Rakaia is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Ashburton, one of 21 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Rakaia is the 7th largest suburb of Ashburton in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Rakaia provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1880 - 1889. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 2000 - 2009. Residential housing stock in Rakaia is made up of approximately 77% residential housing , 1% residential investment housing and 22% lifestyle properties.