News

There's only one thing that can make you happier than a kitten... and it's a bunch of kittens! Last week, the residents of Epsom Village were treated to a visit from Lonely Miaow, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and care of stray and abandoned cats and kittens. Lonely Miaow brought around 12 very friendly cats and kittens who loved mingling with the residents, having cuddles, and of course... getting into mischief.

At Real Living we strive to provide healthy and delicious meals for our residents every day. We also enjoy organising themed culinary events that become a true feast for the senses. At Pakuranga Park the most popular culinary evening is the monthly Huntsman dinner, so much so that it always sells out very quickly.

At Real Living, some of our staff members are renowned for going above and beyond to ensure the happiness of our residents. Epsom Village is fortunate to have two of these superstars, Les and Penny. This remarkable duo excels not only in their respective roles but also in bringing joy to the residents, particularly through their talent for dressing up and acting.

What an absolute blast we had with our 'Try it out' events at Pakuranga Park! We invited visitors to come and experience croquet and bowls, two of the most popular sports at the village. The residents showed them the ropes, all while basking in the fantastic atmosphere that Pakuranga Park never fails to deliver!

When it comes to garden parties, Epsom Village steals the show! The central garden, adorned by a magnificent oak tree, provides an idyllic backdrop for an alfresco gathering featuring delightful music (courtesy of Jim Joll), delectable nibbles, and the Village Manager's signature cranberry mocktail.

We can highlight the benefits of our serviced apartments as much as we want, but there’s nothing better than hearing it directly from our residents. Compact in design, our 1- and 2-bedroom self-contained studio apartments cater specifically to those in need of additional support. Curious to discover what our residents have to say about their experiences?

Could you imagine living in an apartment right next door to a movie theatre? Remuera Garden’s best kept secret is the 45-seat tiered cinema that resides inside the village. March is Musical madness, and the residents are being treated to a festival of musicals, including The Phantom of the Opera, Grease and South Pacific.

How lucky are we? Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Aaron Gate, visited Pakuranga Park yesterday to deliver a talk about his career as a road and track cyclist. The village’s Lounge was packed to the seams with residents eager to meet Gate, who is currently very busy training for the next Olympic Games in Paris.

Happy Chinese New Year! Today, Pakuranga Park celebrated the Lunar New Year with an extraordinary performance by the cultural ensemble, Synergy Dragon Dance Group. From mesmerizing dragon and lion dances to enchanting traditional musical routines, the show absolutely captivated the residents, providing a lively tribute to the richness of Chinese culture.

A breathtaking landscape... exquisite wine... and the most delightful company... what else could you possibly wish for on Valentine's Day? Our residents at Pakuranga Park certainly feel that they’ve had an unforgettable Valentine’s Day with their day trip to Westbrook Winery. Almost 40 people joined the trip, including a couple who was celebrating their wedding anniversary.

Check out the delighted winners of Real Living’s 2023 photo travel competition! Presented by MoaTours, this competition offered an exciting grand prize of a $500 travel voucher, allowing winners to embark on an exciting journey with this exceptional New Zealand travel company.

Warkworth Oaks’ contemporary apartments are situated right in the heart of beautiful Warkworth village, with restaurants and cafés, shops and health services only a short stroll away. One of the residents’ favourites is The Secret Café, a new venue that opened one year ago… and it’s located on the ground floor of our retirement village! What else can you wish for?

Kirsten and Chris started working as Activities Coordinators at Pakuranga Park on August 2021 and they quickly became the “Dynamic Duo”. With time they got to know almost every resident at the village (400 of them!) and they have built a trust relationship with them. So much so that now Chris has taken the role of Welfare Coordinator to look after the residents who are more vulnerable.

If you're looking for a Christmas celebration like no other, Epsom Village is the place to be. This year the village organised a Mystery Christmas party with the surprise appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. The residents had clues to unlock and mysteries to solve, while they enjoyed a five star menu and delicious Christmas treats. Sherlock made sure that everyone finished the dinner unharmed... but they certainly had a night full of friendship, joy and laughter!

It can’t get more local than this! Every year, Pakuranga Park holds its very own Christmas market, filled with homemade produce and unique gifts created by our residents. It’s the ideal place to tick some items off the shopping list but also a great opportunity to socialize and fully immerse yourself in the festive Christmas spirit.

The Junior girls of the Diocesan School for Girls visited Epsom Village for their annual Christmas concert. They sang traditional carols that delighted everyone, but they also incorporated some more modern songs to their repertoire, like the Gingerbread man rap. A wonderful way to kick-start the magic season and remind us of the true spirit of Christmas: generosity.

