TinyHome Eco-Neighbourhood, Te Tauihu

Exploring Secure, Affordable Housing and Regenerative Connected Living

The Common Ground Community Development team are exploring the feasibility of creating an affordable, ecological TinyHome neighbourhood in Te Tauihu (Nelson–Tasman).

This initiative brings together:

  • Tiny Homes (TH)

  • Retained affordable living

  • Shared land ownership and resident-management models

  • Long-term housing security

  • Community-focused neighbourhood design

  • Ecological stewardship and sustainability

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

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

Why This Project?

The Vision

We are exploring a small starting project of:

  • Minimum 8 TH sites of approximately 200–400m²

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

  • Cohousing-style 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.

  • Permaculture designed and regenerative land-use and circular waste, water, and energy 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:

    • 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.

    • 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

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.