Full House for Judy Bailey at Remuera Gardens

We’re thrilled to be celebrating Real Living’s 40th anniversary tomorrow — and even more delighted that our special Q&A event with the beloved Judy Bailey has officially sold out!

Residents, families, and guests are in for a truly memorable morning as we welcome one of New Zealand’s most cherished television personalities to Remuera Gardens for an inspiring conversation about life, ageing, and finding joy in every stage of the journey.

A household name for decades, Judy was the face of TV One’s primetime news bulletin for nearly 20 years. So cherished by viewers, she became known as the “Mother of the Nation” — a title that still holds a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders. Judy continues to inspire through her work and writing — her most recent book, Evolving, shares new science and personal stories that have shaped her own journey into older age.

Judy Bailey will join us at Remuera Gardens on Saturday, 18 October, to take part in a lively and inspiring Q&A as part of our anniversary celebrations.
In speaking with Real Living ahead of the event, Judy said:

“I’m looking forward to chatting and sharing some of the knowledge I gained from researching this ageing journey that we’re all on together.”

This year, Real Living proudly celebrates four decades since opening our very first village, Pakuranga Park, in East Auckland. Back in 1985, the concept of a retirement village in New Zealand was still revolutionary — but it shaped our vision from the very start: to create places where older people could live with dignity, purpose, and companionship.

Today, that vision has flourished into four vibrant villages — Pakuranga Park, Epsom Village, Remuera Gardens, and, most recently, Warkworth Oaks — all still proudly owned by the same families who began this journey.