News

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!”