Whangārei
Milldale
Hobsonville
Ellerslie
Karaka
Rototuna
Warkworth
Half Moon Bay
Manukau
Katikati Papamoa Beach
More than New Zealanders call
Hamilton
7,600
Cambridge
Nelson
Richmond
Bell Block
New Plymouth
Whanganui
Waikanae Levin
Paraparaumu
Trentham
Lower Hutt
Aotea
Kenepuru Blenheim Rangiora
KEY
Avonhead
Wigram
Prebbleton
St Johns Rotorua
Taupō
Napier
Te Awa
Hastings
Havelock North
Palmerston North
Kelvin Grove
Masterton
Rolleston
Casebrook
= Summerset village
= Proposed village
Mosgiel
Dunedin
We really enjoy telling your stories. If you have an exciting or interesting tale to tell, get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you!
magazine@summerset.co.nz
COVER Gordon Trevett Photo credits: Anna Menendez from Anna Menendez Photography.Welcome to the latest issue of Summerset Scene. As the days have been getting longer I have brought my bike out of its winter hibernation, with the intention to start riding it once again to work. Like many people, I find exercise a lot easier when the weather is warmer. Not so Gordon Trevett, this issue’s cover star from Summerset by the Sea. As a champion rower he would be on the water in all weather and seasons. Read his story on page 4.
Speaking of water, I headed down to Christchurch to talk to Neil Harrison, who took the plunge and now runs the Summerset on Cavendish Aqua Fit classes. Read his story on page 14. Summerset Prebbleton’s first residents share their unusual connection to their new home on page 10, and Summerset on Cavendish's Paul Brown opens the doors of his real-life
Christmas toy workshop to Summerset Scene on page 44. It has been a busy time for
fundraising recently, with our residents raising an astonishing amount for various charities as well as volunteering their time. Turn to page 20 to read about our residents’ generosity of spirit and genuine care for others –some of them show it through driving; others by jumping from a plane!
To welcome in spring, we are running a haiku competition, inspired by the Haiku Walkway in Katikati. Enter to be in to win a $50 Prezzy Card, more details on page 49. We have our usual selection of spring’s best reads, recipes, and gardening ideas, as well as puzzles, crafts and travel. Enjoy!
Ellie Clifford SUMMERSET SCENE EDITOR
When you meet Gordon Trevett, you cannot help but be impressed by his great height. Standing at 6 feet, 9 inches tall (206 cm), he towers over almost everyone. “At one point when I was a teen it was thought I was the tallest person in England,” he says. “The Daily Mirror wanted to do a story on me. But my mum said no. She didn’t want me to be known for just being tall.”
So, instead, Gordon became known for his rowing. Specifically, the facts that he was selected to row for both Great Britain and New Zealand, has won scores of trophies (he amassed over 100 cups) and at 80 years old still holds indoor rowing records that no one has yet managed to beat.
As a teen growing up in the west London district of Acton, Gordon’s life was far removed from the traditional image of Oxbridge Blues – privileged male rowers in blazers and boaters displaying their shades of blue. “Dad was a
butler for the aristocracy in London. Rowing wasn’t something offered at a state school.” It wasn’t until he went to work for what would become NatWest Bank at 17 that he tried rowing. The bank had a sports club, and he was invited to participate. “When I sat in my first boat, it was like someone switched a light on,” says Gordon. “It was pure passion. I knew instantly that rowing was for me.”
Contrary to popular belief, the power for rowing is delivered not from the arms and shoulders but from the legs. So, Gordon began training in earnest, running three times a week and rowing twice a day. “I was full of aggression, and rowing was an excellent way to get that out.” Rowing has a long season – 11 months of the year – meaning there was little down time, and training in the English winter could be brutal. “Ice on the oars was not uncommon!” Gordon would row 24km at a time. “Mileage makes champions!” he quips. As the strongest oarsman, Gordon would row in seat 5 of 8 – the power seat.
When he was 19, Gordon competed at the Henley Royal Regatta, the epic society event which is also the highlight of the rowing
Left: Gordon with some of his medalsseason’s calendar. His crew smashed three records that week, beating the favourite Ivy League American teams, and won the coveted Thames Cup, making Gordon the youngest competitor ever to win a senior event there. His name was on everyone’s lips in the rowing world and, at 20, he was invited to represent Great Britain in the 1964 Olympics. Gordon instead decided he wanted to do an OE and accepted work at the National Bank in New Zealand. “I thought that since I was so young I could just join the Olympic team in ’68 instead,” he says. Without him on the team, Great Britain won silver at the ’64 Olympics.
Britain’s loss was New Zealand’s gain, as within a year of arriving he was representing the
country, training out of St Georges Rowing Club in Auckland. It nearly never was, for Gordon made the long-haul journey in a turboprop plane so tiny he needed to sit sideways. “As my feet were on the ground for four days, they were like footballs. I got deep vein thrombosis. I had a stay at the Lower Hutt hospital upon arrival!”
Rowing was not a paid sport back then, and Gordon would work full-time as a marketing manager and take three months off to compete, something his employer was fine about, as he was representing New Zealand. Gordon had also met his future wife, Averill, and with a marriage and two children in the mix, his OE turned permanent.
Above: Gordon makes good use of the rowing machine at the Summerset gym.
“There was $6 million NZ dollars in the safe in 2 kina notes [the PNG currency], and I was the only one who knew the combination!”
Adventure soon beckoned again. This time in the form of an eight-year sojourn to Banz in Papua New Guinea managing an Arabica coffee buying and processing factory. Frequent threats of kidnapping and murder while facing the pointy end of a spear were all in a week’s work for Gordon. “There was $6 million NZ dollars in the safe in 2 kina notes [the PNG currency], and I was the only one who knew the combination!” laughs Gordon, who credits his size for avoiding much of the aggression. “I had three sawn-off shotguns – one at the office, one in the car and one at home!”
On the family’s return to New Zealand, Gordon moved into fundraising for schools, setting up a consultancy to improve sporting facilities ($8.5 million for a swimming pool at one school) as well as the Arts ($3 million for a creative arts centre at another) for private and public institutions across the country. His drive to succeed meant that Gordon was the leading fundraiser in New Zealand for 14 years. Sports
and education are intertwined for Gordon, with stints as Sport High Performance Manager at the renowned University of Bristol in England, and in Auckland as Director of Rowing at both King’s College and Auckland Rowing Club.
Gordon and Averill have lived at Summerset by the Sea in Katikati for five years, where Gordon keeps his links with education by driving the local school bus. Some trophies he has given away, but he has kept his medals. Gordon admires the ocean view, these days, rather than practise his oarsmanship on it. At 80, he competes in the 80–84 indoor rowing age group. Gordon contents himself to best those far younger with his unbeaten records on the rowing ergometer, using the rowing machine and the weights in the Summerset gym to keep fit and keep his muscle mass up by benchpressing and squatting with weights several times a week. “We love it here,” he says, “Great facilities, great people, and so much going on in the village. It’s an easy lifestyle.”
Summerset’s philosophy of bringing the ‘best of life’ has a strong focus on the use of therapeutic tools such as art. Research from the academic journal Healthcare shows that art can help improve older adults’ quality of life and well being in a variety of ways. These include better cognitive function, memory and self-esteem, reduced stress, and increased social interaction. We understand that art has the ability of optimising the health of our people, enriching well-being, and therefore enhancing quality of life .
That’s why Summerset was delighted to support this year’s Art in the Park show in Auckland. Bursting onto the art scene in 2021, Art in the Park has grown into the country's breakout artist-led show. Thousands flocked to Eden Park to be immersed in a weekend of New Zealand art and culture at the country’s famous stadium. Art in the Park champions Māori, Pasifika, and Pākehā voices from all corners of Aotearoa, which are experienced alongside sweeping views of the famous pitch.
At Summerset, our national team of therapeutic recreation specialists incorporates the use of art to support cognition, to empower self-determination,
to facilitate joyful and healing moments, and to encourage meaningful expression. We work with art schools such as Whitecliffe College, and each year we welcome art therapy students to do their placements in our memory care centres. Art at Summerset has proven to enhance the well being of our residents, in particular people living with dementia.