Real Living villages have a heart of gold, and they show it time and time again with their ongoing support to various charities. They always try to have lots of fun at the same time, as we can see in Remuera Gardens’ latest charitable initiative. Their “Wear it Pink” event to support the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation was a day full of laughs and heartwarming moments.

What a stunning success for Real Living’s Art and Craft Expo, the second edition of this annual expo that showcases the extraordinary talent of our residents. More than 500 people visited the exhibition that was open to the public for three days. The showcase was not only a feast for the senses, but it also raised over $1200 for Blind Low Vision NZ.

Some of our residents are larger than life, with experiences that could be written in a book… or in Barbara’s case, several travel journals! Barbara’s adventures started when she was 19 years old when she did her first trip around Europe. She hasn’t stopped travelling since then: she’s been to 45 countries, including Uganda, the Galapagos Islands or Cambodia.

Connecting with the community is one of the main core values we have at Real Living. One of our residents at Epsom Village, Diana Burslem, visited St Joseph’s school in Orakei to share her passion of writing with the children. Diana writes books for Red Rocket Readers and she was a teacher for 40 years so she was totally in her element at St Joseph’s. It’s a good thing she was because the little ones only asked about a million questions!

Most retirement villages have a minimum entry of 65 or even 70 years old, but at Real Living we welcome everyone from 55 years old. This is the main reason why Craig (61) was first attracted to Remuera Gardens, and then he instantly fell in love with the village after his first visit. In August he celebrated his first anniversary at the village with a sense of fulfilment: “It’s more than I ever expected. Remuera Gardens is ticking all the boxes I hoped it would.”

Real Living villages are so much more than just a place to live. They’re dynamic communities where anything can happen, including the unfolding of a beautiful love story. That’s what happened to Bob and Cornelia: they met outside of Pakuranga Park but the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 precipitated them moving together into his villa. In June they were engaged and three years later they tied the knot. The wedding at All Saint's Church in Howick, was followed by the wedding reception at the village’s community centre....Where else?

Some of our staff members make the world go round, or more exactly, Real Living. This is the case of Raewyn Morrison, Activities Coordinator at Warkworth Oaks. She loves working in such a “friendly, caring and supportive village” and she takes any opportunity to mingle with the residents, either playing Rummikub or leading the dancing at the boogie class.

Our superstar chef at Epsom Village, Nick Seaman, has more than 40 years’ experience in cooking. He loves his job because “feeding people is like nurturing them” and working in a retirement village allows him the chance to get to know his diners. There’s nothing that Nick can’t tackle, from a Pink Ribbon breakfast to an international midwinter dinner.

At Real Living we know that life doesn’t stop when you retire, but quite the opposite. Our villages offer a wide range of activities to keep you busy, including a big selection of cultural events. At Remuera Gardens they organise regular trips to shows, museums and libraries, and if you prefer to stay at home, they also have a 45-seat tiered cinema for you to enjoy.

Distance swimmer Sandra Blewett MBE is one of our newest residents at Pakuranga Park. Her life story is not for the faint-hearted: she has swum over 56 marathon swims around the world including the English Channel, Cook Strait, and Foveaux Strait. What does she like about Pakuranga Park? “It’s close to the shops, swimming pools and doctors. I can be independent and safe at the same time, and on top of everything… they have their own pool!”

Tom and Jill moved to Warkworth Oaks in 2020 because their apartments fulfilled all the requirements in their wish list. They love that it’s such an easy lock-and-leave option and “within walking distance of everything we need”. On top of that, the village allows them to lead the lifestyle they want, full of exercise and activities, including fitness at the gym, table tennis, indoor and outdoor bowling.

There’s never a dull moment at Pakuranga Park. From exhibitions to music and fashion shows, bowling and quizzes, trips to the countryside and exciting village gatherings. Many everyday activities are initiated by the residents and there’s an abundance of options to suit every taste. You will find real choices, real fun and real people, Real Living at Pakuranga Park.

During the long Covid break, so many of our residents were not able to visit their family living overseas. We’re very happy to see how this is changing and lots of our residents are travelling abroad to reconnect with their loved ones. The reunions are full of joy: “We were catching up online regularly, but seeing them physically and hugging them was so awesome and so emotional”.

At Real Living sometimes we like to follow the traditions, and other times we like to try something new. For the past two years Epsom Village has moved away from the classic Christmas theme for their midwinter dinner. This time, the village decided to celebrate that the residents are travelling overseas again after the long Covid break with an internationally inspired dinner.

