‘A firmer approach is coming’: Mackenzie mayor offers warning as accommodation providers target Tekapo
Thursday, 16 April 2026
A Christchurch-based short-term accommodation provider actively promoting property investment in Lake Tekapo, as pressure on the district’s housing stock continues to mount, has prompted a warning from the mayor.
But the company said it wanted to help find a solution to housing issues in the district and had asked the council to help.
A video advertisement, posted on social media by Ohana Properties, sought potential investors to buy property in the “very profitable” Tekapo market.
The property management company, which used Airbnb for short-term stays, promoted its property investment model as a hands-off pathway to wealth, encouraging buyers to purchase homes and convert them into high-yield short-term rentals.
Mackenzie mayor Scott Aronsen said he was at a community board meeting on Tuesday and people were “not happy” about the number of small units and short-term accommodation cropping up in Tekapo.
“There’s some concern that Tekapo is going to end up with large numbers of … small units … adding additional loading on our sewage system and on our water system,” Aronsen said, adding that they did not have the capacity to deal with that.
“I’ve got a pretty clear message from them, and a number of community members that … are not very happy about what’s happening in Tekapo.”
Aronsen said the council had hired a new compliance officer who would be looking into the matter.
“If it’s found out that someone’s gone ahead and put a unit in and they’re renting it out as short-term visitor accommodation, they may well get banged for developer contributions,” he said.
“If you’re told by the council that you’ve got to fork out another $20-odd-k, people are going to get pretty upset.“
The district’s housing challenges are no secret. Just last month they made headlines after councillors were told a council role had been unable to be filled and housing had been one of the key hurdles to recruitment.
Short-term rental listings on various booking platforms number about 800 across Twizel and Tekapo.
Aronsen said he was also concerned the council’s targeted tourism rate created an unfair and unsustainable situation.
The rate required hotels, motels, and compliant operators to contribute to infrastructure costs.
Many parts of Lake Tekapo no longer operate on a single dwelling rental basis but rather multi-unit accommodation, effectively functioning as motel-style complexes within residential zones, he said.
Aronsen said many of those were operating outside the intent of planning rules and building use classifications.
“This creates a double imbalance: They are not subject to the same regulatory framework, [and] they are not consistently paying the same level of rates.”
While Aronsen acknowledged the importance of short-term accommodation, he said operators running commercial-scale accommodation should be subject to appropriate rules and rating treatment.
He said a firmer approach to short-term accommodation was coming.
“It will be done properly, through the rating system and regulatory alignment, with clear expectations.”
An Ohana Properties spokesperson was aware of concerns about its marketing for Tekapo, but said it was just one facet of the company.
Ohana was formed in 2018, and began offering services in Tekapo in 2023 when the family-run business bought a holiday house in Tekapo, they said.
“Tekapo wasn’t a strategic expansion for us, it’s a market we entered as property owners firstly. Our growth there came naturally from being part of the community and already working in the management space.”
The company lists about 40 short-term accommodation options in Tekapo, ranging from $270 to $2000 per night.
The spokesperson said tourism was the backbone of the Mackenzie and encouraging responsible investment could create benefits to the local economy.
“It’s also important to note that we’re not separate from the community. Through the properties we own in Tekapo, we are a significant ratepayer. So we are directly contributing back to the district and the infrastructure that supports it.”
They said they were aware of housing pressures in the region, and while notably smaller than other companies, wanted to be part of the solution.
“We’ve purchased land in Burkes Pass (around 15 minutes from Tekapo) with plans to develop worker accommodation, and we would welcome support from council to make developments like this easier to deliver.”
They said they were open to conversations around commercial rates, levies, or other approaches and expressed a desire to meet to discuss this.
“We’re open to working constructively with council and others to ensure tourism continues to support the region in a sustainable way. The management companies in Tekapo should meet to discuss how we can contribute financially to the community.”
Aronsen said there were plans to address the worker accommodation shortage in the district, and he had been in discussion with developers.
He said the council would review spatial planning in Fairlie, Lake Tekapo, and Twizel to ensure sufficient, usable land was available for development.
It also aimed to seek investment partners and work with developers to enable development, ensuring adequate housing for workers who support the district.
“That is not optional. It is fundamental,” Aronsen said.