40 years of family, community and belonging
This year, Real Living proudly marks a remarkable milestone — 40 years since the foundation of its very first village in East Auckland.
When Pakuranga Park Village first welcomed residents in 1985, the concept of retirement villages in New Zealand was still a revolutionary idea. That bold vision shaped Real Living’s philosophy from the very beginning: to create places where older people could live with dignity, purpose, and companionship.
Today, that vision has grown into four vibrant villages — Pakuranga Park, Epsom Village, Remuera Gardens and, most recently, Warkworth Oaks — all still proudly owned by the same family who started it all.
Director Chris Murphy, a member of that founding family, says the company has always kept one thing at the heart of its work: listening to residents.
“We discovered most people don’t want to shrink their lives when they retire,” Chris explains. “That’s why we created the new Avenue apartments at Remuera Gardens — they’re some of the largest in Remuera, up to 163sqm, with plenty of storage. It’s about taking your life with you, and maybe making it even bigger.”
That commitment — and the fact that Real Living has remained proudly independent for 40 years — means the villages feel more personal and connected than most.
“We’re not big corporate entities,” says CEO Justin Marshall. “We’re small villages, with a heart and a soul that runs through everything we do. We have around 700 residents in total, which means our staff know every resident by name — and more than that, we spend time together.”
At Pakuranga Park, community spirit comes alive each year with two fiercely anticipated traditions: the Staff versus Residents Christmas Quiz and the annual bowls competition. For the first time in decades, the staff team surprisingly took home the bowling trophy last year. “As you can imagine, the stakes are higher than ever this year, with the residents determined to win it back — and the staff just as determined to defend our title!” Justin laughs.
A Lifestyle of Possibilities
The retirement village model allows residents to leave the chores behind and focus on what really matters — spending time with family, exploring hobbies, or trying something new.
Some, like Epsom Village resident Neville, take it to the next level. His walls are lined with medals from open ocean swimming competitions. Others, like Vera, are still ticking off bucket-list dreams — she went skydiving at 95!
Across Real Living villages, residents can shape the lifestyle that suits them best. Some enjoy the quiet comfort of home, while others make full use of the amenities.
Remuera Gardens, for example, offers a heated pool, gym, library, art room, and even an intimate 45-seat cinema. The gardens themselves are a labour of love, featuring over 130 varieties of roses and 130 varieties of camellias — each flower and plant carefully hand-labelled by the village’s passionate gardener.
For newer residents like Veronica at The Avenue apartments, the experience has been life-changing:
“We’re loving our new lifestyle. We continue to enjoy our life outside the Village but now also have other options like playing 500 on a Wednesday night, Friday evening happy hour, bowls on the new bowling green, making new friends, and all the while knowing that if we ever need help or support, the Village provides all that. The fellow residents have been very welcoming as we’ve joined into groups.”
A Year of Celebration
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Real Living is hosting a series of special events — highlighted by an October celebration featuring a Q&A with special guest, broadcaster Judy Bailey, affectionately known as ‘The Mother of the Nation.’
“This anniversary isn’t just about looking back,” Justin says. “It’s about celebrating with the community — and looking forward to the next 40 years of helping people live well, live fully, and live real.”
We’d love you to be part of the celebrations. To stay updated on our latest 40th anniversary events, please visit:
https://remueragardens.co.nz/j...