Summerset has recently been named by BusinessDesk as one of the largest residential builders, second only to Fletcher Building. What sets us apart from Fletcher, and most others on the list, is that we are invested in our properties all the way from the land purchase and development stage to the design and construction phase, and finally to the operation and management of our villages. Not only do we build homes, but we build facilities at our villages too, such as hair salons, cafés, gyms, cinemas and swimming pools. We currently have 17 projects underway in New Zealand, and many more completed villages. We are proud of the work we do to create fantastic homes and villages to help bring the ‘best of life’ to our residents.
Summerset has been recognised for our green efforts recently, winning the ‘Best Operator-led Sustainability Programme’ in the Retirement Village Association’s Sustainability Awards.
Our entry centred on our Think Green programme and the huge amount of work we’ve done over the last five years to reduce our carbon emissions. The Think Green programme focuses on reducing our environmental impact in the key areas of energy (electricity and gas), waste, paper, fertilisers and travel. A key achievement is the implementation of our construction waste avoidance programme which is delivering benefits right across the organisation.
The judges of the award were looking for clearly measurable projects that demonstrate genuine benefits to residents and the community.
WE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE A TARGET OF A 5% REDUCTION IN CARBON EMISSIONS INTENSITY, WHICH WE SMASHED – ACHIEVING 16% !
We are delighted to be recognised by the industry for our work in this area. Sustainability is a journey, and our Think Green programme was what kickstarted ours. We have a responsibility as a kaitiaki to act as guardians for future generations and care for our environment.
As we continue with our efforts, we want to ensure our residents are even more a part of what we do. It would be a terrific achievement to win the Best Resident Led Initiative or Best Resident Led Gardening Initiative next year!
For most people, retirement means saying goodbye to their workplace. Not so for Brian O’Neill, who has ended up living on the site where he used to deliver compost for his old employer. Summerset Prebbleton is built on the site of an old mushroom farm – Meadow Mushrooms. Not only did Brian formerly work on the site, but he and his wife Ann were the first people to move into Summerset’s fourth, and newest, Christchurch village.
Brian and Ann’s villa is a far cry from what the site looked (and smelled) like in its previous life as an international and domestic producer of fungi. “Each week 184 tonnes of button and Swiss mushrooms were produced, all picked by hand. And did it sometimes smell!” laughs Brian. The mushroom spores were put onto compost, which was a pungent mixture of peat, lime, gypsum, wheat straw and chicken droppings. Brian’s role was in haulage, and he was employed to bring in about 350 tonnes of compost two days a week and carting spent compost for a further two and a half days a week. “There were about three or four of us bringing it in and out. The wooden growing racks were washed where our lovely villa is now!”
Brian worked for the company for about eight years, but a small stroke meant he was not allowed to drive commercially for three years, prompting his retirement. “We decided that eventually a retirement village would be on the cards. We wanted reassurance that if things deteriorated for us, healthwise, there would be facilities to take care of us,” says Brian. The pair thought moving would be a lot further down the track for them and were looking on behalf of Brian’s widowed cousin.
“We happened to be looking through the fence during construction, and Brian remarked, ‘That one will be our villa there,’” said Ann. “That’s when we started to have a serious conversation about bringing the move forward. We ended up buying off the plan.”
During their hunt with Brian’s cousin, the couple had visited the Summerset at Avonhead village several times and were struck by how comfortable they felt there. “We just felt right at home and got a really nice vibe from the place,” said Brian. “We had no qualms about buying off the plans for Prebbleton because Avonhead showed us what the village would be like and what the facilities would be when they all came in.”
The village’s origins as a farming site appealed to the pair, who appreciate the rural surroundings. When asked what it was like being the only ones there as the first residents in a village, Ann replies, “It was a little weird! That first night, once the staff went home we had the whole place to ourselves and we wandered around enjoying the space.”
The couple were the only residents for about a week before neighbours came to join them. Having had first choice of homes, Brian and Ann chose to live next to the home currently used for the village events and Happy Hour. “A short stroll from all the fun!” As the inaugural residents, Ann and Brian welcome their new neighbours with open arms, ensuring they get to know them at various events. The two have also taken enthusiastically to Rummikub, which the Activities Coordinator taught them.
“We actually didn’t have any expectations around the social side,” remarks Brian. “We thought we were just getting a house, but it’s like going to a resort that you bring your own furniture to!”
Ann agrees. “Everyone who lives here really gets on well. We all seem to be on the same wavelength. At our time of life you want to relax, enjoy yourself and not worry about things. There’s loads going on here and we also go off exploring a lot in our motorhome, which we have parking for up the road.”
Ann is also kept busy with her role as volunteer at the SPCA, where she spends part of each week looking after the cats. She also fosters them at home. The village is supportive, with the residents even holding a market day at the village, with all the profits going to items needed by the local SPCA. Ann says, “We raised around $1,100. It had excellent support from the residents at the village. We purchased travel cages, thirty cat toys, small play balls and heat pads for keeping kittens, post-surgery cats and unwell cats warm. All this was really appreciated by SPCA staff.”
Ann’s current foster is a mighty moggy who, despite being abandoned, is the size of a small panther. Matthew Purry is recovering from an operation and appreciates the chance to lie around the villa, basking in the sunshine. “The SPCA provide all the necessities, but I buy him the cat toys,” says Ann. “I have fostered 51 cats over the years. A lot came through during Covid. We always used to have cats, but it’s hard to have a pet with a motorhome. Fostering is a good compromise.”
The village is supportive, with the residents even holding a market day at the village, with all the profits going to items needed by the local SPCA.
From Waikanae down to the Cook Strait and across to Mount Bruce in the Wairarapa, Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) serves a region of 500,000 people free of charge. We know how important this incredible free service is for the people of Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. And as a proud Principal Partner, we are delighted to support them for their 2023 Onesie Appeal, which kicked off on 4 September. The Onesie Appeal is the largest community fundraiser for the organisation, and the money raised goes towards keeping the service free, as well as vital equipment such as blood glucose monitors, trauma kits, splint kits and electric thermometers. Some of our residents even took part in the Onesie Appeal photo shoot to raise awareness around the campaign. Resident Doug shares his story below.
When Summerset at Aotea resident Doug Hazelwood saw the call for volunteers to be part of the Wellington Free Ambulance Onesie Appeal photoshoot, he knew he had to get involved.
Doug (81) was motivated by his personal experience of needing Wellington Free Ambulance, but mostly because of his daughter Alesha.
Alesha has been a paramedic with Wellington Free for the past ten years, a fact he is incredibly proud of.
Dressing up in a onesie and having a dance alongside fellow Aotea residents, Noni and Anita, didn’t faze Doug in the slightest.
“I really enjoyed the experience. It’s important to give back to our community. This is our only ambulance service and we need to get in behind it to keep it free. We rely on them and need to make sure they are there when we need them.”
Summerset is the Principal Partner of the Wellington Free Ambulance Onesie Appeal. This year
Summerset donated $50,000 towards the largest fundraiser the organisation holds in September, which aims to raise over $200,000 to keep the service free of charge. This is the third year
Summerset has been involved – but the first time residents have volunteered to be onesie models!
“Her mother and I weren’t surprised when she decided to train as a paramedic. She is such a people person who likes to help, she has a really caring side.”
Volunteering is a family value of the Hazelwoods. Doug spent ten years as a budget advisor at the Salvation Army, and has been on school committees and other clubs. Alesha followed in his footsteps as a volunteer firefighter, and during her paramedicine degree at Whitirea volunteered to help in the lab.
Like her father, Alesha is community minded, describing her role as a paramedic as a way of making a difference by supporting people in a time of crisis.
“I love the variety of the work and the people. It’s a privilege to be able to go into their private homes and be parts of private and often really tough moments,” describes Alesha.
“Sometimes it’s tough — it’s emotional. Times of crisis are hard on everyone. But you are there with a clinical job to do. You take time out afterwards to debrief and acknowledge the tough bits and reflect,” says Alesha.
Family support from Doug and her brothers and sister is hugely important to Alesha.
“They have always been there for me – checking in when they know I’ve had a tough day. We also plan family occasions around my shift work. Last year we had Christmas on Boxing Day, and we often have birthday celebrations on random dates to ensure I am able to be there.”
