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what's new

19 September 2011: The latest edition of the Villager is now available »

10 August 2011: Fees for retirement village registration change from 11 August 2011 »

essential resources

Retirement Villages. Read the 'Thinking of living in a retirement village?' online or you can order a free hard copy by completing our online form.

Tips on choosing a retirement village

An operator's guide to retirement villages [PDF 179 KB, 16 pages].

further information

for implementation of the Retirement Villages Act call the Department of Building and Housing on 0800 83 62 62

for registration requirements call the Register of Retirement VillagesNZ Companies Office - Register of Retirement Villages website. on 0800 268 269 

for information about the disputes process call the Retirement CommissionRetirement Commission website on 04 499 7396

on choosing a retirement village visit the Sorted website www.sorted.org.nz

for accommodation supplements call Work and Income New ZealandWork and Income NZ website on 0800 599 009

The Ministry of Social Development offers a number of services for older people. Click hereMinistry of Social Development website for more information or phone 0800 552 002.

help with PDF files

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Retirement villages regulations

The following regulations that accompany the Retirement Villages Act 2003 are in force. Copies of these regulations can be found at the New Zealand Legislation websitewww.legislation.govt.nz or purchased at Bennetts Bookshop.

Retirement Villages (Crossdale Courts) Order 2008

This is a special regulation declaring the property known as Crossdale Courts to be a retirement village for the purposes of the Act.

Retirement Villages (Disputes Panel) Regulations 2006

The Disputes Panel Regulations contain information on the process for resolving disputes between residents and operators. Since 1 October 2006 all retirement villages, as defined in section 6 of the Act, need to operate, or provide access to, an internal complaints facility. Any disputes that cannot be resolved at the village level can then be referred to the Disputes Panel set up under the Act.

Retirement Villages (Fees) Regulations 2006

The Fees Regulations set out the fees payable for the registration of villages and the filing of annual returns under the Act. The fees were updated with effect from 11 August 2011.

Disclosure statement template for retirement village operators

The disclosure statement is a requirement of the Act. As of 1 May 2007 all operators must issue compliant disclosure statements to intending residents before these residents can sign occupation right agreements. A disclosure statement will also need to be lodged with the Registrar of Retirement Villages as part of the registration process. All existing residents should have received a compliant disclosure statement by 1 May 2008.

Details of what should be included in the disclosure statement are outlined in Schedule 2 and schedule 5 of the Retirement Villages Act, and the Retirement Villages (General) Regulations. A disclosure statement template designed by the Department is available, free of charge, to help operators to develop these complex documents.  The disclosure statement template for Retirement Village operators [Word 813 KB, 27 pages] is a guide only and its use is voluntary.  Operators may wish to develop their own disclosure statements without using this template.

It is important to make sure that the disclosure statement is compliant with the legislation. Occupation right agreements may be void if a resident entered into the agreement without receiving a disclosure statement that complies with the Act.