Housing, Growth, & Rethinking Workforce Needs in Queenstown Lakes & Central Otago

Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago are growing fast. More people are moving to the region, more visitors are arriving each year, and more businesses are opening or expanding. This growth brings jobs and economic opportunity, but it also places pressure on housing, infrastructure, and the local workforce. As a result, employers are facing a dual challenge: housing shortages make it hard to attract staff, and rising demand makes it hard to operate with existing teams. 

Housing remains one of the biggest barriers to attracting workers. Queenstown Lakes has some of the highest rents and house prices in New Zealand, and long-term rentals are very limited. Central Otago is slightly more affordable but is also experiencing rising rents and tight supply in key towns such as Cromwell and Alexandra. At the same time, many roles in tourism, hospitality, healthcare, construction, and retail do not pay enough to match housing costs. For many potential workers, the decision is simple: they cannot take a job if they cannot find a place to live. 

As population and business growth continue, competition for housing is expected to increase. This puts employers under pressure to recruit more staff to meet demand, even when doing so is difficult, costly, or unsustainable. High turnover, short staffing, and repeated recruitment cycles are now common, especially during peak seasons. 

In this environment, many employers are starting to ask a different question: before hiring another staff member, can work be done more efficiently? This is where better use of digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) can play a role. AI is not a replacement for people, but it can help businesses reduce pressure on staff by automating routine tasks, improving scheduling, managing bookings, handling customer enquiries, and supporting administration. 

For example, AI-powered systems can manage rostering, answer common customer questions, process bookings, or analyse demand patterns. This can reduce the need for additional front-line or support staff, especially in peak periods. In professional services, construction, and back-office roles, AI tools can assist with reporting, document preparation, compliance checks, and project planning, allowing existing staff to focus on higher-value work. 

Using AI more effectively can help businesses grow without relying solely on hiring more people in a region where housing is scarce. It can also improve job quality by reducing burnout and workload pressure on existing employees, making roles more attractive and sustainable. 

That said, AI is not a full solution. Essential services, hands-on roles, and customer-facing jobs will always need people. However, by first looking at productivity gains through technology, employers can be more strategic about when new hires are truly necessary and when smarter systems can meet demand instead. 

Local councils and government agencies are already linking housing to economic growth through plans such as the Queenstown Lakes Joint Housing Action Plan and the proposed Regional Deal for Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes. These plans focus on aligning housing supply, infrastructure, and workforce needs as the region grows. A similar joined-up approach is needed at the business level—where workforce planning considers housing realities, growth expectations, and the smart use of technology together. 

As Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago continue to grow, success will depend on doing more than simply adding staff. Making better use of AI, improving productivity, and being realistic about housing constraints will help businesses stay resilient, support their teams, and grow in a way that works for the region as a whole. 

For help mapping your strategic staffing needs, contact the team at EASI NZ.