Phil describes his role as Village Manager at The Bayview by Oceania in Tauranga, with a smile: “Probably the best way to describe it is like the mayor of a really small village.”
It’s an apt metaphor. Phil is a hands-on leader who knows that creating a great village experience is about one key thing: “Resident satisfaction. That’s my one KPI.”
And by the sounds of it, things are going pretty well.
Every day is pretty bloody good, to be honest,” he says. “There’s always something different - and that’s what I love about village life here.”
From hosting Port tours and driving the village van to joining in on Twilight Bowls, Phil is right there alongside residents. “I’ve got more of a social life being here, to be honest,” he laughs.
What makes it all worthwhile? The people.
What I love most about The Bayview is the people,” he says. “It’s such a privilege to be in their home.”
Phil and his team take that privilege seriously. “Our staff are phenomenal. They look after our residents. Culture is everything, and at The Bayview, the most common comment we get is, ‘The vibe is really good.’”
That culture is built on community and diversity.
Residents at The Bayview enjoying a coffee in the lounge.
“We’ve got all sorts of people here: ex-farmers, scientists, motorbike racers, couples, friends, even two sisters moving in soon. Everyone’s got a story. Seriously amazing stories.”
Phil recalls asking residents early on what advice they’d give to others. The response?
“‘We wish we could have done it earlier.’ I hear it all the time.”
He encourages anyone even vaguely curious about village life to come and see for themselves.
My biggest advice: don’t leave it too late. Come in while you can. Come and have some fun, relax, make life easy.”
Visitors are often surprised by what they find.
“I just had a couple in this morning looking for their parents. Their reaction? ‘I’d live here!’ They said, ‘This is like a five-star resort.’”
So if you’re wondering what life at The Bayview might feel like, Phil has a simple suggestion:
“Have a look. Get the vibe. Talk to people. And don’t leave it too late.”
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