There’s a palpable buzz of excitement at Kevin Hickman Retirement Village as residents and staff eagerly await the official opening of the brand-new village centre.
“It’s like the countdown to Christmas!” says Village Manager Liz.
“The whole village is absolutely buzzing — people are really excited.”
A vibrant social hub
The new Village Centre features a wide range of recreational spaces, including a beauty parlour and hair salon, craft room, cinema, recreation room, library, workshop, café, and a bar and lounge area.
Artist impressions of the cafe and swimming pool which form part of the brand-new village centre
“It’s set to be a vibrant social hub where residents come together to play cards, meet for coffee, enjoy craft afternoons, or take part in exercise classes,” says Liz.
“There’s truly something for everyone. The craft ladies are going to love their beautiful new bespoke craft room, while others can’t wait to relax at Happy Hour in the spacious bar and lounge.”
Brent and Karen, avid Happy Hour fans, are no strangers to the village’s social scene — gatherings on the ‘Champagne Lawn’ are a firm favourite — but they’re excited to move their meetups into these brand-new, purpose-built spaces. Watching the café take shape just outside their window has made it feel even more real.
“I can walk 2-3 metres to have coffee with friends, new and old,” says Brent.
The couple is so enthusiastic about life at Kevin Hickman that they’ve
urged their friends to “move in quick — before all the available homes are snapped up!”
“You’re not just paying for a home, you’re investing in a lifestyle — and it’s fabulous,” says Brent, who especially appreciates that maintenance and gardening are included in the weekly fee.
Karen sums it up perfectly: “It’s like a resort!”
Residents, Brent & Karen, and Village Manager, Liz.
State-of-the-art care facilities
Alongside the social spaces, the new Village Centre houses a state-of-the-art care facility, including 20 hospital beds, 20 rest home beds, and two 20-bed dementia units.
“Our dementia units are thoughtfully designed to feel familiar and comforting,” explains Liz.
“They feature 1970s-style kitchens, spacious lounges and dining areas, and large glass doors that open onto peaceful courtyard gardens with water features and planter boxes."
To further support residents’ wellbeing, the dementia units are decorated with engaging artwork — such as images of the Eiffel Tower and New York taxis — to spark conversation. Each resident’s room is also marked with a unique colour pattern on the door to help with easy identification.
For residents seeking a bit more support, but wanting to maintain their independence, the centre also offers brand-new serviced apartments. These come with housekeeping, cleaning, and a midday meal, with additional services and meals available as needed. Apartments come in a variety of sizes and layouts, and boast views of either the Southern Alps, Port Hills, or Riccarton Racecourse.
Residents moved to tears by their first look
Although the Village Centre is yet to officially open, many residents have been given a private tour. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
We got a special tour yesterday and we were totally blown away — to the point where Karen had tears in her eyes,” says Brent.
“It’s very beautiful,” says Karen. “It’s elegant, stunning, sophisticated, but also workable. Classy as!”
Celebrating 40 years of care and community
The new centre comes shortly after another big milestone for the village operator — Ryman recently celebrated 40 years. The team at Kevin Hickman Village held a special event with an 80s-themed Happy Hour, complete with music and dancing.
It was a particularly special celebration for Village Manager Liz, who has a long history with Ryman.
“My mum moved into a Ryman village about 15 years ago. As a registered nurse, I was so impressed with the wonderful care she received that I decided I wanted to work for the company,” says Liz.
It’s really important to me to be able to provide great care for other people. As we say at Ryman, it’s ‘got to be good enough for mum and dad’.”
With stories like this, it’s little wonder that Ryman has just been voted New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand in the aged care and retirement village category for the 11th time. Survey respondents commended Ryman for its caring team, top-quality facilities, and comprehensive services.
Discover life at Kevin Hickman Retirement Village
Ready to see Kevin Hickman Retirement Village for yourself? Get in touch to book a tour, speak with one of the friendly team, or learn more about the village.
Modern living available now
Contemporary designs set in picture-perfect surroundings and bathed in natural light, choose from 1, 2 or 3 bedroom open plan layouts.
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