News

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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”!

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’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.

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.

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!”

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”.

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.

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.

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.