Alesha wasn’t at all surprised when she heard Doug had put himself forward for onesie duty.
“He’s such an active community man, and I’ve always known how proud he is of me and my work for Wellington Free. Now I get to be proud of him as a volunteer for Wellington Free!”
Donations for the Onesie Appeal close on 30 September, but you can donate to the WFA at any time. Visit wfa.org.nz for more information.
“I think it’s a wonderful way for the residents of Summerset to unite – it’s a bonding experience across the villages,” explains Doug when thinking about the support from Summerset across the region.
Neil Harrison, who lives at the village with his wife Carol, generously volunteered to lead the class after the staff member who used to run it moved roles. Despite being a newcomer to teaching Aqua Fit, Neil's commitment to his daily swims served as a solid foundation, giving him the confidence to embark on the new role. The class has been popular from the get-go. “On the first day we had 9 people attend,” says Neil. “We now have 13, which is about the maximum that we can have comfortably.”
Word about the class has spread and the residents are keen for more sessions. Neil is relaxed about the idea, but is a keen advocate for exercising in water, especially for seniors. “I began swimming daily when we moved here, as the pool is so close. You lose a third of your body weight in water, so it is kind on your joints, especially your knees and hips,” Neil explains. Two or three attendees have mentioned how good they feel after the exercises. A lady with a walker attends and has remarked on how her balance has improved. One participant who is diabetic has told me that he tests his sugar
levels before and after the class, and post-class his sugar points are about 3 to 4 points lower – if that is down to the exercise then that’s great news!”
Teaching aqua aerobics might be new for him, but Neil is no stranger to exercise. As a volunteer firefighter for 17 years, Neil took part in the fitness competitions held each year between the North and South Island volunteers. “We have always been an active family. Carol and our daughter, Belinda, were keen on gymnastics, and our son, Nigel, did motocross. He was in the Junior Championships. We always seemed to be travelling from race to race.”
To gain inspiration to teach the Aqua Fit class, Neil and Carol headed off as spectators to classes held at the Dudley Park Aquatic Centre in Rangiora and the QEII Recreation and Sport Centre in Christchurch. “We needed some ideas about routines and equipment!” Neil laughs. “We probably do about 20 to 22 exercises in the class. Pool noodles are really useful, and Summerset has bought us some dumbbells.”
Thursdays at 10:30am there’s a buzz of excitement at the Summerset on Cavendish swimming pool as a group of residents gathers for their lively weekly Aqua Fit class, expertly guided by one of their own.
Positioned outside the pool, Neil demonstrates the moves, while assuring everyone that there's no pressure to complete them all. “Just do what you can and, most importantly, have fun,” he advises. The positive feedback from the attendees, who are both men and women, speaks volumes about Neil's effective approach. As a result, the classes, originally scheduled for 30 minutes, have been extended to 45–50 minutes by popular demand. Clearly, Neil has made quite the splash, delivering a class that combines fitness and enjoyment seamlessly.
The couple, who have lived in the village for almost a year, say that the class has become a good way to meet more residents in the friendly
village. “We absolutely love it here,” declares Carol, whose sister also lives in the village.
“We couldn’t have been made more welcome by our neighbours. They took us along to our first Happy Hour and we go on bus trips and attend functions.”
The pair had been looking for a retirement village for a long time, “And we had vowed to make the move while we were healthy and fit,” says Neil. “Our grandchildren in Dunedin love to come and visit us here. They especially enjoy using the pool!”
Top: Neil demonstrating a move. Bottom right: Weights are used in the class.
Summerset hit a milestone moment recently with the launch of our first Australian village –Cranbourne North in Melbourne. Nestled on 5.7 hectares of land, the village boasts a prime location, offering convenient access to supermarkets, shopping centres and picturesque walking tracks. Its proximity to the motorway, bus and train services ensures effortless commuting options, while the Royal Botanic Gardens
It was a night of glitz and glam at the Toitoi Arts and Events Centre in Hastings recently, as more than 100 guests turned out in style for the Summerset Dementia Hawke’s Bay Matariki Charity Ball & Auction. As a proud partner of Dementia NZ, Summerset was delighted to support the event – which raised nearly $13,000 for the local community impacted by dementia. Dementia mate wareware affects 50 million people globally, and we are determined to help raise awareness around the disease and raise the quality of life for those affected by it.
Cranbourne and the local golf club lie just minutes away, adding to the appeal of our vibrant community. Our Cranbourne North village will have its first 10 villas completed at the end of the year, with residents moving in early next year. We are so excited to be bringing the Summerset lifestyle and our continuum of care model to Australia.
‘Hatches, matches and dispatches’ are guaranteed occasions to bring the wider family together. It’s a time when everyone decides to stop doing whatever they might have had planned and put family first. Be it a new life to celebrate, a couple to wish well, or a life to farewell, they are all milestone markers that bring people together for a shared experience.
As so often seems to happen (in my experience anyway), our family recently lost someone and celebrated a little person – both within a week of each other. It is not the first time for me that such moments coincide in a short timeframe, perhaps serving as a reminder about the cycle of life and how precious it is when you have it.
My father-in-law had lived a long and fruitful life when he recently passed away at the age of 91. Funerals are sad, poignant occasions without doubt. However, there is happiness in seeing people connect, and often reconnect after quite some time, over a cuppa and a chat after the service. While lives move on, children grow up and make their way, people move cities and countries, and couples separate and re-partner – you can’t change history. Regardless of where things are right now, at some point in the past the connection with someone (be they family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues or past loves) deems it a valid relationship that had energy around it. It existed. Of course, many may still be connected on a regular basis, but occasions like these certainly provide the opportunity to rekindle relationships that have not had the time or energy invested in them with the ever-incessant march of life. It was great to see people reconnect and pick up from where they left off, often with the call to stay better in touch now they had reconnected.
Attending a one-year old’s birthday provides another sort of family experience – the opportunity to meet a whole bunch of new people that are
connected to a new little life; people on the same journey at the same time with their children, making their own memories. I found myself smiling at the little boy obsessed with doing circuits on a bike around the back yard, a wee fella crawling round the floor at speed to try and catch up with his sibling, and a birthday girl eye rubbing and heading off for a mid-party snooze to get through the afternoon. I remember these parties! I mused on lots of supportive and enjoyable connections that will likely morph and change over a lifetime… or perhaps stay connected for decades to come
Looking back to our eldest’s first birthday party (27 years ago now), it seems just like yesterday and so long ago all at the same time. And when I think about the people there – the same thing applies. Many are still in my life, others have moved on, but if the chance came to reconnect, it wouldn’t be too hard because history doesn’t change.
And soon there will be the ‘matches’ to attend, with four weddings in the next year of our friends’ children. Can’t wait!
Top: Jude with her great-niece Margot.Introducing The Great Summerset Challenge! Villages from across the country are competing to be crowned Summerset’s Great Challenge Champions for 2023. Live streamed from our villages, the general knowledge competition – think University Challenge-style – has six regional events, with the winners from each region going head-to-head in the Grand Final, which will be held at the Harbourside Function Centre on Wellington’s waterfront on 9 November.
An Interview With…
Summerset on Cavendish was the scene for Jude’s recent live interview with Sir Ian Taylor (pictured below). Sir Ian’s story mirrors NZ growth from its days as an agriculturebased economy. With careers as disparate as agricultural worker, rock singer, lawyer and television star, Sir Ian’s life is nowhere near ordinary. Engaging and interesting, Ian discusses being part of an industry that went from black and white film to colour video and on into the digital age.
The interview will be released on our website on 25 September at 2pm.
Visit: summerset.co.nz/an-interview-with
Cooking with a MasterChef
MasterChef winner Brett McGregor shows us fresh takes for the humble egg with his ‘eggs 3 ways’ – breakfast, lunch and dinner. The pre-recorded session will be released online at 12pm on 22 September. Share your results and enjoy a natter with Brett on Chat with the Chef on 29 September at 2pm.
October’s episode is ‘Celebrating Spring’. Join Brett for a lesson in all things fresh and seasonal. Filmed LIVE at Summerset down the Lane in Hamilton on 2 October at 2pm, the episode recording will be released online at on 20 October at 12pm. Chat with the Chef, Friday 27 October at 2pm.
