Villages in New Zealand vary greatly – in size, location, on-site offerings, ownership, philosophy and of course price – so it comes down to choosing the village that best suits your needs.
Before you get your heart set on any particular village or unit, spend plenty of time studying your options. Here are some questions to help you get started on your journey:
Starting the journey
- Did you know entry age varies widely across villages? Check you/your partner meet entry age criteria. Is the village registered? Not all villages have to be and there are pros and cons with each option. See retirement.govt.nz
- Is its accreditation certificate current? See www.retirementvillages.org.nz Who owns the village (a listed company, a not-for-profit trust or private partnership)? How might this affect you?
- Do the owners have experience operating or developing other villages? Are they reputable?
- Who manages the village? Are they and their staff suitably qualified?
- Does the village require a statutory supervisor? What is their role?
- What is the maintenance schedule? Can residents have input about what is included?
- Is the village finished? If not, could you handle the noise and mess of ongoing construction or expansion? What if it never gets finished?
- How are concerns or complaints addressed? What is the process and timeframe?
Find more helpful articles about how to choose the best retirement village for you on our Knowledge Lab. Alternatively, download our checklist to help you on your search.
Updated: 14 Nov 2024