When we say that Remuera Gardens is a feast for the senses, we’re not exaggerating! The village has around 130 different varieties of camellias which flower during the autumn and winter months. The residents love walking around their little slice of paradise and they always stop and talk to Aaron, the village’s most devoted gardener. Aaron has spent the last seven years cataloguing every plant and believe it or not… he hasn’t finished yet!

Mangawhai Museum was opened in December 2014 in a spectacular building shaped like a stingray. In a few years it has become one of Northland’s most popular museums, to the point that Lonely Planet describes it as one of regional NZ’s best museums. With such extraordinary publicity, Warkworth Oaks decided to organise a special visit to Mangawhai to check out the museum – specially since it’s only a 45 minutes’ drive from the village.

At Real Living we have many residents with remarkably successful careers. At Remuera Gardens we are very proud to have Nan Gibson-Brine among our residents. Working under the name of Nan Gibson, she is an accomplished concert pianist who has performed in England, Australia, SE Asia and New Zealand. Nan is so passionate about her music that for many years she shared her talent with the village organising delightful concerts and sing-alongs for her neighbours.

This week we’re celebrating National Volunteer Week sharing the story of our amazing volunteers at Epsom Village. This amazingly huge display is what the residents have collected to send to war-ravaged Ukraine. The lot includes stationery, toiletries, sanitary and baby items, toys, and on top of that, around 260 hand-knitted and crocheted pieces by our own talented residents.

Team building exercises contribute to establishing a stronger connection between staff members. Pakuranga Park recently organised a fun day for their staff called the Amazing Race, with challenges that involved playing snooker, blind tasting, dressing up and even jumping in the village pool! Staff members really enjoyed interacting with each other in a different setting and there were many moments of uncontrollable laughter…

Shaun Wallace, aka “The Dark Destroyer” from The Chase, is touring New Zealand and we’re so thrilled that his first stop was Remuera Gardens! Did you know that he loves New Zealand and he’s a big fan of… kiwi onion dip? Yesterday Shaun fulfilled one of his dreams: to meet the inventor of our most famous dip, Rosemary Mount, who happens to be one of our residents at Real Living!

If there’s one thing that our residents know how to do well… it is to have fun for a good cause! Real Living Villages raised a whooping $2800 for the Breast Cancer Foundation with the Pink Ribbon breakfasts they held during May. At Epsom Village a sea of pink covered the lounge while the residents enjoyed succulent Eggs Benedict to raise funds for breast cancer.

Hot off the press! Real Living's own Remembrance book for Queen Elizabeth II has just been released! The 50-page booklet includes the beautiful memories that our residents wanted to share after the passing of our beloved Queen on the 8th of September of 2022. The villages have on display several copies of the booklet, a wonderful little read, specially for those rainy days we've been having this year!

Hats off to the Year 8 students from DIO who organised a Mother's Day Concert at Epsom Village to celebrate this special day with our residents. The village was very impressed with the girls' talent when playing classical pieces such as "The Skylark" and "Spring Butterflies". The students got all the residents singing and happily tapping their feet with popular songs like “Dancing Queen” and “Yellow submarine”.

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, to mark the contributions that nurses make to society. Today we would like to pay tribute to this honourable profession by sharing the story of one of them. As a young girl, Nell couldn’t stand the sight of blood, but she studied hard to become a nurse and she devoted her life to this profession. At the end of her career she worked nine years at Mercy Hospice: “I call it my soul work."

Did you know that Remuera Gardens has a Men’s Club with a monthly outing to amazing locations such as Maraetai Beach, the Maritime Museum, or Hallertau Brewery? The Men’s Club is not only a great deal of fun but also the best way for their members to stay active, engaged and connected with their peers.

Don’t miss out Uxbridge Arts Centre’s latest exhibition: Dreaming in Colour. Pat Basse is one of our residents at Pakuranga Park and her work has been exhibited around New Zealand over the years. This exhibition displays a collection of pieces that grew from the artist’s memories as a 4-year-old evacuee during WW2. During these troubled times she found solace in her dreams, and as an adult Pat was able to recreate them in her art. Come to view her captivating paintings at the Uxbridge Centre until the 12th of May.

Auckland Zoo is celebrating a century of life this year, with many special events including the opening of its South East Asia Jungle Track. Epsom Village didn’t want to miss the fun and their residents were lucky to visit the zoo on a very sunny day. Lots of animals were enjoying the warmth outside, so our residents got close and personal with the giraffes, the siamangs, the meerkats and even the two new tigers!

What a spectacular village party we had on Friday at Remuera Gardens! The residents had a blast listening to the Madeleines, a vintage vocal trio who sing jazz and swing from the 20s to the 60s. For the residents it was a great occasion to gather with their friends, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and get their feet tapping to sophisticated tunes.

