Manawatū-Whanganui

Why choose a retirement village in Manawatū-Whanganui?

If you’re looking for a varied lifestyle, Manawatū-Whanganui might just be the place for you with mountains, city, and sea all within reach.

Sitting at the mouth of the Whanganui River, steeped in history and the longest navigable waterway in the country, Whanganui has been shaped by its relationship with the river but is now also known for its thriving creative arts scene.

Just an hour’s drive away, you’ll find the region’s largest centre of Palmerston North, home to Massey University and a strong agricultural community. Sporting fans will enjoy regular visits to the New Zealand Rugby Museum, where the grandchildren (and you) can try out your tackling skills and learn more about the history of our national game.

The wider region is a great jumping-off spot for most of the North Island: whether you are taking a day trip to the National Park, beaches or ski fields, or want to take advantage of the ‘lock and leave’ lifestyle of a retirement village and travel further afield across the motu.

A retirement village is a community specially built to cater for the needs and lifestyle of older people. Choosing to live in a retirement village can be a great option for those wanting to maintain their independence while living among a like-minded community of people.

Research shows most people enjoy a high level of satisfaction when living in a lifestyle or retirement village. For residents, the benefits can be numerous; these may include giving you peace of mind, new and varied activities and interests, new friendships, and time to be able to spend on the things you most enjoy.

Villages vary greatly – you’ll notice different-sized villages, from very few units to some with hundreds; different types of units within the same complex; newer villages and older villages. You will discover the community offering a wide range such as swimming pool, bowling green and café. Eligibility age differs across villages too – some villages may allow residents to enter at 55 while others commonly have an entry age between 65 and 75.

As well as providing a range of different accommodation options, many villages now offer alternatives, such as care suites, which combine village offerings and residential care components. Make sure you visit a village more than once before you make a decision, and if possible visit more than one village to get a feel for how each has its own culture.

When you are ready to visit some retirement villages, our checklist may help you with your assessment.