The evidence is no longer anecdotal. Last night, about 100 people gathered at Queenstown’s waterfront in a peaceful protest to highlight the resort’s acute rental housing crisis — each one with a personal story to tell.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers was noticeable by his absence. However, Southland MP Joseph Mooney and Queenstown Lakes District Councillor Craig Ferguson attended.
Co-organiser Lindsay Waterfield called for urgent action to find housing solutions for the town’s desperately-needed workers, while fellow organiser Hannah Sullivan, a New Zealand resident, herself homeless, said along with highlighting the issue, she hoped people realised "you are not on your own".
"There are hundreds more. This is not OK.
"Queenstown makes so much money, why is it not getting put back into the people who are making it for the companies?
"It’s got to filter down."
His partner and her 16-year-old son, who was autistic, moved to be with him and initially the trio stayed at a backpackers.
They found accommodation with another family but were kicked out because the owner wanted to put it on Airbnb.
They had since moved twice more and now Mr Vohra’s partner and her son had returned to Christchurch.
While his employer had offered to help find long-term accommodation, he said he could not afford the rent — the price of a room in the resort was the same as his partner paid for an entire house.
He also had to factor in other expenses, including weekly visits to Christchurch.
He was showering at a gym but considered himself fortunate to work nights, meaning he could "sleep under some trees during the day".
"The only problem is when it rains, then I have to go to the library or something."
Cr Ferguson said it was "disappointing" he was the only elected member to attend last night’s protest.
He said he had a "little bit of a lump in my throat" listening to the stories and seeing first-hand the faces of those affected.
Queenstown was "built on greed" in the gold rush days, and that was still permeating the community, he said.
"These are the people affected [by it]. I’m going home to a nice log burner. Some of these people are going home to a car. That is unacceptable.
"We’ve got to find that lever that makes life better for them... we can’t dismiss this."