Christine moved to Warkworth Oaks in 2020 in what she describes “the best decision of her life”. Being a country girl, she never imagined she would enjoy living in an apartment, but she loves everything about the village. So much so, that she’s busier now than when she had a job… doing the things that make her happy!

Pakuranga Park residents are very lucky because they live within close proximity to many of Auckland’s finest attractions, including Howick Historical Village. Always a charming destination, the Village comes to life every second Sunday of the month with a Live Day: the residents who attended the Village Fête on the 12th of March had an absolute blast!

One of the most popular events at Remuera Gardens are the Quiz Nights. They’re run by a professional quiz master, Brendan, who has been hosting quizzes for more than 25 years. Around 50 people attended this week’s competition that was full of thrilling moments and lots of laughs. Next month’s one will be even more exciting: it will have the virtual participation of Shaun Wallace from “The Chase”!

Our Community fun day at Epsom Village was a roaring success. More than 200 people visited the village on Saturday including lots of families with little children, who had the best time with Lolipop the Clown and the colourful dance show from Peru. On top of having a great time, the village raised more than $650 for the victims of Cyclone Gabrielle. Well done Team Epsom!

Our extraordinary Sales Manager at Pakuranga Park, Kate Wynn, is leaving the team because she’s moving with her family to the South Island. These last few days, Kate has been receiving many cards and messages from all the residents that she’s met over the years. “I feel really blessed to be getting so many thank you messages. I’m excited about our new adventure but also extremely sad to be leaving. I love everything about Real Living: the village, the staff, the fabulous residents. It’s been a fantastic journey.”

So many of our residents have had an extraordinary life, and some of them seem to have fit several lives into one! That’s the case of one of the most sociable residents at Warkworth Oaks, Graham: he worked as a general manager for the Cook Islands branch at Air New Zealand, a real estate agent for Barfoot and Thompson, he owned a Bed and Breakfast and he ended his career driving tour buses around Auckland.

At Real Living we’re very proud to have some very talented artists among our residents. One of them is Dorothy Tomlinson, an accomplished opera singer with soprano roles in La Traviata or La Boheme. Being 90 years old, Dorothy has been retired for a long time, but that doesn’t mean that she has stopped sharing her expertise: now she’s in charge of the Talent Group at Epsom Village.

At Real Living, Christmas is one of the busiest and happiest times of the year. At the villages the residents get together to enjoy the annual Christmas gatherings, with Pakuranga Park’s "world-renowned" Quiz as one of the highlights of the social calendar. The residents look forward to the special activities of December which this year included the surprise visit of a naughty "Elf on the Shelf".

At Real Living one minute you're at the village at the next one...you're in Hollywood! Epsom Village organised a very glamorous Christmas party last week where all the residents and staff pretended to be attending the Oscars. The event ticked all the boxes: delicious food, great friends, lots of laughs and a proper awards ceremony, delivered by Mrs Claus and... the Grinch!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, at Real Living! At Pakuranga Park the residents have created a gorgeous Christmas tree made of 400 peggy squares… being 2.7 metres high, the tree touches the ceiling of the Lounge! We love this time of the year, when staff and residents come together as a big family to celebrate the magic season.

“We’re 100% happy.” “We love it to bits.” “We’re a lot more relaxed.” These comments are just a sample of the overwhelmingly positive feedback we are getting from the new residents at the Ruru apartments in Pakuranga Park. Our brand new two-bedroom luxury apartments are filling up fast, so if you want to see it for yourself, call Kate on 095765990 or 021855735.

With Halloween fast approaching and Christmas around the corner, there’s no doubt that the sweet season has started. John is one of our most charming residents and he also works part-time at Kea cookies, a New Zealand company established in 1988. Alongside his daughter and son-in-law, John bought the factory a few years ago and since then he’s became an expert in golden syrup, icing cookies and new flavours such as lemon coconut.

It’s time to celebrate! At Epsom Village they were so happy with the ending of the Traffic Light System that they decided to throw a big party. The residents invited their family and friends, the village opened the pool, they had a sausage sizzle and a Happy Hour with Live Music. At the end of the evening most of the villagers were up on their feet showing off their dance moves!

Moving to a Real Living Group village means that you can leave the hard work to us and concentrate on enjoying the things you like most. This is the case of Dawn, a Pakuranga Park resident who now can devote all the time she wants to her passion of cross stitching. Retirement brought new chances to her life, such as the opportunity to fulfil the life dream of visiting Graceland.

