News

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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!”

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.

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…

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.

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!

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.”

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.