RETURN TO ALL
Retirement villages are currently under review. I had the opportunity to address operators of these villages at the Retirement Villages Association conference to tell them that there is a symbiotic relationship between residents and operators including that both want a sustainable retirement village sector so that older Kiwis have choice. We need to leverage off the joint interests of residents and operators for the benefit of residents, but also villages. The expertise that lies within operators and residents should together guide the government. It is the work of the Retirement Villages' Residents' Council, of which I am the independent chair.
The Retirement Villages' Residents' Council is hearing from residents directly on what they want. They tell us they are mostly very happy in villages, but they do want change. They want certainty over when their capital will be repaid, an improved dispute resolution system, capital repayments and clearer, consistent Occupation Rights Agreements.
I had the opportunity at the conference to catch-up with Minister Potaka who said that the review was "timely", but he believed we are weeks away from some kind of announcement on the review. So watch this space!