It’s a universal truth that grannies make the best soup, so at Real Living, we’re blessed with some of the best cooks in the country. Diana not only makes a soup that is good for the body and the soul, she’s also one of our most active, social and friendly residents and in her spare time she also writes poems and children’s books.

Real Living has been paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II with special memorial services in each of the villages. Yesterday the Lounge at Pakuranga Park was totally packed with residents who wanted to pay homage to the extraordinary monarch. At the end of the ceremony the village planted a kowhai tree in recognition of the Queen's 70 years of service.

Spring is finally here so it’s time to renew our wardrobe! At Warkworth Oaks they’ve started with a Fashion Show to get some inspiration for the new season. Four stylish residents volunteered as models in the Parade, organised by clothing store Sophie Pink.

Epsom Village raised $650 for the Cancer Society with a very successful Happy Hour to support Daffodil Day. The event included a Raffle sponsored by local businesses, with Hell Pizza Epsom and the Florentine Tea Room as their top donors. There was also a fierce cocktail competition with the Mighty Margarita and the 80s classic Fluffy Duck fighting for the top spot.

The Art Expo organized by Warkworth Oaks last weekend was a great success. The exhibition, held on the first floor at the charming Warkworth Hotel, attracted a steady stream of visitors over three days. Two of our residents sold their paintings, among many other local artists.

Elaine and Ivan have been living at Epsom Village for more than 12 years, and they couldn’t be happier. They love the location, the gardens, the social events, and the organised trips to the countryside. They’re some of the most popular residents at the village; with their friendly attitude and cheeky sense of humour, they certainly add spice to retirement life!

Shortbread is described by many as the most perfect biscuit ever. It used to be reserved for Christmas and special occasions, but our residents at Warkworth Oaks know that the good things in life should be enjoyed all year around. One of their residents, Mary, bakes a good big batch every few weeks… and she always sells out!

The winter weather can affect our spirits and according to some studies, there's nothing better to lift our moods than to look at cute animal pictures! Real Living's 2022 Pet Competition is full of the cheekiest, funniest, and most adorable animals, they will melt your heart. These pets are not only the best companions for their owners, living in a retirement village they also brighten many residents' lives!

Don’t miss out the new production of Howick Little Theatre, “The Maltese Falcon”, starting the 9th of July. The show’s director is one of our talented residents at Pakuranga Park Village, Laurie Mills, who has directed more than 20 plays during his life.

Happy Matariki from Real Living! Our villages have been celebrating the Maori New Year strengthening the bond with the local community. Pakuranga Park residents were thrilled to have the visit of some very special guests, the students of St Mark’s Catholic school and Pakuranga College.

At Real Living our communities have a strong sense of purpose. Epsom Village’s midwinter dinner raised $350 for Save the Children: Ukraine Children's Emergency Fund. On top of that, the residents had the best fun dressing up in blue and gold, enjoying Ukraine-inspired food and celebrating their special friendships.

So many of our residents have extraordinary life stories that would keep you on the edge of your seat. On the 9th of December 2019, Carolyn and Paul Milbank were enjoying their villa at Pakuranga Park when they found out that their grandson, Jake, was one of the victims of the White Island eruption. Their story is one of pain, bravery, family love…and a happy ending.

Pakuranga Park’s Art & Craft Expo was an absolute success! Almost 500 visitors attended the exhibition last weekend to admire the stunning display of artwork and creative endeavours from our residents. The expo was not only a delight for the senses, but it was also for a good cause: the village raised more than $700 for Dementia Auckland!

Some of our villagers are so vibrant and energetic that when they turn 90 they give us a big surprise! Eileen is one of the most active residents at Epsom Village. She organizes the Cinema sessions and the Quirky Quiz, she joins most social events and tags along to all the trips. And she doesn’t look one day past 70!

Check out the blooming wonderland of vegetables and herbs located behind our newest retirement village, Warkworth Oaks. Even if the village is located right in the middle of the town centre, the residents have managed to build this stunning community garden for all of them to enjoy.

Easter is a time of tradition, togetherness and joy. Our residents have shared lots of special moments with their Real Living families. They participated in a Cornhole competition with the Easter Bunny as a referee, they had a Happy Hour with fabulous Easter bonnets and some residents let their creativity shine - just have a look at this charming chicken for the best Easter egg hunt!

Living in one of our villages has lots of perks, for example the regular trips to the countryside. Pakuranga Park and Epsom Village residents were fascinated by their visit to the Sculptureum, a world-class tourist attraction located in Matakana. With three sculpture gardens and six art galleries spanning over 1.5km of flat paths, the Sculptureum is a feast for the senses.