November’s Cooking with a MasterChef focuses on the staple of every Christmas party – canapés! The pre-recorded episode is released online on 17 November at 12pm. Join Brett for a festive chinwag and Q&A on Friday 24 November at 2pm. Visit: summerset.co.nz/masterchef Live Chat with the Chef: Zoom code 813 5296 770
The Summerset Big
Join us every second Thursday of the month for The Big Quiz series. Starting at 4pm, it is a great excuse to get together with friends online or at home for some light-hearted testing of the grey matter! Your next quizzes are 12 October, 16 November and 14 December Use Zoom 875 6609 0726
We have an exciting line up of events running this spring. We are really looking forward to sharing them with you!
A Summerset World has launched! Five episodes of our very own variety show are now available to view on our website! The TV show highlights the variety and vibrancy of life across Summerset and introduces you to the wonderful residents who call our villages home.
Host, producer and director William Kircher travels the country to profile a different Summerset village each episode and showcase the talents and interests of the residents living there. Join William as he explores each village, and enjoy a glimpse into what makes each Summerset village a fun, unique and interesting place to live. Episode 6 will launch on 13 November.
Visit: summerset.co.nz/a-summerset-world
Summerset Sings
Beloved crooner Will Martin brings some festive cheer to the South Island with his live afternoon Christmas concert on 30 November, at 2:30pm exclusively for residents and their guests. Held at Piano on Armagh Street in central Christchurch, attendees will enjoy complimentary drinks before being serenaded by Will and special guest Chloe Agnew, the Irish singer/songwriter and founding member of the music group Celtic Women. Coaches will provide transport there and back so residents can relax and and enjoy the Christmas singalong. The concert will be recorded and released on our website 20 December for everyone to enjoy.
Visit: summerset.co.nz/summerset-sings
The NZSO and Summerset are proud to continue a thriving partnership in 2023, which includes exclusive offers for Summerset residents.
One of the world’s oldest national symphony orchestras, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) has enthralled audiences with memorable concert experiences featuring exciting guest artists and recordings since 1947. Today, it is recognised as an outstanding orchestra of international stature, and a jewel in Aotearoa’s crown. The NZSO's reputation for artistic excellence attracts many of the world’s leading musicians, conductors and soloists each year, while also celebrating homegrown artistic talent.
Summerset residents can enjoy 25% off most concerts* using the discount code SUMMERSET25 To find out more about forthcoming concerts visit www.nzso.co.nz
Sign up to NZSO+ for behind-the-scenes content and concerts: www.nzso.co.nz/plus
(*some exclusions apply)
Summerset is grateful for the tireless work that our partner Dementia New Zealand does to help those affected by mate wareware dementia. In June, residents from Summerset by the Park, Manukau, raised an incredible $2,600. The village held a market day with a bake sale and raffles. There was also a doughnut stall – 120
doughnuts were sold in 40 minutes! Proceeds were used to raise vital funds for the Auckland chapter of Dementia New Zealand, enabling support groups such as the Men’s Group, cognitive stimulation groups and walking groups to continue.
Our residents from villages across the country support many incredible causes, both local and national. Residents give back in so many ways through volunteering their time, fundraising and donating. Your support is invaluable.
Summerset’s partner Hato Hone St John held their Light the Way annual appeal in June. Our generous residents held bake sales, blind auctions, burger nights and market days for the
charity appeal, raising an astounding $19,086.90!
The money raised for the 2023 annual appeal will go towards a new Major Incident Response Vehicle in Hawke’s Bay, which will be able to assist those hit by extreme weather events. Funds will also go towards providing transport to vital medical appointments, and to providing major incident training to volunteers so they can be responsive when there is a state of emergency.
When asked if they ever swap roles, Jan lets out a laugh. “Mark doesn’t like my driving.” To which Mark quips, “I don’t like getting lost, love.”
Mark also doubles as timekeeper for the duo, with the strict task of keeping Jan on track. Jan explains, “What I get told by Mark is that we have to keep the last meal as hot as the first one.”
There is no doubt that Kiwis are a generous and kind lot – more than a million of us volunteer, giving our time and energy to make a difference in our communities.
Within our villages alone, hundreds of people regularly donate their time to charities and people who are less fortunate. For Summerset Rototuna residents Mark and Jan Jessen, now is the perfect time of their lives to give back.
Every Wednesday for the past six years, the couple voluntarily drive 50km for Meals on Wheels, delivering hot, healthy meals to people who can’t cook for themselves. Operated by Red Cross, Meals on Wheels is more than just a food delivery service; it provides a daily social connection for the recipients.
With a previous background in truck driving for Fonterra, it made sense for Mark to seek volunteer work that involved getting behind the wheel. With Mark at the helm, it’s Jan’s job to deliver to the door and let the recipient know it’s arrived.
Due to the nature of the job, it can be difficult to keep visits brief. “We’ve made a lot of friends through this. Although Mark says I take too much time sometimes! You can’t help but form an attachment with people over the years.”
When asked how she feels after a shift, Jan says, “Once I’m home, I think, good, I know those people are going to get a decent meal. It just makes my day. We will be delivering meals for as long as we can.” The couple have started to book and use Summerset Rotouna’s new electric vehicle for their Wednesday deliveries. The automatic boot is a winning feature for the couple and they adore the vehicle’s luxury feel.
Jan says, “You get a lot of looks when you’re in it, but we thought we’d advertise Summerset while we’re at it.”
One particular client is so grateful that he rewards the couple with a chocolate bar every visit.
Oscar Wilde once wrote that “fashion is merely a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months.” It’s hard to imagine what Mr Wilde would make of the modern fast fashion with changes every six weeks rather than every six months.
Spring is the perfect season to throw off winter’s gloom, but there are ways to do that without contributing to the fashion industry’s less pretty sides: textile waste, pollution and contributions to landfill. Here’s how to spruce up your wardrobe without costing the Earth (or depleting your bank balance).
Feel uninspired by your wardrobe? It might just need a good sort-out. In 2006, American writer Courtney Carver decided to streamline her life after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. At first she thought having a well-stuffed wardrobe brought her joy, but after running the rule over other parts of her life, she realised her obsession with shopping for clothes and accessories was adding to her stress levels. Carver committed to an experiment she dubbed ‘Project 333’, where she limited herself to wearing just 33 pieces of clothing for three months. To her huge surprise, she didn’t miss her other ‘stuff’ at all. The project was a roaring success on all levels and sparked change in other parts of her life – Carver and her husband downsized their house, dealt to their debts and generally felt much happier. (Her book
Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves That Less Really Is So Much More tells the story in more detail.)
Even if you think, “I could never do that,” Carver’s experiment is worth considering. Since most of us wear the same thing most days (with slight variation), maybe it’s not so hard after all.
Let’s say you’ve been inspired to spring clean your wardrobe. What now? Think twice before you consign things to the op shop or the dump. Would you pay for your old jumper at an op shop? If you wouldn’t, other people are unlikely to fork out for it either. Shifting your old stuff to a charity shop isn’t necessarily the solution if its volunteers are just going to have to bin it. So what do you do with clothing that’s no longer wearable? Thanks to New Zealand merino brand Icebreaker, you can now drop off clean clothing (except socks and underwear) at its stores nationwide. In return, you’ll receive a $10 store credit. Icebreaker is partnering with textile recycler Upparel in this initiative as part of its sustainability strategy. Clothes too good to ditch? Swapping pre-loved gear is very now, as is selling them (the second-hand clothing market is calculated to be worth about NZ$157bn globally – and a 2022 survey found that 60 percent of respondents said they were planning to buy second-hand clothes). If you don’t have the energy or appetite for either, consider calling on family. There’s a good chance your Gen Z whānau members will be eager to get their hands on any wardrobe gems from the 1980s and 1990s.
Construction is well underway at five future villages across the country.
This is the perfect spot for a relaxed coastal retirement lifestyle. The first homes will be ready late 2023, with selling off plans now underway.
Perfectly positioned next to Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Course in Lower Hutt, the first homes are just finished and are available now.
Summerset Milldale will offer easy access to everything on the Hibiscus Coast that a busy retirement life demands. The first homes will be ready late 2023, with selling off plans now underway.
