Cohousing: an enduring idea but is it a new opportunity for older people?

New Zealand’s housing stock is relatively homogenous, poorly aligned with changing population needs and growing household diversity. There is evidence of problems in the delivery of appropriate housing for the ageing population. Although cohousing is not common in New Zealand, it may be a way of extending and improving housing options for older people, particularly for those with limited resources and reliant on the rental market. Overseas, various studies conclude that, for senior cohousing to become a viable, affordable and accessible choice, it requires a broad infrastructure of support, including cooperation between planning and regulatory agencies, developers (private or not-for-profit) and householders. In the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region a number of strategic and organisational processes have been established that could support exploration of the potential demand and opportunities for cohousing and other forms of collective housing as solutions for affordable senior housing.