During uncertain times like the ones we’re living, it’s more important than ever to have caring staff who will go above and beyond to keep our residents safe. Megan Batra is one of our most valued employees. Being Remuera Gardens Clinical Manager, she oversees the running of the rest home with health and safety protocols at the top of her priorities.

At Real Living we love Ireland’s National Day so today we’re sharing one of the favourite ways to celebrate it: baking Irish Soda Bread. Louise is one of our residents and star bakers and she has a tried and tested recipe for this popular Irish staple.

Meet Shirley, a Pakuranga Park resident with an extraordinary life story. In 1997, Shirley was working as a radiographer in a private clinic in South Africa when a robber shot a gorilla at the zoo. Imagine her surprise when she found out that the injured animal was being moved to her clinic, and she was called to do the x-rays! Quite the adventure of a lifetime… but not the only one in Shirley’s life.

When it comes to outdoor parties, our stunning gardens offer the best backdrop. Epsom Village had an Al Fresco Party this week to celebrate all the birthdays that fell into the 2021 lockdown. It all started with some quiet melodies, but at the end all the residents were dancing to Abba under the old oak tree.

You don’t need to be retired to move to our retirement villages. With an entry age of 55+, many of our residents still work part-time or even full-time. Take Mel for example, she’s the Practice Manager of a busy Orthopaedics surgery, and she also has a very busy social life, inside and outside of the village. Moving to a retirement village allowed her to live to the fullest without the hassles of home maintenance.

The red carpet was rolled out at Pakuranga Park for Sophie Pink’s fashion parade. Four residents volunteered as models to showcase a huge variety of outfits, from comfortable tunics to elegant evening gowns. The parade was followed by a sale with prices discounted at 70%.

Warkworth Oaks is situated right in the heart of beautiful Warworth village, with health services such as the Mahurangi Health Collective only a short stroll away. Lots of residents use their physiotherapy, massage and podiatry services to have the highest quality of life possible.

Ray started building model railroads 30 years ago and he’s completing his third track at Pakuranga Park. His neighbours love to visit him (Covid-permitting) to admire his creation, which includes a fully functioning turntable, miniature plants and even a fast-food shop.

Christmas functions have been an absolute success at Real Living. The villages have combined delicious food, elegance, live music and a good sense of humour to celebrate the magic season. After such a trying year it has been lovely for the residents to finally get together and toast for a more "ordinary" 2022.

Real Living villages are full of talented residents who have the opportunity to show off their talents during Christmas time. Pakuranga Park and Epsom Village organised Market Days for the villagers to sell their creations, from knitted Christmas decorations to homemade cards. Some of the residents donate their proceeds to charity or send their homemade items straight to the SPCA, Middlemore Hospital or Auckland City Mission.

To celebrate International Volunteer Day we’re sharing the stories of some of our most valuable volunteers at Pakuranga Park. Our resident volunteers help the village run more smoothly providing vital help to lots of their neighbours. Some of them, like Mike and Marilynn, also have a very active volunteer life outside the village. They’ve been involved in lots of projects, from Meals on Wheels to Crime Stoppers.

Auckland City Hospital has 100 Blue Coats volunteers, way-finders who make sure that patients and visitors find their destination without stress. Epsom Village residents Margaret and Lesley are two of those volunteers. They love helping people and find this role extremely rewarding.

At Real Living we’re very grateful for all the cultures that make up our villages. Remuera Gardens recently celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The residents had a real taste of the traditional sweets, and they were thrilled with the dance demonstration performed by the staff.

Pakuranga Park’s new cookbook has just been released and is full of delicious recipes submitted by our talented residents. “Tried and true: A Taste of Real Living” was developed during the lockdown and it’s the perfect Christmas gift if you like real, foolproof recipes.

Christmas is fast approaching, and our residents’ creativity is in full swing! At Pakuranga Park the Villagers have been busy crafting homemade decorations, baking delicious treats and preparing presents for the Women’s Refuge. On Thursday 11th of November the village will have a Market Day for the residents who want to sell their unique gifts to their neighbours.

At 77 years of age, Neville swims 2km three times per week. While most of us are having our first coffee, he’s down at the beach to train. His devotion for exercise started when he was young: he has 11 marathons under his belt, innumerable medals, and he is the current New Zealand Ocean Swim Series champion in his age group.

Glitz and glamour were on display this week at the villages in celebration of the Melbourne Cup. The residents showed off their most elegant outfits to join in the spirit of Australia’s most famous annual horse race. Some villagers decided to put their creativity to the test with their own homemade costumes and the most fabulous hats.

