Skip to content
All articles

The magic of Christmas visits Real Living (including an Elf on the Shelf!)

At Pakuranga Park, one of the highlights of the social calendar is the Christmas Quiz. More than 100 people turned up on Monday afternoon to enjoy a fun and challenging contest that lasted more than three hours...but went by in a blink!

There was a surprise visit from Santa, spot prizes and a competition for the best dressed table. Most participants decided to wear their best Christmas hat or glasses which brought lots of giggles to the tables.

The Christmas Quiz is one of the most anticipated events of the year because it always includes the participation of a staff team. Real Living's CEO, Martin Oettli, and Village Manager, Christian Pulley, never miss the chance to join the Quiz, even if it involves dressing up with the table's theme, a "comeback from the 80s".

The staff team finished in third place in Monday's Quiz.
Village Manager Christian Pulley holds the staff team's name tag,

Organized by two of the most friendly residents at Pakuranga Park, Mike and Marilynn, the monthly Quiz is one of the most popular events at the village. The competition steadily grew up from just a few teams to more than 100 participants every month, all of them looking forward to Mike’s and Marilynn’s new round of questions.

The Quiz comes after a busy week of Christmas lunches at all Real Living's villages. Remuera Gardens celebrated its end of year gatherings last week. The residents enjoyed a five stars traditional Christmas menu while listening to the lovely music of Silver Strings, a guitar and flute duet.

Judging by the residents' smiles, the Christmas lunches were a total success.

Christmas is one of the busiest times at Real Living, with staff and residents working very hard to make sure that December is a special month filled with companionship and happiness. To top it off, this year Pakuranga Park had the unexpected visit of the famous "Elf on the Shelf".

This festive Christmas tradition involves a cheeky Elf that moves around at night, usually up to some sort of mischief. Pakuranga Park's Elf has certainly been very active this month, trying to play as many pranks as possible. Some of the residents decided to join the fun and moved the Elf around the village during daytime... even if Santa is the only one allowed to touch the Elf!

Latest articles

All News
Happy Easter
News
News
17 April 2025

Happy Easter

Easter is one of the most meaningful celebrations in New Zealand—a time for family, reflection, and joy. At our Real Living villages, we embrace the spirit of the season by creating happy moments for all, with fun cornhole competitions, themed crafts, and beautifully homemade treats. Of course, no Easter would be complete without a visit from our resident Easter Bunny, who makes sure there’s a little chocolate for everyone.
Read more
Feel at Home
Epsom Village
News
Epsom Village
News
25 March 2025

Feel at Home

Each of our villages offers a perfect blend of independent retirement living with companionship, lifestyle, and security. And each one has its unique charm that our residents rave about. At Epsom Village, residents love the central location, the stunning views of Mt. Eden and Sky City, the modern, well-appointed apartments, and the friendly community where you can opt in or out of as many activities as you like.
Read more
Movement and Mindfulness
Remuera Gardens
News
Remuera Gardens
News
03 April 2025

Movement and Mindfulness

At Real Living, we are always exploring new ways to improve the well-being of our residents and staff. One of our latest initiatives, the Holistic Dance Exercise Programme (HDEP), is an innovative, evidence-based project developed by our Group Culture, Care, and Quality Manager, Reign Marcial. Rooted in academic research and inspired by established practices from the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK, this programme integrates movement, meditation, and structured exercise to support cognitive function, balance, and fall prevention among older adults.
Read more