Host Zola Rose interviews Trystan and Stephanie from the Peterborough Housing Cooperative to discuss this housing model that is a rarity in Aotearoa NZ (a more common model in Europe).

They explore how the cooperative structure, owned by a Trust, keeps rents affordable and fosters a close-knit community of families, young professionals, and the elderly.

They talk about the cooperative's guiding principles and their commitment to maintaining affordability for future generations by capping rents and resale prices.

The episode also details the process of joining the cooperative, the benefits of living in such a community, and the challenges that other groups will face if trying to start their own cooperative housing--challenges due to the dominant systems that make land expensive and finance hard to obtain.

They speak about their conflict resolution process that is built into the guiding document but that people who are accepted to be members already have a willingness to be cooperative.

Because of the complexity, they do offer mentorship and guidance for groups wishing to create their own cohousing or cooperative housing.

Zola shares updates on the Women Revolutionising Housing hui and network, how listeners can support the podcast through the Homefullness Patreon community, and her Earth Fellows fellowship for regenerative housing.

Zola thanks the show sponsor, Home Foundation.  https://homefoundation.org.nz/

To learn about the legal routes to unlock cooperative housing in Aotearoa NZ, check out the Homefullness episode of 28 March 2025 and the Common Ground YouTube channel.

Links mentioned in the show: 

https://peterborough.nz/

https://www.commonground.net.nz/

https://thehousinginnovationsociety.com/

https://www.earthsong.org.nz/

https://www.cohousingco.com/charles-durrett

09:39 Living in Peterborough Housing Cooperative

16:55 Challenges and Benefits of Cooperative Living

34:31 Future Projects and Community Expansion

48:53 Final Thoughts and Invitation to Visit