‘We’re Not Retiring — We’re Evolving’

What a treat it was to welcome iconic broadcaster Judy Bailey to Remuera Gardens for a special Q&A celebrating Real Living’s 40th anniversary. Judy spent the morning with our residents, guests, and staff in a truly uplifting conversation — reflecting on her remarkable career as one of New Zealand’s most trusted newsreaders and sharing insights from her inspiring life after television.

Judy has continued to achieve great things beyond the newsroom. When Judy retired from national television in 2005, she devoted her time to numerous charitable organisations. She co-founded the Brainwave Trust — a charity dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of children and families — and has become a strong advocate for embracing life’s later chapters with purpose and optimism.

As Judy told the audience, she’s not a fan of the word retirement — preferring instead to call it an evolution, a theme she explores in her recent book Evolving, Finding health and happiness as we age:

“I stole Evolving from Serena Williams, the tennis player. She was often asked, ‘How is your retirement going?’ and she always said, ‘I haven’t retired — I’m evolving.’ And that’s what we’re all doing. This is another wonderful stage of life, and we’re so lucky to be here. We need to take hold of our retirement — don’t let old age just happen to you. Be proactive and make the most of it. And being in a retirement village allows you to do that so easily.”

The event was held at The Avenue Apartments, our newest addition to Remuera Gardens — featuring 61 modern apartments with spacious interiors and enviable outlooks across Remuera.

Judy’s message of positivity and engagement deeply resonated with the Real Living philosophy — to embrace ageing as an opportunity to keep active, stay connected, and enjoy life to the fullest.

“Retirement villages are amazing places of connection,” Judy said. “You’re surrounded by like-minded people, sharing experiences, and meeting others every day — that’s incredibly powerful. You don’t have to worry about safety or maintenance, and you have medical assistance, comfort, and community all in one place. Relationships are vital to happiness, and studies show that we’re happiest when we’re very young and again when we’re older — so make the most of it!”

Judy also reminded everyone that laughter is key to longevity. She shared fond memories of her Telethon days — a time when she and her TV colleagues “could just be themselves and be fools on the telly.” 

Judy believes that as we grow older, we also grow braver — trying things we might not have dared when we were younger. Recently, she’s gone abseiling, ziplining, and taken up her latest favourite activity: line dancing.

“I tried line dancing — it’s challenging! I’m hopeless; just when I’ve got the steps right, they turn around, and I have to start all over again,” she laughed. “But it’s great fun — and we all have a good laugh.”

Events like our 40th Anniversary Celebration at The Avenue reflect what Real Living is all about — bringing people together through meaningful, community-driven experiences. Sharing stories, memories, and laughter with the Mother of the Nation was a joy for everyone present — a morning that our residents will truly cherish for years to come.