On the edge of Auckland’s Eastern Bays, Summerset St Johns is the address for a luxurious retirement experience. The first homes will be ready late 2024, with selling off plans now underway.
Situated in the heart of sunny, wine-growing Marlborough, the first homes will be ready early 2024, with selling off plans starting late 2023.
Boulcott, Wellington
Waikanae, Wellington
Milldale, Auckland
St Johns, Auckland
Blenheim
Half Moon Bay, Auckland
Rangiora, Canterbury
Masterton, Wellington
Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North
There are some fearless folk at Summerset in the Sun in Nelson, who recently raised over $5,300 for cancer research in a novel and exhilarating way.
Daring residents Tom Millar and Andrew Thompson, along with staff members Jacques Doman and Darren Steer, bravely took the plunge by leaping out of a plane on a tandem skydive!
Fellow resident Betty Van Rooyen was the inspiration for the jump. Betty is a tireless volunteer for the Nelson–Tasman Cancer Society and skydived at 81, raising money for the charity that is so important to her. Activities Coordinator Desra Fergusson said, “Betty was really the driving force for this charity jump. She led the charge.” Vanloads of Summerset in the Sun residents came out in force to show their support, enjoying a sausage sizzle and coffee cart at Motueka Airport, provided by Summerset.
This was 80-year-old Tom’s second skydive, having made one a decade ago, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Tom has a keen desire to support the Nelson Cancer Society, as he lost both his wife and his father to cancer. He says, “I know the good work the Cancer Society does, and I like that the funds stay in Nelson.”
Property assistants Jacques and Darren also have personal reasons for jumping, as cancer has affected their lives and those of their family members. Jacques said, “Doing the jump is a small step I can take to make a difference.” Darren agreed, saying, “This was a great way to raise some money and have some fun doing it!”
In front of an audience of around 70 family, friends and fellow residents, our jumpers took off from Motueka airport in a tiny plane, and then, at 13,000 feet, enjoyed the rush of freefalling 200 feet through the crisp, clear air while Golden Bay and Farewell Spit unfolded beneath them, before their parachute floated them gently down to earth. What a way to spend a Saturday!
Fellow skydiver, 81-year-old Andrew, is also keen to support the Cancer Society, but he also has a simpler reason – for the adventure. “I wanted to do something exciting!” he said.
SUMMERSET CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS HAZEL AND MICHAEL SHORT RECENTLY CELEBRATED THEIR PLATINUM WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. BOTH ORIGINALLY FROM THE UK, THE PAIR MET IN SUSSEX IN ENGLAND WHEN HAZEL WAS 17 AND MICHAEL WAS 19.
What skill or talent would you most like to learn?
Hazel: At 91 I don't really have any aspirations for new skills, but I do wish I could play a musical instrument and that I really understood music. I do see that musical people get a lot of pleasure and satisfaction from it, but I think I am tone deaf!
Michael: I would like to have learned to play an instrument too, but work got in the way!
What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Hazel: I think I was a bit of a dreamer. Perhaps because I was an only child. My advice would be to stop daydreaming and get serious!
Michael: I would have advised myself to get a good financial education from some reputable sources!
What is your ideal way to spend a weekend?
Michael: What’s a weekend? We were dairy farmers in Taranaki and had a 7-day-a-week job for most of our lives. We started milking cows before we bought our own herd, and went sharemilking after that. Weekends are a novelty!
Hazel: I think a weekend at the beach would be nice, but Michael would disagree! These days it suits us both to fly down to Wellington to stay with our oldest daughter. We have four children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?
Hazel: Get on a ship in London and come across to the other side of the world by myself! It took seven and a half weeks by ship. Mike had already been here for two and a half years. We wrote a lot of overseas letters in that time!
Michael: The most adventurous thing I have ever done was to get married! It has all been worth it as we have had 70 happy years.
What’s the key to your marriage:
Hazel: I guess we liked each other a lot then and we still do! We would be happy to have another 70 years. On our anniversary we did have a very nice family lunch for 24 of us to celebrate our big occasion thanks to Summerset, and we were grateful for that.
Michael and Hazel cutting the cake on their 70th wedding anniversary.
Take a look at some of the recent village happenings.
Photo 1: Crafts for Foster Hope at Summerset on the Coast.
Photo 2: Channelling Chicago for a Jazz night at Summerset at Heritage Park.
Photo 3: A welcome refuelling break at the Be a Good Sport event at Summerset at the Course.
Photo 4: Lunch out with friends is always a good idea at Summerset Mountain View.
Photo 5: Men and women of mystery at Summerset in the River City’s masquerade ball.
Photo 6: A Summerset down the Lane care centre resident making some scrummy sushi.
Photo 7: Thumbs up for the Summerset Falls mid-winter dinner and dance.
Photo 8: Rock 'n' rollers have the car and the costumes at Summerset in the Sun.
Photo 9: Summerset by the Park – Manukau residents sport the sunshine for their Yellow Day.
For Annmaree Kane, it’s the connections she forges with others that is the key to fulfilment in her role as Quantity Surveyor Administrator. Based at our Papamoa construction site, Annmaree has worked at Summerset since 2020.
"For me it's all about the people," says Annmaree. "I say in all my job applications that while we build buildings, building relationships is the key to our success. At Summerset you don’t just build relationships with your team and the contractors on site, but you also get to know the Operations team and residents, along with other staff all around the country.”
Annmaree particularly enjoys the variety and fast pace her quantity surveyor role brings. “I look after our villa builds and landscaping, keeping track of budgets, processing payment claims, ordering materials and fixtures, and contracting the various trades that do the work for us.”
Annmaree’s current role is different from where she started upon leaving school, although she was no stranger to construction. Growing up on a farm in Auckland’s Pukekohe, her father was a builder as well as a farmer and market gardener. “Our family was renovating the house my greatgrandparents originally lived in.” Always having had a keen interest in design and horticulture, Annmaree eventually plumped for design. She headed to Carrington Polytechnic (now Unitec) to do a four-year diploma in design, which led to her
becoming a commercial interior designer. “I didn’t want to wear gumboots for the rest of my life,” she laughs, “so there’s a certain amount of irony when I pull on safety boots and PPE for site walks now!”
It was a move to regional Victoria in Australia that led Annmaree to move into the construction arena, as design roles were few and far between. “I started working for a commercial builder and loved it. I’ve worked on some amazing projects. I can walk around cities and towns in both Australia and New Zealand knowing that there is a part of me in so many buildings – a legacy for years to come. My kids used to get sick of me saying ‘I’ve worked on that building’ as we drove around. You also get a privileged insight into the companies you design or build for. I’ve worked with some high-profile companies – Toyota, Nokia, Citibank and ANZ, to name a few.”
Working at Summerset, Annmaree appreciates the opportunities Summerset offers around other areas that are important to her, particularly sustainability. “A lot of people don’t know I’m a published author as co-writer of Living Green : The New Zealand Handbook for an Eco-friendly, Toxin-free, Sustainable Life ,” Annmaree explains.
“My friend Christina and I had this naïve idea to share our knowledge by writing a book when we met at a local playgroup. Four years later, in 2008, our shared ‘baby’ was published by New Holland.” As well as an author, Annmaree is a Level 2 Certified reiki practitioner, although as an active relaxer, Annmaree is happiest when she has a project on the go. “Currently, it is doing up a 1975 caravan, ‘Harriet’, which I am sharing on Instagram.”
Annmaree is a keen advocate for women working in the construction industry. “Working as a woman in the industry has had its challenges, but things are changing for the better. My role at Summerset allows me to intertwine my passions into my working day, and I’m so grateful to have that opportunity.”
Annmaree was a finalist for the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) 2023 Excellence Awards, nominated for the ‘Excellence in Construction Administration – Site Based’ category.
GOODBYE, WINTER. HELLO, SPRING. WARMER TEMPERATURES MEAN YOU CAN SPEND MORE TIME OUTDOORS, WHICH IS A POSITIVE MOOD BOOSTER.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that being outdoors refreshes minds, leaving people more open to new information and creative thoughts. Maybe some of that creativity can be directed to the kitchen? The season calls for lighter meals such as salads and stir-fries. Your creations are only limited by your imagination.
