News

We’re cooking up something special at Remuera Gardens! Join us next Wednesday as acclaimed Kiwi chef Michael Van de Elzen visits the Avenue Apartments for a fun, inspiring cooking demo. Michael will share simple, healthy, and delicious recipes — perfect for entertaining friends, family, or those spontaneous drop-in moments! Part of our Real Living 40th Anniversary celebrations, this event celebrates what we love most — great food, good company, and the joy of living well at every age.

Good luck to our amazing Care Team from Remuera Gardens! Our Group Culture, Care and Quality Manager, Reign Marcial, is heading to Christchurch today to take part in the Aged Care Association Conference — and we’re thrilled to share that Kensington House at Remuera Gardens has been named a finalist in the 2025 Excellence in Care Awards (Innovative Delivery category)! The winners will be announced this Thursday at the NZACA Conference.

Remuera Gardens was delighted to welcome beloved broadcaster Judy Bailey for a special Q&A marking Real Living’s 40th Anniversary. With warmth and humour, Judy shared insights from her career and her journey of “evolving” in later life — encouraging everyone to stay active, curious, and connected. Judy is a big fan of retirement villages herself, describing them as wonderful communities where you can find your people and your purpose.

Older New Zealanders are increasingly targeted by scammers — with 30% of people over 60 affected, according to Consumer NZ. To help residents stay safe online, Real Living and ANZ are hosting an Online Safety Session at The Avenue Apartments on Thursday 30 October, led by Kirstie Clune. The event will share practical tips to recognise and avoid scams, supporting Real Living’s commitment to keeping residents safe, confident, and connected.

We’re beyond thrilled to be celebrating 40 years of Real Living tomorrow — and even more delighted that our exclusive Q&A with the “Mother of the Nation” has officially sold out! We’re in for a truly memorable morning at Remuera Gardens, as we welcome one of New Zealand’s most cherished television personalities for an inspiring conversation about life, ageing, and finding joy in every stage of the journey.

At Real Living, we take pride in celebrating the many cultures that shape New Zealand — and our vibrant villages. Last week, Remuera Gardens came alive with colour, music, and joy as we celebrated Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights — a beautiful tradition symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Our incredible team put on a stunning display of Indian culture, complete with a fashion parade and dance performances that delighted residents and their families.

Congratulations to the team at Remuera Gardens! We’re proud to share that our care facility, Kensington House at Remuera Gardens, has been selected as a finalist in the Excellence in Care Awards 2025 – Innovative Delivery Award. Our Holistic Dance Exercise Programme has earned this recognition, with the winner announced at the NZACA Conference, 29–30 October in Christchurch.

At Real Living, we love spending time with our residents — so when the opportunity for a commercial photoshoot arose, we knew our talented people had to be involved. To promote the new Avenue Apartments at Remuera Gardens, 40 residents from across our villages stepped into the spotlight and had a fantastic time becoming “actors” for the project.

Our newest residents at The Avenue couldn’t be happier. Take Kenneth, for example. Like many retirees, he wondered if it was too soon to make the move—he was still active, mowing lawns and managing his home with ease. But within days of settling into The Avenue Apartments, those doubts disappeared. Surrounded by new friends, modern comforts, and a welcoming community, Kenneth quickly realised he should have made the move sooner.