Thinking about a retirement village? 5 key questions to ask yourself first
1. Am I ready to part with my home and some of my things?
================================================
Moving into a retirement village usually involves downsizing. That could mean shifting from a three-bedroom home to a two-bedroom villa, or even an apartment. It can feel liberating to simplify, but the emotional attachment to a family home and a lifetime of belongings is real.
Ask yourself:
What will I need day to day, and what can I let go of?
Am I prepared to sell or donate furniture, keepsakes, or tools?
Would I need storage for things I want to keep but can’t take with me?
It helps to walk through a few village homes and visualise what daily life might look like. Could this space feel like home?
2. How do I feel about community living?
=================================
One of the biggest lifestyle shifts is moving into a more communal environment. Villages vary in size and each has its own unique culture.
Consider:
Do I enjoy meeting new people and joining in social activities?
Would I make use of the shared spaces, such as lounges and other facilities?
How do I feel about having neighbours close by?
All retirement villages let you choose how involved you want to be, but it’s worth thinking about whether a shared lifestyle suits your preferences.
3. Do I understand the costs and how they differ from buying a home?
========================================================
This is a big one. Retirement villages have a unique financial structure, and it’s important to go in with a clear understanding of how it works. Generally, you’ll encounter three main types of costs:
Upfront payment (capital sum):
This gives you the right to live in your chosen home and access the village facilities. You don’t technically own the home; instead, you are purchasing a ‘license to occupy’. Compare this initial capital sum to similar properties in the same area. It should be slightly lower, since you are unlikely to receive financial benefit from any resale gains.
Ongoing weekly fees:
=================
This fee covers the general running costs of the village, things like maintenance, rates, insurance, staff wages, and sometimes amenities or events.
Ask what’s included and how often the fees are reviewed.
Compare these to what you currently pay living independently (e.g. lawn care, house maintenance, rates, and water).
couple paperwork
Every village is different, so always review the Occupation Right Agreement and village disclosure statement closely.
Deferred management fee:
======================
This is charged when you leave and is usually a percentage of your initial capital sum (often capped at 20–30%). It contributes to long-term costs such as:
Refurbishment of your home prior to a new resident moving in
Maintenance of communal village areas, buildings, and facilities
Costs incurred during the resale process (e.g. marketing, admin, legal)
It’s not a cost you’d typically pay when selling a standalone home, so it’s worth understanding what’s included and how it may impact your estate.
4. Will the location work for me long-term?
==================================
Moving to a retirement village could bring you closer to shops, cafés, or healthcare, but further from family, friends, or familiar surroundings.
Ask yourself:
Do I want to stay in my current area, or am I open to moving?
Will it be easy for friends and family to visit?
Are there transport options nearby if I stop driving?
Also think long term, what will matter most to you five or ten years from now?
5. What kind of support might I need later on, and does the village offer it?
==========================================================
Not all villages offer healthcare services or higher levels of care. Some provide support within your home (e.g. help with medication or personal care), while others have an onsite care facility.
Consider:
Does the village offer ‘continuum of care’ if your needs change?
Would you prefer to move once now or potentially again if your health changes?
What kind of support is important to you - nursing, transport to appointments, meal services?
Even if you’re in great health now, having a plan for the future gives you and your family peace of mind.
Don’t wait too long to start looking
=============================
Many people wait until a move feels urgent, but the best time to explore your options is when you have the time and energy to visit villages, talk to residents, and compare what’s out there.
Some people join waitlists years in advance - and that’s okay. Taking your time means you’re more likely to find a village that truly fits.
=====================================================
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
More than 120,000 disabled and older New Zealanders registered in the Total Mobility scheme will pay more for discounted taxi trips from next year as the Government announces a cut to trip subsidies.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said subsidies would drop from 75% to 65% from July 1, 2026, blaming unsustainable rising costs.
Regional fare caps will also be lowered by around 10%.
Wide-ranging Ministry of Transport proposals for the scheme were released for consultation today. Suggested options included "strengthened" eligibility; periodic reassessments; caps on monthly trips; and the potential inclusion of ridesharing services.
"The Government is announcing decisions to stabilise the Total Mobility scheme so that the disability community is supported in a financially sustainable way, by all funding partners," Bishop said of the confirmed subsidy changes.
Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston said the new subsidy level would still be higher than what it was four years ago, when it was raised under the previous government.
