Brighton Trust, she brings strong facilitative leadership, project management expertise, and a lifelong commitment to regenerative, community-led development.