News

Remuera Gardens truly embraced the festive spirit with 12 Days of Christmas celebrations — from bingo and crafts to concerts, fashion parades, and gingerbread house making. One of the highlights was our much-loved Christmas Market, packed with treats, handmade jewellery, fashion pieces, and beautiful artwork from Uplands Kindergarten.

At Real Living, the well-being of our residents—both physical and mental—is our top priority. Our pet policy requires Village Managers to grant individual approval for any new pets, ensuring a balanced and harmonious environment. However, they are always mindful of the joy and companionship that pets bring. That’s why, at Pakuranga Park, you’ll often see a variety of happy pets—cats, dogs, and even a few birds—enriching life in the village.

Can you guess our favourite season at Remuera Gardens? Definitely spring — when the gardens burst into colour and fragrance, and the Rose Garden becomes the perfect spot to relax, enjoy the view, and catch up on the latest grandkid gossip. Our gardens are full of stories, and to celebrate the joy they bring to our residents, we’re hosting special Garden & Apartment Tours on Friday 5 December, with special guest Ruud “The Bug Man” Kleinpaste. Don’t miss out — it will be a day to remember!

Remuera Gardens is now in full bloom! Explore our eight acres of cottage and tropical gardens — including more than 150 varieties of roses and 150 varieties of camellias. Together with Kings Plant Barn, we invite you to our Garden & Apartment Tours, where you’ll discover the story behind our gardens, visit our brand-new Avenue Apartments, and enjoy a special talk from VIP guest Ruud Kleinpaste, the beloved “Bug Man.”

“Don’t overcomplicate it — go back to basics.” As part of our 40-year celebrations, residents and guests at Remuera Gardens enjoyed a wonderful morning with celebrity chef Michael Van de Elzen, who championed simple, joyful cooking. Held in The Pavilion — the vibrant social hub of our new Avenue Apartments — Michael shared practical tips and easy recipes perfect for everyday meals.

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.

Imagine living just a short stroll from Newmarket’s shopping, theatres, cafés, and train station — while still enjoying the peace and security of a leafy village community. That’s exactly what Epsom Village offers: comfort, convenience, and companionship in a village where residents and staff know each other by name. With a choice of rarely available apartments starting from $520,000, there’s never been a better time to discover life at Epsom Village.