Trust Variation Bill introduced to Parliament
The South Island’s largest non-government provider of community and affordable housing welcomes an important next step in its journey to help more communities.
The Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (Trust Variation) Bill was introduced to Parliament by Wigram MP Megan Woods today (December 17, 2025).
The Private Bill seeks to remove the geographical restrictions included in Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust’s (ŌCHT’s) founding Deed.
The Deed restricts ŌCHT to working in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, limiting the extent to which it can help underserved communities elsewhere.
ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney says the Bill's introduction brings the Trust closer to applying its sector leading solutions wherever they are needed.
“It’s a crucial first step in unlocking the potential of our Christchurch-grown response to help address the affordable housing challenge across the South Island.
“Local councils and regional agencies have expressed interest in ŌCHT providing and managing affordable housing solutions in their areas.
“The Bill gives us the strategic freedom to respond to those calls, and to grow as an asset for the people of Christchurch and our regional neighbours.”
The Greater Christchurch Partnership's Joint Housing Action Plan identifies the need to expand ŌCHT’s successful model to serve the city’s regional neighbours.
The Christchurch City Council voted to support the move last year.
“We sincerely thank MP Megan Woods for her sponsorship and acknowledge the ongoing support from the Christchurch City Council and the Greater Christchurch Partnership,” Cate says.
“We look forward to extending our absolute commitment to our tenants, householders and homes in Christchurch to also support regional communities as we tackle the affordable housing challenge."
ŌCHT manages and maintains more than 2400 homes serving more than 2700 community and affordable housing tenants across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
It is also a community and affordable housing developer that has invested more than $70 million to deliver more than 360 new homes across the city since 2019.