I’ve been experimenting with my air fryer and realise that not all air fryers are equal. I shared my potato, bacon & cheese balls (croquettes) recipe
with a friend. Her air fryer took 4–5 minutes longer to cook the balls. So it’s best to use air fryer recipes as a guide only. It’s pretty easy to check on the cooking from time to time.
If you don't have an air fryer, the balls can be deep fried for 4–5 minutes until golden, or generously sprayed with oil and cooked in a conventional 200°C oven for about 20 minutes, turning them over once or twice.
Spring into your kitchen – and surprise your family and Summerset friends.
Balls:
500g potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil
100g (4 streaky rashers) bacon, finely chopped
1 large shallot, finely diced
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
salt and pepper to taste
Coating:
1/2 cup plain flour
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Boil the potatoes until tender. Drain well, then mash. This will produce 2 cups of mash. Place in a bowl. Cool, then chill.
Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels and let cool.
Combine the chilled mash with the bacon, shallot, cheese, flour and egg. Season. Roll into 12 golf ball-size balls.
To prepare the coating, place the flour in one bowl, the egg combined with the milk in another and the breadcrumbs in a third bowl. Lightly toss each ball in the flour, then coat in the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs. Place on a plate in the fridge to chill for 1–8 hours.
To cook, preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes on 200°C. Place the balls in the air fryer basket or on the plate, leaving a little space between each. Cook at 200°C for 10 minutes, turning over once. You may have to cook the balls in batches.
Great served as a side dish or as a 5 o’clock nibble with ‘Tomayo’ – equal amounts of mayo and tomato sauce plus a dash of Worcestershire.
These balls may be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Asian Dressing:
1/2 cup canola or sunflower oil
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated root ginger
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons peanut butter
Salad:
1 large (400g) orange kumara
1 cup shelled fresh or frozen broad beans
1 cup broccolini tops
1 cup thinly sliced cabbage
1 cup mung bean sprouts
1/2 small telegraph cucumber, thinly sliced 180g hot smoked salmon
To make the dressing, place all the ingredients in a small blender and mix until smooth. Pour into a serving jug.
Peel the kumara and cut into 10cm-thick slices. Place in a large steamer. Cover and steam for 3 minutes. Add the broad beans and broccolini tops. Steam for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are just cooked. Add the cabbage and cook for 1 minute.
Arrange the kumara in a single layer on an oblong serving plate. Layer with the broccolini, broad beans, cabbage, mung bean sprouts and cucumber. Coarsely flake the salmon and scatter on top. Drizzle with a little of the dressing. Serve the remainder on the side.
The salad can be garnished with watercress or basil. Serve warm or at room temperature
Base:
2 tablespoons boiling water
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
250g chocolate chip cookies
395g can sweetened
condensed milk
1 cup (80g) desiccated
coconut
50g butter, melted
Topping:
180g milk chocolate
2 tablespoons butter or table spread
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee
Lightly grease a 20cm square cake pan. Cut two 40cm x 20cm lengths of baking paper. Line the pan with both sheets, leaving an overlap on all sides to make it easier to remove the slice.
In a small bowl, combine the boiling water with the coffee and cocoa, stirring until dissolved.
Crush the cookies finely in a food processor or with a rolling pin. Place the cookies in a large bowl and combine with the condensed milk, coconut, melted butter and the coffee/cocoa mixture. Mix well. Press evenly into the prepared cake pan.
To make the topping, break the chocolate into pieces. Place in a large microwave bowl. Add the butter. Microwave on high in 30-second bursts, stirring after each burst, until just melted. Mix well, then stir in the coffee until dissolved. Pour over the cookie base and smooth the top. Chill until set.
Remove the slice from the pan. Return to room temperature. Using a sharp, warm knife cut into squares or bars. Store in an airtight container in cool place.
Use gluten-free cookies if preferred.
Fancy a patio patch of native bush? Look no further than modern mānuka varieties in pots, writes
Lynda Hallinan
"When the flower blooms," said the 19th-century spiritual Hindu leader Ramakrishna, "the bees come uninvited." But when the flower in question is New Zealand's legendary mānuka, it's an open invitation for honeybees to have a party in our gardens.
Although renowned for the healing antiviral and antioxidant compounds in its nectar, you might think that mānuka is an unlikely choice for containers. While that's true of the scruffy original species, plant breeders have been quietly giving mānuka a garden-friendly facelift to create a range of compact, colourful hybrids with witty names like 'Mesmer Eyes' and 'Tickled Pink'.
But let's take a step back in time first. When New Zealand was colonised, pioneering farmers declared mānuka a foe, for no sooner had they burned the bush, up it popped, everywhere. It's a legendary regenerator, because its woody seed capsules explode when set alight, scattering seed in all directions.
Mānuka shares this bushfire survival tactic with many Australian native plants, and botanists suspect that mānuka originally blew here across the Tasman Sea. And it's thanks to a little genetic help from its Aussie cousins that plant breeders have been able to produce new varieties that are better
suited to small gardens than bush blocks. These garden hybrids are a cross between our native species, Leptospermum scoparium, and its New South Wales sibling, Leptospermum rotundifolium, which is more resistant to sooty mould as well as boasting much bigger flowers with prominent eyelashes. This parenting combination has spawned a colourful collection of offspring ranging from tomato-red 'Outrageous' to pale purple 'Magellan' and hot pink 'Coral Candy'. Their finer foliage looks more like kānuka than mānuka.
There's also a range of fully dwarf (Leptospermum nanum) darlings named after native birds: 'Huia', 'Kea', 'Kiwi', 'Ruru' and 'Tui' grow into knee-high compact bushes smothered with bee-friendly blooms.
In the wild, mānuka has a reputation for being tough, drought-tolerant and resilient in poor soils, but in gardens it benefits from a spring dressing of general garden fertiliser (just don't overdo it). Plant in full sun in free-draining potting mix, keep watered over summer and, after flowering, give the plants a haircut to keep them compact.
Save the prunings for a cuppa. Captain Cook and his men are credited with giving mānuka its common name of 'tea tree'; they steeped its green leaves in boiling water to make tea, and apparently
also brewed a beer of sorts from mānuka twigs and rimu. Steep fresh mānuka foliage in boiling water with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint, then strain and sweeten to taste with honey. If you suffer from insomnia, you can also chew mānuka bark to calm the mind at bedtime. It's a trick picked up from native kākāriki parakeets, who famously put beak to bark then preen themselves to deter parasites. When I was a child, we cut mānuka branches for garden stakes, firewood and fish smoking, though these days it is its healing honey that has given this useful plant international acclaim. If you suffer from hayfever caused by pollen allergies, a spoonful of native mānuka honey a day is said to help keep the sneezes at bay. And here's a nifty hint for those of you who can't resist sneaking cuttings off special plants to propagate spares to share with friends and family: did you know that mānuka honey (dilute 1:2 in boiling water then let cool) can also be used as a rooting hormone? It's believed that its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties protect cuttings from plant pathogens while they're growing new roots.
Top: mānuka billy tea. Photo by Sally Tagg.
Bottom: Mānuka ‘Galaxy’ – by Lynda Hallinan.
z Plan ahead for pots of summer colour by filling containers with punnets of alyssum, geraniums, marigolds, petunias and snapdragons. Rather than separating the seedlings, plant the whole punnet in one spot for a bolder display.
z Plant gladioli and lily bulbs underneath these summer annuals.
z Sow heirloom tomato seeds for meaty fruit with old-fashioned flavour, or modern cherry tomatoes better suited to containers. My favourite heirlooms are 'Aunt Ruby's Garden Green', 'Brandywine Pink' and 'Bloody Butcher'. For cherry tomatoes, 'Fantastico', 'Golden Cascade', 'Sweet 100' and 'Sugar Plum' are prolific in pots. Order from Kings Seeds (kingsseeds.co.nz).
z Sprinkle salad seeds in tubs and troughs. Radishes, baby carrots and dwarf beans are also suitable for containers. Keep well-watered in dry weather as potting mix dries out quickly on hot days.
z When spring bulbs have done their dash, don't rush to cut the foliage off. Let the yellowing leaves die down fully to replenish the bulbs below to ensure another good show next spring.
z Feed strawberries, blueberries and other potted fruit crops with a specialist potassium-rich slow-release fertiliser to encourage flowering and fruiting
Walking is just about the most universal form of exercise. It is a large milestone during our development as a baby, and the ways in which it keeps us healthy are countless.
