People power revives Rai Valley

Nelson

A new 18-section subdivision was sparked by one man who harnessed community spirit, reports Laura Basham.

Rai Valley's newly completed subdivision is proof that determined individuals can make a difference.

What began as one man's idea to help keep the rural community from stagnating has led to an 18-lot subdivision.

Kevin Parker is the driving force behind the project.

His idea inspired others in the community who have raised more than $1 million to make it a reality.

Now the subdivision work is finished, they finally gained title on Friday. Fourteen of the 18 sections are sold and the building of new homes is about to begin.

Mr Parker saw an opportunity when 22.5ha of Murray Bryant's dairy farm came up for sale three years ago.

Mr Parker and his family moved from Christchurch to Nelson 12 years ago, then bought a Ronga Valley property.

He is a community-minded person, doing his bit on the school board of trustees and was head of Rai's Progress League.

"However, it did not make much progress," he said.

"We lost the visiting doctor and dental services, and things were stagnating.

"Whenever we looked at what we can do, it always came back to population."

He estimates Rai's population at 400.

"Forty years ago there were six or seven people per household, but now there are three.

"There used to be lots of people but now there is not, and that's modern life."

He figured that to keep the village vibrant it needed to expand, and the Bryant land behind the village was a prime opportunity.

"This is pretty much the only way it can go because the river is on the other side."

Mr Parker bought the land for $420,000.

"Having leapt in and bought it, I had to find the money, so I just asked local people."

He found plenty of support, including from several members of the Rai Valley Social Soccer Club who signed up.

The eight who became shareholders in a company they formed, Artisan Land Ltd, came up with the purchase price between them.

Besides Mr Parker, who looks after the Pelorus Lodge grounds in Havelock, and his wife, Alison, there is Vivienne Curtis, who ran the soccer club and whose husband, Adrian, is a heavy machinery supplier and on the emergency services centre committee; Catherine Ria, who was in the Rai fire brigade and with husband Barry is now working in mines in Australia to save money to build their house in the subdivision; Kelly Hawkins, who is also on the emergency services committee and with husband Phil runs the Rai service station; Barbara and Neil Elson, who were sharemilkers in Rai, now working on an organic farm in England and keen to return to the valley; Paula Kerslake, who works at the school and whose partner, Jonathan Hodges, chairs the board of trustees and works in aquaculture; plus school caretaker Ben Verhoeff and his wife, Netty.

"It's the sort of community where everybody is involved in everything.

"They are just good people in the community," said Mr Parker.

The group then raised more than $1 million for the project.

The shareholders wanted to use local people where possible to do the work, and found Nelson firm Fico Finance willing to help.

Mike Edridge Contracting, from Pelorus Bridge, built the subdivision.

Eight of the sections have gone to the shareholders, six others are sold and there is interest in the remaining four. The lots range from 4100 to 4800sq m and are priced from $130,000 to $150,000.

Buyers include local people who are renting, local investors, residents keen to stay in the area who would like a new house, and people drawn to Rai.

"There is no land left in the village and there has not been for a number of years," said Mr Parker.

Harcourts salesperson Tania Lawrence said the subdivision was fantastic for the area because there was a real housing shortage.

"I sold a three-bedroom house on a quarter acre the other day and it was on the market just one day. There are no other houses on the market at all.

"The buyer is from Whangarei and he just wants to live in the top of the south. People give Rai Valley a lot of stick but where else can you buy an acre section for under $150,000?"

Mr Parker reckons the new housing has to be good for the village.

"It's good for the school and businesses. We need a critical mass to keep the services and keep the village vibrant, and hopefully that's what we are providing."

Rai Valley Trading owner Hugh Berry said the community saw the subdivision as a good thing because it would bring people into the area, and because of the housing shortage.

A grand opening with a ribbon-cutting and barbecue is planned in a month.

"It's very exciting," Mr Parker said. "We are a complete pack of amateurs but we are amateurs who have been guided by experts.

"It is a bigger project than we knew when we started, and only realised how ambitious it was as we went along.

"Looking at its successful conclusion, it is deeply satisfying."

He expects to be looking at the completed houses a year from now.

"We have built a place that we would like to live in and know that there are other people who share that vision. We will be very pleased to have them as neighbours."