Building a home to house 14 people aged 65-plus who might not otherwise have the means to secure quality accommodation in their older years is what motivates a Katikati group doing just that.

Abbeyfield Western Bay of Plenty has secured a 2020m2 section on Wills Rd in Katikati to build a large family-style house for senior residents with modest or no assets.

The house will offer a private studio with ensuite to each resident, with a communal lounge, dining area and laundry and gardens to share. A paid housekeeper will prepare two meals daily and keep an eye on residents' wellbeing. Breakfasts will be self-serve, plus volunteers will maintain the grounds.

Abbeyfield WBOP chair Carole Parker says some locals heard of the Abbeyfield house concept – New Zealand has 14 Abbeyfield houses – and the not-for-profit registered charity was formed and is working hard to make Katikati's house become a reality.

'The Abbeyfield model is a bit like flatting for older people. It provides affordable, respectful, community living for independent older people, with modest or no assets in a supportive, safe, thriving and caring environment.”

This all-inclusive living is affordable on superannuation and includes power, food, maintenance, WiFi, accommodation and a sinking fund for future maintenance. 'There is no license to occupy, no capital contribution, no long-term contract.”

With land secured, Abbeyfield WBOP has engaged Frank Reintjes as project manager. 'Frank is experienced in developing large builds throughout NZ as well as other Abbeyfield Houses.

'We've also finalised our architect's brief and are about to commission concept plans with more accurate costings for all aspects of the work.”

The group's fundraising arm is aiming to raise $1 million – with charitable trusts and philanthropic organisations willing to support the project once this goal is met.

Carole says the project does not have a confirmed price-tag yet due to plans still being worked on but the need for such accommodation in Katikati is high.

'We already have a waiting list of prospective tenants who want to live in the house and we haven't even started building it yet.”

Carole says statistically, people aged 65-plus who have no or limited assets are pretty much living on their Superannuation, making it difficult to access good quality, affordable rentals.

'Often what happens is some older people put up with less-than-perfect housing – or they struggle, have to live with family or friends, or in less-than-satisfactory conditions.

'This problem is getting worse because many older people in that generation don't like to complain, so they put up with it.”

A Western Bay of Plenty District Council report on elder housing identifies increasing demand for rental housing for over-65s. This is predicted to increase by 182 per cent by 2047.

Carole says government focus for housing is on families – 'I can understand that, and it is important that families have good accommodation, but in the older generation there's a growing percentage of people in the position of not being able to have quality, affordable housing”.

'Everyone thinks all Baby Boomers own their own homes – that's not correct. Many rely on rentals. An added problem is the increase in sale of rental properties, which has greatly reduced availability.”

Carole says Katikati's Abbeyfield House, once built, will be self-funding. 'We will not need ongoing revenue support.”

Abbeyfield WBOP has fundraisers underway and several large events planned late-2022/early 2023.

The next fundraiser is a Tupperware Expo on tomorrow, March 26, at St Pius Catholic Church, 89 Beach Rd, Katikati, from 10am-3pm. To find out more about Katikati Abbeyfield or to donate funds directly to this project, email chairperson Carole Parker at: abbeyfieldwbop.chair@gmail.com or phone 0274579686.