We’re considering changing Butterfly Compassion Community’s lease for the Council-owned property at 82 Waldegrave Street from a commercial lease to a community occupancy lease.
Submissions have now closed. Thank you to everyone who shared their views. Elected members will consider all feedback before making a decision at an upcoming committee meeting.
Community occupancy leases give reduced rent to organisations that provide services and benefits to the community.
Butterfly Compassion Community is a Palmerston North charity supporting vulnerable individuals, families, and whānau across the wider Manawatū region. It has leased the property since 1 April 2025. Since then, it has expanded its community-focused services from the site and told us it’s experiencing affordability pressures.
We recognise the value the organisation provides to the community, so we’re proposing to move it to a community occupancy lease under our Support and Funding Policy.
If approved, the rent would reduce to $650 + GST per year.
As a temporary measure, we’ve halved the charity’s current commercial rent from 1 June 2026. If the proposed community occupancy lease is approved, this temporary reduction would end and the new lease arrangement would begin.
Read the full Council report about the proposed lease change