"We appreciate these decisions will mean fares will increase for Total Mobility users.
"But they will still receive a higher subsidy level than prior to 2022. The changes also provide certainty that those who need the service will have continued access to it."
Demand for the scheme has soared since the subsidy rose from 50% in 2022. Registered users have jumped from 108,000 to 120,000, while trips have risen from 1.8 million in 2018 to three million.
Bishop said the 2022 increase had not accounted for higher demand over time.
"Increased demand now means the scheme is close to exceeding its Crown funding and is placing significant pressure on the contributions from local councils and NZTA," he said.
Costs are forecast to exceed funding by $236 million between 2025 and 2030 under current settings, according to the Government.
The Total Mobility scheme provided subsidised taxi fares for people who could not use public transport independently due to disability or age. The scheme was funded jointly by central government, NZTA's National Land Transport Fund and local councils.
The Government would also provide $10 million to NZTA to ease funding pressures on public transport authorities until the changes took effect.
Reacting to the subsidy changes, Disabled Persons Assembly chief executive Mojo Mathers told 1News that Total Mobility was an "essential service for us".
"This cut to Total Mobility on top of a cost-of-living crisis will only aggravate hardship in an already struggling population," she said in a statement.
"Total Mobility is an essential service for us. Not everyone can get on a bus or drive a car.
"Disabled people will face impossible choices when it comes to travel, when we know that over half don’t have enough to meet their everyday needs."
Labour has criticised the subsidy changes, saying the Government was "making life harder and more expensive for disabled New Zealanders".
Today's announcement came after a delayed year-long Transport Ministry review of the Total Mobility scheme, which included an earlier round of public consultation.
Further changes on the way, proposals in consultation
============================================
Alongside the subsidy cut, the Ministry of Transport has opened consultation on proposals including trip caps, stricter eligibility assessments, and expanding service providers beyond taxis to include ride-hail apps and on-demand public transport.
"Beyond ensuring the scheme’s financial viability, the Government is also taking the opportunity to consider changes to strengthen a system so that it works better for disabled people,” Upston said.
"The Ministry of Transport will be releasing a discussion document to consult on proposals to strengthen Total Mobility to ensure fairer, consistent and more sustainable access to services for people with the greatest need."
The wide-ranging proposals were not yet Government policy and were open for feedback until March 22, 2026. The 10% subsidy cut was not part of the consultation.
The proposals include trip caps, with two options. The first would give all users a flat monthly cap of 30 to 40 trips at 65% subsidy, with either no further subsidised trips or a reduced 50% subsidy once reached. The second would allocate 10 base trips, plus extras based on need – for example, for employment, health, or education.
The ministry proposed tighter eligibility requirements, including medical evidence from health practitioners, occupational therapists or psychologists when applying.
Currently, assessment standards varied, with no documentary evidence required.
Periodic reassessments would also be introduced under another proposal, requiring users to be re-evaluated after a set period to ensure they remained eligible.
The proposals also aimed to expand service providers beyond traditional taxis to include ride-hail apps, on-demand public transport services, and volunteer community transport providers. The ministry said this could increase availability and give users more options.
It was unclear whether ride-hailing apps would include popular ride-sharing apps such as Uber.
To improve wheelchair accessibility, the ministry also proposed more incentives for service providers, including higher funding for installing ramps and hoists in vehicles, and raising the $10 per wheelchair trip payment that has remained unchanged since 2005.
The ministry was also exploring a national public transport concession for people with disabilities – separate from Total Mobility and implemented through the National Ticketing Solution from 2027.
Labour critical of subsidy changes
============================
Labour disability issues spokesperson Priyanca Radhakrishnan said the Government was "making life harder and more expensive for disabled New Zealanders by slashing discounted transport fares during a cost-of-living crisis".
"Under Christopher Luxon, disabled Kiwis will now pay more just to get to work, attend health appointments, or see loved ones,” she said in a statement.
"Disability communities feel betrayed. First came the overnight cut to flexible funding; then restrictions on residential care with no warning.
"Then Whaikaha was gutted and disability support shifted to the Social Development Ministry. Now, the transport subsidy many rely on to live independently has been cut.
"For many disabled Kiwis, affordable transport isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a lifeline. It means independence, dignity, and the ability to participate in everyday life and that’s why Labour increased the subsidy in government. This latest change is taking us backwards."
=========================================================
Loading…
