1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: New data on accommodation of Queenstown story. So far, we've 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: got reports of tourism operators this week buying up empty 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: hotels to help house staff because this is not a 4 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: new problem, of course. And this morning one roof has 5 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: an average house price now topping two million dollars average. 6 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust Chief executive Julie Scott's with 7 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: us on this July Very good morning to you. 8 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 2: Good morning Mike. 9 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: So in totality you're winning. 10 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 2: Or losing, Well, we would probably have to say that 11 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: we're losing. At the moment, we're thirteen hundred households on 12 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: our waiting list. It's a pretty tough ask when property 13 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 2: prices are coming in at two million on average. 14 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Airbnb story, is that a major factor in 15 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: all of this or not? In other words, houses largely empty? 16 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely it is. So. The last census STARTA told 17 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 2: us that twenty seven percent of homes in our district 18 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: are unoccupied. So we can certainly say that Airbnb and 19 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,959 Speaker 2: those other visitor accommodation platforms are having an impact on 20 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 2: long term rental properties for our local families. 21 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: They're purchasing of you, old hotels or whatever large bits 22 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: of accommodation by tourism operators. Is that a model? Is 23 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: that in some way, shape or form the future do 24 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: you think? 25 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 2: Look, it definitely forms part of the future. So it 26 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 2: has had a positive impact on the seasonal worker accommodation. 27 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 2: Certainly if you look at some of the big businesses 28 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 2: in town, likes have ended ski you really indeed in 29 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 2: Skyline have all bought motels and backpackers and been contributing 30 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: and providing accommodation for their own staff, so that that 31 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: can only be a positive impact. 32 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: How many rentals are available do you know right here, 33 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 1: right now, this morning? And do people have the money 34 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: for them? 35 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: Look, I don't have those details on me. 36 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: I don't care, but is everything tight? In other words, 37 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: if I turned up tomorrow to be a you know, 38 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: guy who works the ski lift at bucker Parper, it's 39 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: hard work. 40 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, you might find yourself down at the Frankton Beach 41 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: for a couple of nights before you sought out accommodation. 42 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 2: It is very tough, all right. 43 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: Mind you, it's not I can't see how it changes. 44 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: Duly because you're one of the most beautiful parts of 45 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: the world and in all beautiful parts of the world, 46 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: whether it be Aspen or you know, the Italian or 47 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: French helps. Life's expensive. That's what happens, isn't it. 48 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: That's right, But it's also about supply and deman so 49 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: we do need to ensure that this more housing supply 50 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: is available to those workers and the districtor who need it. 51 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: So there is a number of leavers and tools that 52 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 2: we can use to achieve that. We've always argued that 53 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: there's no one silver bullet. There are different tools that 54 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: we can use. 55 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 1: Good on you, Julie, have a good day. Appreciate it. 56 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: Julie Scott, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing. For more from the 57 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks. 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