Putting down roots at Orion Point- Annette Rice

Meet Annette Rice, whose love of nature and active lifestyle found the perfect home at Metlifecare’s Orion Point Village.

With open green spaces, native plants, birdlife, and a coastal boardwalk just outside her door, moving to Orion Point was an easy decision for nature lover Annette Rice.
After 40 years on large West Auckland properties near their favorite Waitākere Ranges tracks, space was a key factor for Annette and husband Phil, and Orion Point delivered.
As some of the first residents to move in during September 2023, they arrived before the amenities were built. “It was exciting to watch it all come together,” says Annette. “When I first saw the ad for Orion Point, I thought, ‘I could live there.’ After visiting, I knew I really could!”
Annette admits they weren’t always open to retirement village life. “A few years ago, we’d have said ‘no way.’ People often think villages are crowded or outdated—but Orion Point is the opposite. It doesn’t look or feel like a retirement village at all.”
Location was another big drawcard. They wanted to stay close to friends, family, and the life they’d built. Plus, the easy city commute allows Annette to continue her conservation work with the Motutapu Restoration Trust, where she’s volunteered for five years.
Most Wednesdays, I catch the ferry from Hobsonville Point to the city, then head to Motutapu Island. I spend the day planting trees, weeding, or working in the nursery. It’s hard work, but it keeps me fit!
Since moving, Annette has embraced new hobbies—line dancing, Zumba Gold, Aqua Zumba, quiz nights, happy hour, and the garden club, where residents grow their own produce.
One thing I missed from our previous home was my garden. But here, I get to plant veggies without worrying about maintenance or lawns - it’s the best of both worlds.
With so much on offer, Annette and Phil have become more social, forming a new circle of friends who now feel like family.

- Annette Rice, Orion Point Village Resident