Providing affordable, quality housing solutions for a stronger community.

First established in 2018, the Waiheke Community Housing Trust is a charitable trust formed by a proactive group of community members determined to make a difference for Waiheke families.

Every year, Waiheke loses affordable housing and it becomes harder to replace. This means rising prices for rental accommodation and long-term residents being pushed off the island, eroding our community of families and skilled and essential workers.

We’re taking action to solve the island’s housing crisis by providing affordable, quality housing solutions. And we’re doing that by working within the community - with the landowners, landlords, residents, and regulators - to make the best use of what we have, while finding ways to build more of what we need.

WCHT envisions a future where our efforts lead to a more inclusive and thriving island community, where everyone has access to affordable and secure housing

Aims of the Housing Trust:

• To add affordable, quality homes to Waiheke’s housing stock.

• To partner with property owners to create options for more long-term affordable, quality rentals.

• To advocate for changes necessary to make developing and providing affordable, quality housing easier.

Teresa Quin

Chairperson

Teresa is a long-term resident of Waiheke, one of multiple generations. She has seen the housing crisis develop with a dramatic decline in affordable housing over the last five years. Teresa is involved in food rescue and supporting vulnerable people on the island and witnesses the devastating effects of the housing shortage on families, workers, and long-term residents who rely on renting their homes. 

Teresa is highly motivated to be part of the solution.

Nora West

Trustee

Nora has lived between Waiheke and Auckland City since 1985. She bought her first property here on the island in 1992 for $32k. She has been a community activist, artist, and banner-maker working in the fields of prison and mental health. Nora was the Arts Manager for the KRd Business Association and is a member of Upcycle Redesign,  an island-based craft collective.

Mike Davis

Trustee

Mike has forty years’ experience in construction in hands-on building and technical design. Since 2016 his work has been focused on delivering social housing, community and public infrastructure. Mike moved to Waiheke just prior to the WCHT's inception in 2017. On Waiheke, the housing situation has deteriorated in that time, and the lack of affordable housing on our island is leading to poor health outcomes and a lack of community resilience - but two of the negative effects on individuals, and on our community.

Craig Brown

Trustee

Craig has lived on Waiheke since 2004 with his partner and two secondary school-aged children. Although they now live the good life on a big steep block of land richly covered by gorse and chickens, his life began in a boarding house with his mother. By the age of eight, he’d lived in at least six different homes, all with significant flaws (one home was burgled six times in just one year). Craig has seen far too many people leave the island for economic and housing-related reasons, including medical workers, teachers, and other essential members of a strong and functioning community.

Craig is determined that the WCHT will increase the supply of affordable, quality housing on Waiheke in ways that are both suitable for our community and that are repeatable or scalable. He brings to his trustee role his background as an on-site wastewater and stormwater engineer and the accompanying knowledge of building, planning, and consenting systems.

Steph Cox

Trustee

Steph is an experienced occupational therapist and educator with a particular interest in disability rights and improving accessibility of buildings. She has worked in various settings, serving individuals of all ages and addressing a wide range of disabilities. While maintaining her practice, she completed her Master's and PhD degrees. She is passionate about improving services and advocating for societal change.

Damian Sycamore

General Manager

Damian lives on Waiheke with his partner and young family. He moved here permanently in 2018, but his connection to the island stretches back over 30 years.

He brings his experience gained from working in the tech industry - specialising in operations, software, and construction - to take the lead in executing the Trust’s vision. He handles all aspects of project management, property management, advocacy strategies, and public relations.

Damian gets that Waiheke’s housing situation is complicated, but he firmly believes it’s solvable now and for the long term. He knows this requires a total community effort, and is committed to bringing everyone along.

General Enquiries

Contact our team by submitting this general enquiries form.