Retirement Villages' Residents' Council

About us

Our objectives

Our Values

In our work on the council, we will:


Be impartial and fair


Be collaborative


Be evidence-led


Act with integrity

 


Our Vision

Contributing to a fair and sustainable retirement village sector that meets the needs of residents.


Our mission

To act as an independent body representing the interests of retirement village residents. 


The Retirement Villages' Residents' Council is an independent body representing the collective interests of retirement village residents in Aotearoa, New Zealand. It strives to be an inclusive environment where resident concerns can be addressed, opinions can be given, ideas can be shared, and decisions made.


The Council provides an opportunity for retirement village residents to share and express their views to retirement village stakeholders, including the Retirement Village Association. 

Read our Terms of Reference

Jane Quinn

Administrator

Council members

All Council members must:

- live in a retirement village; and

- be nominated by a retirement village residents’ committee or by at least two retirement village residents.


Council members are volunteers and do not receive any payment for their service.


Carol Shepherd

Chair & Council member

Papamoa Sands Lifestyle Village, Chair, Residents’ Village Committee

 

Experienced not-for-profit director, Carol was nominated for the Council by 3 village resident committees.

She has held senior management positions and is very experienced in change operations and restructuring, sales and marketing, and human resources. She holds two post graduate diplomas and a Masters in facilitation.

 

“I like to be involved and contribute.”

Denise Whitehead

Council member

Greenwood Park, Tauranga, resident’s advocate at a care facility.
 
Denise spent 32 years involved with retirement village management. (She last served on the Retirement Villages Association executive in 1998.)

As a 10-year resident she now uses her knowledge of villages to benefit residents - she was elected to her village resident committee 2020-2023 and was her village residents' committee chair 2022 and 2023.
 
“ I would like to ensure better relationships between residents and their village operations and management structures.”

John Mills

Council member

Lockerbie Village Residents' Committee

 

John was nominated by his residents’ committee. Retired Chartered Accountant, and electoral officer for Waipa District Council for 9 years . 

I bring a large range of knowledge and understanding of the very diverse fiscal drivers that exists within the retirement sector.

I am involved with a National Sustainable Home and Community Support Sector to provide care for those who reside in their own homes. I have served on a number of committees including a cumulative 25 years representing timeshare owners on body corporate committees.


 


Julie Shepherd

Council member

Summerset Wigram, Christchurch, Residents’ Association Secretary.

 

Former occupational therapist for 30 years, Julie was elected to the CDHB Consumer Council as the Women's Health representative and was on the committee for GreyPower. She has held many voluntary roles. 

 

“I’m passionate about village life and the workings in all aspects”.

 


Richard Shallcrass

Council member

Queenstown Country Club, Queenstown

 

Former career diplomat, Richard has also served in Treasury, the Commission for the Environment and the Royal Commission on Sterilisation and Abortion. He is an artist and author of 2 books.

 Richard is a member of the QCC Village Residents Association.


“I have an in-depth knowledge of regulatory frameworks.”

 


Lynette Jordan

Council member

Lynette Jordan brings extensive experience in public service, community leadership, and volunteer coordination to her role within the Retirement Villages Residents Council.


Over a 23‑year career in the New Zealand prison service — including a decade in senior leadership as Superintendent — Lynette contributed to national policy development, supported legislation through Select Committee processes, and helped shape operational policy into law.


Now living in the Freedom Lifestyle Village at Rotorua Lakes.

Tom Parsons

Associate member

Ranfurly Village

Auckland

Deborah Bradley

Associate member

Breem Bay

Ruakaka

Frequently asked questions

  • How is the Council funded?

    The Council is funded by the the Retirement Villages Association of New Zealand, but operates independently. 


    The Retirement Villages Association of New Zealand Inc  is a membership association representing 96% (by unit numbers) of all the operators, developers and managers of retirement villages throughout New Zealand. 


    Please review our terms of reference for more information. 

  • How is the Council selected?

    Council members must live in a retirement village, be nominated by a village resident committee or at least 2 retirement village residents. 


    Council members are actively interested in representing their fellow residents of retirement villages and represent the diversity of those living in retirement villages.



  • Is the Council independent?

    Yes, whilst funded by the Retirement Villages Association, (RVA) the Council is independent and represents the collective interests of retirement village residents.  That independence is required in the Council's terms of reference.  


    The Council can express its opinions, including publicly, without any expectation or control from any party, including the Retirement Villages Association.


    The RVA has no say at all in what the Council does with its budget.  It does not receive agendas or minutes of meetings or direct the Council.



    Please review our terms of reference for more information. 

  • How does the Council know what residents want?

    Council members are all residents themselves and actively engage with community views. They travel nationwide to hear concerns firsthand, conduct regular surveys, review sector research, and meet frequently with stakeholders.




  • Does the Council support the full legislative review?

    Yes

  • What's the objective of the Council?

    The terms of reference for the Council set out five key objectives  - communication, supporting the the implementation of best practices, to put the interests of residents at the heart of every decision, to act as a conduit between residents, management and Retirement Villages Association members and to seek opportunities for positive change on issues that affect retirement village residents.

  • Will you deal with complaints about my village?

    No - that is not the role of the Council.  


    Every village is required by law to have processes that enable complaints and disputes to be solved.  Your first point of contact is with your village to try and reach a resolution of the issues.  But if that doesn't work, the matter can be escalated.  


    Information is available on the Retirement Commission website on the processes and resources available to you:  https://retirement.govt.nz/retirement-villages/complaints-and-disputes/