National Retirement Villages

Metlifecare is one of New Zealand's largest and most established retirement village operators, with a network of villages stretching from Kerikeri in the Far North to Wānaka in the Southern Lakes. Our villages range from boutique communities to large resort-style villages, offering independent living, serviced apartments and aged care. Whether you're looking close to family, near the coast or in the heart of a city, there's likely a Metlifecare village in a region that suits you.

Metlifecare villages span both islands. In the North Island, you'll find us across Auckland, Northland (Kerikeri, Whangārei and Mangawhai), the Waikato (Hamilton and Cambridge), the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa), the Kāpiti Coast, Palmerston North, and with new villages coming to Hawke's Bay. In the South Island, we have villages in Christchurch, Blenheim and Wānaka. Each region offers its own lifestyle, from city convenience to coastal and alpine living.

What many people still call a rest home, Metlifecare provides as aged care, delivered in care homes and care suites within our village communities. Across New Zealand, many of our villages offer aged care alongside independent living, and selected villages provide higher levels of support including hospital-level care, such as The Village Palms in Christchurch. The level of care available varies from village to village, so the best approach is to tell us your preferred location and the type of care you're looking for, and our team can point you to the nearest villages that provide it.

Across the country, Metlifecare offers three main living options. Independent living suits active retirees who want a low-maintenance home and a ready-made community. Serviced apartments add support with everyday tasks like meals and housekeeping. Aged care provides rest home and, at some villages, hospital-level care for those who need more support. Many villages offer a combination, which means you can move between options and stay in the same community if your needs change over time.

Most Metlifecare homes are purchased under an Occupation Right Agreement (ORA), which gives you the right to occupy your home and enjoy the village's facilities and community. It's different from buying a standard house: alongside the purchase price there's a regular fee covering services and amenities, and a deferred management fee that applies when you eventually leave. It's worth talking through the details with the team, or reading our retirement guides, so you understand exactly what's included before you decide.

The best place to start is to think about location, lifestyle and whether you may want care available in future, then compare a few villages that fit. You can browse villages by region, book a village tour to get a feel for the community in person, or request a village info pack to compare your options from home. If you're not sure where to begin, our team can talk through your priorities and suggest villages across New Zealand that match what matters most to you.