Walking is a sport, a hobby, a form of transport, a way to exercise, an indoor and outdoor activity, a day-to-day movement, and a way to socialise, be alone and see the world from a different perspective.
As our society becomes more sedentary, the knowledge of the art and process of walking is beginning to shrink. While we are not at a point that adults forget how to walk, we do face a challenge in the modern set-ups of our lives that we need to consciously inject walking into our day.
If you want to get better at walking, the most obvious answer is to simply start walking. Because walking is so simple, it’s easy to take for granted. But when we are very unwell or injured, and that prevents us from walking, all we want to do again is walk.
Need some more motivation to start exercising? September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and to raise awareness, Alzheimers New Zealand has set up Move for Dementia –a fundraising movement challenge to support people affected by dementia. The brain also benefits from its own type of exercise. Join Gillian Eadie of Brainfit for a webinar on brain health 18 September at 2pm
Zoom code summerset.zoom
ns/j/86424905879
We celebrate humans who can walk for incredibly long distances, in treacherous conditions, and at high altitudes. There is an innate desire for many of us to discover things merely by walking. Ascending a steep path slowly and seeing a majestic horizon move into view at the speed of your walking is far more fulfilling than driving to the top and snapping a photo. Some things in nature can simply not be seen without the skill of walking, such as caves, thick native bush or snowy mountains where the weather changes every minute.
‘
Solvitur ambulando’ is the Latin term for “It is solved by walking”. Many great ideas have arisen and been unpacked and refined through the act of walking.
Getting healthier, having more energy, keeping warm, clearing our head or going deeper into thought are all ways in which walking provides a strong hand. Next time you feel sluggish, bored, confused, curious or in need of a change of scenery… take your body for a walk.
Note: all seam allowances are 1/4 "
These simple eye pillows are easy to make and are a small luxury to gift yourself or someone else. Made from natural fabrics like linen or cotton, and filled with soothing lavender or other herbs, they make a lovely companion to an afternoon lie-down!
These eye pillows have two parts – an interior case that holds the dried flowers and grains for weight, and an outer cover that is easily removable for washing or reusing with a new insert once the original one loses its scent.
CRAFT CORNER
z Linen and cotton fabric – this can be recycled from old clothing or leftovers from your other projects. You can use anything, but I think natural fibres that are smooth and cool to the touch work best: linen, cotton, silk, fine wool, etc.
I used some fine cotton for my interior case and sturdier linen for the exterior
z Dried lavender buds
z Dried grain or pulse that will add some weight and structure to your pillow. I used pearl barley but you could also use small lentils, rice or linseed
z Sewing machine and thread, ruler, scissors, embroidery thread (if you fancy a bit of decorative stitching)
z Optional: other scents, such as chamomile flowers, to mix in with the lavender, or essential oil to add extra perfume.
01. Make the interior case for the dried lavender and grains by cutting a piece of fabric 7.5" x 9.5". With right sides together, fold in half lengthwise and sew down the long edges and across one of the shorter edges. Clip the corners, press stitching, then turn right-side out. Fold down the opening edges by 1/4 " and press inside the pouch
02. Fill this case with dried flowers and grains –about five spoonfuls of each. You don't want to over-fill it because it's nice for the eye pillow to be somewhat light and flexible. Once you're happy, sew the case closed where you pressed the folds.
03. Next make the exterior case. Cut 1 piece of fabric 4.5" x 10" and another so it measures 4.5" x 11.5".
04. Take one of these pieces and fold one of the shorter edges back by 1/4", right sides together, and press. Fold by another 1/4" and press again. Stitch this fold in place. Repeat with the longer piece of fabric.
05. Now is the time to add embroidery to these pieces, or just one of them, if you like.
06. With right sides together, place the longer hemmed piece on a flat surface and then put the shorter piece on top, with the unhemmed short edges lined up.
07. Fold back the extension of the longer piece so that the two rectangles match. The hemmed edge of the shorter piece should be parallel to the folded edge of the longer piece.
08. Pin along the three other sides and stitch together, leaving the folded edge. Clip corners, zig-zag or overlock edges if you like, then turn right-side out and press
09. Place the interior case inside the exterior case, tucking its edge under the folded flap
These can be popped in the freezer for half an hour or so for extra sore eyes, or in the microwave to warm them up. Happy making!
Helene Ritchie’s mother, Lidi, fled from the Nazis as a teenager, eventually travelling to New Zealand as a Jewish refugee. In 1945, a few months after the liberation of Auschwitz, Lidi burned a letter she had received that had information about what had happened to many of her loved ones. She burned the letter out of hope that her survivor guilt would disappear with the ashes. But that wasn’t to be, and she regretted burning the letter until her death at 92.
This burned letter is at the heart of this extraordinary memoir by Helene Ritchie, who travelled the world for 50 years searching for clues to her perished family – her grandparents and other family members who had perished in the Holocaust. Helene travels to Poland and Czechoslovakia, and she learns of concentration camps, ghettos, death marches, murders, suicides, and tragic love affairs.
The detail in The Burned Letter is done with great care, and family members’ stories are brought to life with the addition of photographs and documents. Helene also makes an extraordinary discovery later in the book, which you will have to read to discover for yourself.
Set in 1914 in Fiji, this book follows 25-year-old Akal Singh, who would rather be anywhere else in the world than in this far-flung colony. After a promising start to his police career in Hong Kong, the native-born Indian man was demoted to Fiji as punishment for making a humiliating mistake as a police officer.
Akal is miserable. But then, an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation, and Akal is assigned the case. Those at the plantation say she has run off with the overseer; the newspaper headlines scream it is a kidnapping. Akal quickly finds himself invested in the case for many more reasons than just trying to redeem himself as the cruelties of the indenture system are revealed in shocking clarity.
Beloved author Alexander McCall Smith is one of the many authors to endorse A Disappearance in Fiji, which I find particularly apt, as this debut novel reminds me a lot of one of his books. It is charming and full of warmth and wit.
LYNN JOHN
This page-turning novel starts with a fascinating premise. What if Mozart faked his death in 1791 and lived on? In the opening chapters, the reader finds Mozart doing precisely that so he can live with the woman he loves, Magdalena, and so he can free himself from his debts and his unhappy marriage. But he can’t live without continuing to compose, so he reinvents himself some years later as the Maestro and begins composing music with the young composer Gioachino Rossini, who in real life wrote 39 operas in 19 years.
The author is an opera singer, and was inspired to write this book after a colleague, Eliano Mattiozzi, had studied Gioachino Rossini’s operas and found too many similarities to Mozart’s work to be ignored. That started Lynn John on a two-year journey of researching Eliano’s startling claim.
A Secret Never to be Told imagines this premise very successfully and brings to life the performers and composers of opera in this era. Be prepared for bawdy humour, intrigue and betrayal that mimics the humour and subversive nature of Mozart’s operas. A must-read for any lover of opera.
Set on the remote island of St Kilda, off the coast of Scotland, this novel opens in the summer of 1929. Mhairi has reached a time in her life when she needs a husband. Her family can’t afford to support all the mouths they have, but living in such a remote place, her options for finding a husband are limited. She reluctantly agrees to travel to another island to meet a young man who may be suitable. Her neighbour, Donald, chaperones Mhairi on this trip.
But things don’t go to plan when Mhairi returns engaged. She has lost her heart to another man, someone she can never have. Distraught, she waits until spring, when she will have to wed the man she has only met once, and not the man she really loves.
Then word comes that St Kilda will be evacuated and all the villagers resettled to the mainland, so further change is in the air. But when a dead body is found left behind at St Kilda, Mhairi and her friends find themselves under the shadow of suspicion. The Stolen Hours is atmospheric and dramatically page-turning, and the characters simply steal your heart.
MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS
RRP $37.99
At Summerset we've been taking steps to move to more sustainable alternatives to plastic across the organisation, and also to reduce or divert plastics going to landfill where we can.
These steps include introducing reusable bin liners at our Bishopscourt village care rooms, and implementing PVC plastic diversion at the Boulcott village construction site.