Epsom Village celebrated Halloween with a spooky parade and Happy Hour. The residents dressed up as witches, skeletons, monsters and even a hippy lady from the seventies. After so many weeks in lockdown, the parade brought some long needed good laughs to the village.

Pakuranga Park residents stopped to have a “little chat” with Big Ted this week, the Howick teddy bear that has been entertaining locals during this lockdown. Susan Mudford, the lady behind the Big Ted displays, has known lots of Pakuranga Park residents over the years, so she was very pleased with the surprise visit.

Real Living villages are starting to enjoy the new freedoms approved by the government. Outdoor exercise classes have started at Epsom Village, with a maximum of ten people. The residents are very happy to be able to safely mix with other bubbles and organise socially distanced Happy Hours.

Janet's career as an embroidery designer started more than 60 years ago, when she left England to move to New Zealand. She has worked with some of the most famous designers in New Zealand, but her creative talent also expands to art, handmade dolls and even a project to create a children’s book.

New Zealand Grandparents Day celebrates all the joy and value that grandparents bring to the lives of their grandchildren. Real Living is honouring grandparents today with several displays in our villages. The residents have shared pictures of their favourite moments with their grandchildren.

Remuera Gardens celebrated International Coffee Day on Friday with a special round of Bingo. The residents gathered outside to play a couple of games while they enjoyed a delicious treat, freshly made coffee from the Coffee Guy.

We’re overwhelmed by the kindness shown by high school student Annabelle Liang. With the help of her friends, she has written more than 90 letters for Epsom Village residents to ease the loneliness of the lockdown. Thank you Annabelle, Jojo, Sebastian and Johnnie from King’s College for such a heart-warming initiative!

This year Mental Health Awareness Week is about creating space for conversations about mental health and wellbeing. In this interview with Clinical Manager Karen Talbot we talk about Real Living’s program to support mental wellbeing in the villages and the challenges of the lockdown.

During the lockdown Real Living goes the extra mile to make sure their residents are safe and healthy, physically and mentally. Here are a few examples of what the villages are doing to improve the wellbeing of the residents: social distanced exercise classes, lockdown happy hours, wellness calls and little gifts to lift up everyone’s mood.

Real Living Group has almost completed the Covid vaccination program for their staff and residents. The team at Walls and Roche Pharmacy (Royal Oak) administered the second dose of the vaccine to Epsom Village residents. Our villagers and staff have played their part in protecting themselves, their whānau, and the community from the effects of the virus.

How much are you missing your hairdresser? Angela, Remuera Gardens’ own hairdresser, is looking forward to going back to work once alert levels drop. She has one simple advice for her clients; “Please be strong and don’t cut your own hair!”

Today we’re celebrating New Zealand’s Random Acts of Kindness Day (RAK). It may seem difficult to RAK when we’re in lockdown, but here we give you some ideas to support one another even during these challenging times. Random acts of kindness, however small, can have the power to brighten someone’s (and your) day.

Daffodil Day symbolises hope for all New Zealanders impacted by cancer. Real Living villages found their own way to keep the tradition alive and raise funds for the Cancer Society. The team at Pakuranga Park wore groovy hats and paper daffodils to celebrate this special day with a lot of enthusiasm and a great sense of humour. The village raised almost $2500.

This month we're sharing a delicious recipe of Banana Caramilk cake with Margaret from Pakuranga Park. Margaret’s talent for baking and decorating cakes has impressed many staff and residents at the village. She’s such a good cook that her nephew, well-known conservationist Daryl Eason, took her to Codfish Island to participate in the efforts to save the kākāpō.

Epsom Village celebrated International Cat Day with a special Happy Hour last week. Residents came dressed up as their favourite cat characters… including a special appearance by a real cat! Celebrated on August 8 every year, the day is used to raise public awareness about cats and to learn about ways to keep and protect them.

Pakuranga Park Village turned into a stunning Art Gallery yesterday afternoon. The community really enjoyed the opportunity to see the works of contemporary New Zealand artists such as Flox, one of the leading stencil-based artists in our country. According to Real Living Groups' director Chris Murphy, the exhibition is part of the Village's efforts to give back to the community.

Would you like to meet the two cheekiest residents at Epsom Village? If you wander around the gardens you may bump into Katsumi and Boscarelli, two lovely cats who have become quite popular among the residents. This weekend they celebrated International Cat Day with their favourite pastime: keeping warm in their owner’s cosy apartment.

Commonwealth gold medalist Roy Williams has just moved from Te Aroha to Pakuranga Park Village. He is the only kiwi to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the demanding decathlon. He’s settling into his new apartment in the village where he has been binge-watching the Tokyo Games, with a special interest in the new Olympic sports such as skateboarding.

