All systems go for Mangawhai’s first retirement village

Metlifecare has been given the green light to build Mangawhai’s first retirement village following recent resource consent approval by Northland Regional and Kaipara District Councils. The company will invest around $110m transforming the 13-hectare greenfield site, located at 15 Sailrock Drive, into a premium retirement village with an onsite care home.

Once fully complete, the village will be home to approximately 300 residents and will provide a range of premium living options for New Zealand’s growing population, including around 160 two and three-bedroom villas, and a 45-bed hospital-level care home.

Metlifecare Development Manager, Tim Graham, who is overseeing all aspects of the new village, says the approval of the resource consent marks a significant step towards creating a vibrant and sustainable retirement village for one of Northland’s fastest-growing areas.

“We’re very excited to now be able to get started on the first stage of this project and to be part of Mangawhai’s thriving community. Since acquiring the site in December 2021, we’ve been engaging with iwi and other members of the local community, who have been incredibly supportive, and this has been essential to helping us obtain the resource consent.

“Now that we have achieved this milestone, we can start progressing the design to create a coastal village that the locals will love. It also means we will begin site works at the beginning of the next year,” says Mr Graham.

“Our team is dedicated to crafting a retirement village that not only offers premium amenities and living spaces, but also honours its laidback coastal character and native surroundings.

“It will be a low-intensity village, showcasing a blend of modern living with an appreciation for the native kanuka bush. Apart from the care and amenity building, it will consist only of single level dwellings.”

Mr Graham added the proposed development and village could create up to 140 construction jobs in the local community.

“With large-scale development projects comes multiple opportunities for local businesses and workers from right across the development sector. Once complete and fully operational, the village and care home will employ around 50 people, from village managers and nurses to kitchen staff and gardeners.”

Mr Graham said the new Mangawhai village will appeal to a broad range of retirees, including Northland locals and people from further afield, including Auckland, who are drawn to the area for a retreat-style retirement.

“With the new Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway having recently opened, it makes Mangawhai even more accessible,” says Mr Graham.

Reducing its environmental footprint when building new villages is a fundamental part of Metlifecare’s sustainability focus. The new villas will be targeting the New Zealand Green Business Council (NZGBC) Homestar 7 rating, and sustainable principles will be adopted throughout construction.

Earthworks are due to start in early 2024 and Metlifecare expects to welcome its first residents into the village in mid-2026.

ENDS

Register your interest at www.mangawhairetirement.co.nz (http://www.mangawhairetirement.co.nz) or email mangawhairetirement@metlifecare.co.nz (mailto:mangawhairetirement@metlifecare.co.nz)

For further details, please contact:

Lara Harrison
External Communications Specialist
Metlifecare

E: larah@metlifecare.co.nz (mailto:larah@metlifecare.co.nz)
P: 022 079 3554