Call for Council Members

Call for Council Members


Last year the Retirement Villages’ Residents’ Council was formed to be a voice for residents, with strong links to both residents and operators for the benefit of those living in retirement villages. The Council members' terms will all be at an end 10 October, so the Council is calling for residents to be nominated for the Council.


All nominated residents will ideally be put forward by a resident committee, but can also be nominated by two other residents. Last year, the chair was delighted by the large number of high calibre applicants who wanted to be on the Council. That enabled a Council that was diverse and representative of those living in retirement villages. This year, we expect a similar response and with the new criteria that residents can only be nominated by resident committees or other residents, the Council’s representative nature will be bolstered. 


The independent chair of the Council, Deborah Hart will make appointments by early October.


To apply, click HERE

Council Helps Drive New Complaints Scheme for Residents

by Deborah Hart • 29 July 2025
The Residents’ Council made formal submissions and met with the designer of a new complaints scheme for residents, advocating strongly for a fairer and clearer complaints scheme. The Council was also able to meet with operators to explain how a fair and independent complaints scheme could work to the benefit of all. Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson has said "the system needed changing." “The existing complaints and disputes system does not meet best-practice standards, and both the Retirement Commission and Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development want to address these issues as part of the broader sector review under way,” Read full article HERE

Have Your Say: New Survey on Occupation Rights Agreements

by Deborah Hart • 25 July 2025
We want to know what residents think and we are always looking for ways to better understand resident needs. So the Retirement Villages’ Residents’ Council this week invited residents to take part in a short survey about Occupation Rights Agreements — specifically, what matters most when it comes to getting your money back after the agreement ends. Many residents have raised concerns about covering costs after they leave their village or when their estate is managing financial matters. This anonymous survey, conducted by independent firm Talbot Mills Research, will help ensure residents’ voices are heard on this important issue. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and will remain open for around a week.  As a thank you, everyone who completes it will go into the draw to win one of three $100 Prezzy Cards. (Contact details are only used for the prize draw and are kept separate from survey responses.) You can take part in the survey and please share this with other village residents — every voice counts. Take the survey HERE