Joan Gilchrist was a sports journalist who specialised in horse riding. She covered five Olympic Games including Los Angeles in 1984, when New Zealand was the top country in the world in the equestrian events. She’s been enjoying watching the Olympics from her villa at Pakuranga Park.

Happy International Friendship Day! Real Living villages are full of real friendships, like the one that Gail and Colleen have. They met in Epsom Village almost 8 years ago and they became best friends. They love going to cafes and restaurants or just strolling around the village and sharing a coffee or a glass of wine.

Stunning performance by the Madeleines Trio at Epsom Village. The trio has worked internationally in musical theatre and now they’re back in New Zealand to perform wonderful songs from the 1920-1950s. The residents followed the popular melodies with big smiles and a bit of toe tapping.

Tai chi is the most popular exercise at Remuera Gardens, with classes running four times per week. The residents love practicing the gentle movements of this ancient Chinese practice that embodies mind, body, and spirit. Their experienced teacher, Joe, guides them through several sequences of exercises, most of them can be done sitting in a chair. He keeps reminding them that “tai chi is not about muscle strength, but mind strength”.

Who can imagine a barbeque or a party without a bowl of homemade Kiwi Onion Dip? The creator of this all-time classic, Rosemary Dempsey, lives in Epsom Village. She’s the first resident to share a recipe for our new series “Real Ingredients” by Real Living.

Boney M “By the rivers of Babylon” is one of the classic favourites that the residents of Warkworth Oaks enjoy dancing again and again. The village started a socially distanced 'boogie' class during the 2020’s lockdown and it was so successful that it became a permanent weekly meeting.

Remuera Gardens has a very enthusiastic Theatre Group that goes out at least once a month to see plays, musicals, concerts, or ballet. At the beginning of July, they attended a concert by the Manukau Symphony Orchestra, and they were all very impressed with Auckland-born pianist Henry Wong Doe.

For many people, retirement is the perfect opportunity to cultivate a new passion. Elva Leaming enjoyed her career as a librarian, but now that she has more free time, she likes to dedicate it to her new hobby: drawing.

When they party, our residents do it with style, creativity and also a good sense of humour. These are the real ingredients behind the success of Real Living’s mid-winter dinners, celebrated during June and July at all our villages. Take a sneak peek at the best pictures!

“There's no place like home” when you live in one of Real Living’s villages. Mahurangi College Students visited Warkworth Oaks recently to promote their production of The Wizard of Oz. How many generations of children have marched to the iconic song “We’re off to see the Wizard”?

Pakuranga Park Bowling Club has around 40 members who know everything about the benefits of this social sport. They’re not only keeping active and healthy by playing bowls on average three times per week, but they also have lots of fun in the meantime.

The sky may be looking grey, but the stalls were full of colours today at Remuera Gardens. The residents had all morning to browse through the stalls of homemade goodies and garments. One of the most visited stalls was the one that displayed all kinds of preserves and jams.

David Harmes has been able to fulfil his childhood dream at Epsom Village: woodworking. He spends a few hours every week at the Village’s workshop creating gorgeous ornamental pieces, old-fashioned children’s toys, and unique designs such as the Concentric Spheres. His motto: “If a human can do it, I can too!”.

The Wednesday Wanderers at Remuera Gardens went on a day trip to Hamilton to visit the Classics Museum. The museum has over 100 cars for display and an extensive collection of petrol, pedal cars and early pinball machines.

At Real Living we also try to play our part in protecting the environment. Our retirement villages at Epsom, Remuera and Warkworth have a complimentary electric car for the residents to use. The Electric VW Golf, known as the e-golf, is the car that Epsom Village started using at the beginning of April.

Pakuranga Park hosted a very successful Pink Ribbon Breakfast on Thursday to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. About 80 residents participated in the event. They all enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared by Bradley and his team at the village café. Main meal was Eggs Benedict on salmon or bacon, with a vegetarian option of mushrooms. The village raised $1300, how impressive!

Warkworth Oaks residents enjoyed morning tea and a talk from Tech Buddies on Tuesday 25th May. The presentation concentrated on managing emails, scam prevention, computer upgrades, internet security as well as issues with mobile phones and laptops. Tech Buddies had so many questions from residents they didn’t manage to cover all the subjects they hoped, and they will need to come back at a later date.

Auckland stencil artist Flox has created her largest interior mural to date in the new Ruru apartments at Pakuranga Park. The piece is twelve metres high and six metres wide and it brings the Ruru (native owl or morepork) name to life. The mural, a vibrant portrayal of native birds and plants, welcomes residents and visitors into the atrium.