Our August Newsletter is available HERE .  You can subscribe by emailing: info@residentscouncil.org.nz with the subject "Subscribe to Newsletter", we will then add you to our database for updates/newsletters.

The Retirement Villages' Residents’ Council believes reforms are needed that ensure sustainability and fairness – protecting resident choice and assets while safeguarding the long-term viability of all kinds of villages. The Council says its engagement with residents shows that the vast majority are happy with village life, but improvements are needed to ensure fairness and consistency across the sector. Villages serve more than 53,000 New Zealanders, ranging from large listed companies to small rural charitable facilities. With an ageing population, the importance of getting the balance right is crucial. The Council has been engaging with residents to understand their needs via research meetings and village visits. Key Council proposals include: Occupation Rights Agreements (ORAs): Mandatory capital repayment within six months of ORA termination for new contracts. Interest paid on amounts owing after three months for existing contracts. For all contracts: cessation of weekly fees once a resident vacates Operators responsible for ensuring residents can move to care (including interest-free loans and fast payouts if necessary). Later repayment only if a village faces genuine financial hardship. Standardised ORAs: Introduction of a basic ORA across all operators to enable easier comparison and informed decision-making. No retrospective changes to existing ORAs, recognising the contractual commitments already made. Complaints Scheme: A fair, accessible and independent complaints scheme, funded by operators, to protect residents. The Council has worked closely with the Retirement Commissioner’s investigation and broadly supports its proposed scheme. Other points: Fixtures and fittings: “You own it – you fix it.” Capital gains and losses: if residents don’t share in gains, they should not share in losses. These changes will strengthen protections for residents, provide clarity and consistency across the sector, and ensure villages can continue to meet the diverse needs of New Zealand’s growing ageing population.

The entire governing body of the Retirement Villages' Residents’ Council was hosted by the Minister for Seniors, Hon. Casey Costello at the Beehive this week. She was joined by officials keen to understand the work of the Council. We updated the Minister on our work advocating for the interests of retirement village residents across New Zealand. The discussion was constructive and underscored the importance of ensuring residents’ voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives. The Council will continue to keep the Minister informed as we progress our work.

Nominations Now Open – Help Lead the Voice of Retirement Village Residents The Retirement Villages’ Residents’ Council is calling for nominations to join its governing body. The Council is an independent voice representing the collective interests of retirement village residents across New Zealand. It provides a platform where residents’ concerns are heard, ideas are shared, and informed decisions are made. Working closely with stakeholders – including residents, the Retirement Villages Association and Government – the Council offers guidance on policy matters affecting the sector. We are seeking residents who are interested in policy, can reflect their fellow residents’ views impartially, and have mana in their village community. Whether you are on a residents’ committee or simply want to contribute your perspective, your voice matters. Council members meet up to once a month, with travel and accommodation costs covered. There is no cost to you or your village – just your time and commitment. Your costs of attending meetings are paid. Nominations must be made by a residents’ committee or by at least 2 residents. If you would like to be part of shaping the future for retirement village residents, complete the nomination form here and send it to info@residentscouncil.org.nz by 5pm, Friday 19 September 2025.

Council members Carol Shepherd (L) and Denise Whitehead (R) met with their local BOP MP Tom Rutherford on Monday 4 Aug to update him on the work of the Council, our position of the review of legislation and urging support to hasten the review process.

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

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

Insights from Residents It is important for the Council to understand what residents want. Council members are all residents themselves and actively engage with other residents, including traveling nationwide to hear concerns firsthand, conducting regular surveys, reviewing research, and meeting frequently with stakeholders. If you want a Council member to visit at your village, click HERE . To ensure more understanding of what residents want, the Council has now appointed research company Talbot Mills to undertake research on Occupation Rights Agreements. To take part in that survey, click HERE Between September 2023 – May 2025, Council members visited over 30 villages of all sizes and types across the country, meeting with over 650 residents. They also collected resident responses through a survey collected in-person and online. The Council has received over 200 responses to surveys. The results from survey data are HERE .

New Council Member