Megan Kenal-McLaughlin is one of the waste champions at the Boulcott village, and says, “There are three waste champions at the Boulcott village. I manage our waste and recycling skips and oversee all the waste that comes off the construction site to ensure we are separating out anything that can be recycled.”
We’ve also pushed back on suppliers sending goods to us using plastic wrap material that contains coloured logos and badges, as it lessens the opportunity to recycle, reuse or divert.
Have you noticed a reduction of plastic recently? What about plastic shopping bags?
Megan says they've recently been able to eliminate all PVC plastic from going to landfill!
July heralded the beginning of plastic-free month, an initiative to – you guessed it – reduce or remove the amount of plastic waste produced.
16–22 October is Recycling Week across New Zealand. What can you find that can be reused, repaired, recovered or repurposed around your home? Before resorting to landfill, seek out whether your unneeded items can be recycled through local clothing bins, resource recovery centres or other specialty recyclers. Get the whole family involved and rid your home of all your unwanted items that others may be able to use.
Construction waste makes up 40–50% of New Zealand's landfills. We have the responsibility to minimise waste and implement waste avoidance programmes across our entire construction process. That's happening from the outset while developing our Rangiora site.
We are delighted to say that a staggering 85% of the approximately 275 tonnes of waste have been recovered so far.
So where has the diverted/recovered waste from the site ended up?
z The tyres are being used for ground cover where biodegradable or natural sourced material can’t be used. For this instance, they will be used to cover a consented demolition dumping cell for weed control and dust management.
z Fence posts were bundled and removed from site to be reused for fencing.
z Concrete block was taken to a facility with a crusher where it was broken down to be used on roads or mixed with subgrade materials.
z Metals were taken for recycling as scrap.
What do you call a man with a twinkle in his eye who makes Christmas presents for New Zealand’s children?
No, it’s not Santa Claus – its kindly Cantabrian Paul Brown. You might recognise the Summerset on Cavendish resident from the 1News Good Sorts segment, where he was celebrated back in May for his unfailing generosity towards those less fortunate than himself. “A resident here nominated me,” says Paul. “I was really surprised when they got in touch with me. Within a week they had come down and interviewed me at my shed.”
‘Shed’ is an understatement; the huge commercial space that Paul owns a few hundred yards from his villa at Summerset is filled with heavy-duty machines that would make professional tradies envious. Paul’s workshop has everything he needs to create the 400-odd toys he makes a year for Santa’s Workshop, a Christchurch-based charity. “I bought good stuff,” Paul says, “because I wanted it to last. I have been doing this for around 10 or 12 years.” Paul originally made the toys at the charity’s own workshop, visiting a couple of times a week. “But a man nicknamed Frank Fingerless was there – so called because he’d lopped them off at the workshop. So I thought I’d be safer in my own place!”
Paul makes a vast array of wooden toys, including bulldozers, steamrollers, trucks, dolls’ deckchairs, ironing boards, trolleys, and hammer and peg boards. Despite his expertise on the tools, he didn’t grow up in the building trade but rather was a dairy farmer. His fondness for cows is evident, from his mooing ringtone on his phone – “My granddaughter set that up” – to his car licence (‘No cows’) to the sign in his workshop for Brou-Leigh, his old farm.
Paul also watches a lot of how-to videos on YouTube.
Paul has his own production line and makes the toys in parts, assembling them only when it is close to the time the charity collects them in October. “It’s much easier to store them when they
“I had cattle for 50 years. But I have always liked woodworking; I am self-taught. You do a lot yourself as a farmer. I got a rough pattern for graders off the internet.”
are in bits. I couldn’t tell you how long it takes to make each one, but I can tell you that wheels are probably the hardest, as there are so many of them. Wheels are repetitive and boring!” Once assembled, the toys are oiled by other volunteers at Santa’s Workshop, and some are also painted by the commercial painter the charity has on board. “The charity gives me the wood, which is off-cuts of pine from a wood merchant. I am here every day from around 8:30am until around 3pm.” Paul prefers to work on his own. “I don’t want to be responsible for anyone cutting their fingers off!” he laughs.
Paul’s generosity to kids extends beyond making toys. As a member of the Rotary Club for the past decade, he also raises funds to support local youth touch rugby teams. “We fundraise by selling spuds. We grow new potatoes on 3 acres and sell them in 2kg boxes. We sell about 10,000 boxes.”
Perhaps it was because of the family he and his beloved wife of 52 years, Joan – who sadly passed away eight years ago – has that inspired Paul to make toys. “We had three children, and we have several grandchildren. They are too old to play with the toys, though. They are in their twenties!”
It was always Paul’s plan to move to a retirement community, and he relocated to his 3-bedroom villa at Summerset on Cavendish two years ago. “It gets great light here. It is sunny, warm and I like the outlook,” Paul says. “My old workshop was in the four-car garage at my old house. It’s handy to have such a big workshop just across the road from the village.”
Known for its gold-mining history, stunning autumn leaves and crisp winter days, the adorable settlement of Arrowtown in Central Otago is equally attractive for a spring holiday. Fewer crowds, beautiful scenery and plenty of activities make Arrowtown an attractive option for a few days away at this time of year.
Treat yourself to a luxury getaway with a few nights at Millbrook Resort. This famous five-star accommodation option has literally everything you’ll need for a relaxing and memorable stay, including an 18-hole championship golf course, fine dining restaurant, in-house day spa, gym, tennis courts, yoga classes and, of course, luxury studios and suites. Set on 650 acres of stunning Central Otago land, you’ll really have no reason to leave the resort for the entirety of your stay. But if you wish to, the concierge will be able to help you plan and book to make the most of your time in the area.
Alternatively, book into Arrowtown House Boutique Hotel. Located in central Arrowtown, this small yet sumptuous hotel is perfectly located for your Arrowtown adventure. Featuring luxuriously appointed rooms in a peaceful, private setting, Arrowtown House Boutique Hotel also provides a delicious Continental breakfast served daily, ensuring you’re well-rested and ready for each day of your visit.
With breakfast at your accommodation, you’ll not likely to need to explore Arrowtown’s eateries until mid-morning at the earliest. Whether for morning tea or lunch, head straight to Provisions of Arrowtown. Set in a historic miner’s cottage, Provisions is known for serving delectable baking, breakfast, brunch and lunch made with fresh, seasonal ingredients alongside delicious coffee and a selection of the best Central Otago wines. They’re centrally located on Buckingham Street, so is easily accessed if you’re ambling through town.
Dine like the locals come evening and head to the popular Fork and Tap. This historic stone pub is a beauty, outside and in. Cosy up inside
and while away an hour or two enjoying quality pizzas, sharing plates, or beautifully fresh salads as well as an enormous selection of New Zealand craft beers and Central Otago wines. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a Wednesday, you’ll catch a live Irish Trad band.
Whether you’re a history buff or not, Arrowtown’s story is a fascinating one. Walking the township and soaking up the historic vibe of the rustic buildings and features is a must-do during your time here. Spend a bit of time in the Lakes District Museum & Gallery to learn all about the miners who originally forged a home here, and head out to the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement for a self-guided wander to see how the early Chinese miners lived. You can even try your hand at gold-panning in Arrowtown to really get into the spirit of things!
There are plentiful cycling trails in and around Arrowtown – from short river-side tracks through to day-long excursions. Why not make a day of it and book in a self-guided winery cycle tour with Better by Bike? Departing from Arrowtown, you and your hired bikes (or e-bikes!) will be transported to the Gibbston Valley where you spend the day tootling along
the trails that lead to various wineries and eateries. Stop, taste, dine and carry on to the next before meeting your pre-arranged shuttle back to Arrowtown. Too easy!
Art afficionados will thoroughly enjoy the local arts scene. In addition to the Lakes District Museum & Gallery, Astor Bristed is a contemporary gallery in central Arrowtown. There are also a number of local artists with studios you can visit and purchase pieces from. Ensure you plan ahead and book if necessary to ensure you can visit on the days you’re in town. Photographers, too, will enjoy Arrowtown, both for the stunning local photography available in many shops and galleries, but also for the opportunity to take exceptional photos of the incredible scenery in and around this historic destination.
Region: Otago
Airport: Queenstown
Airport
Main road: Buckingham Street
Population: 2,950
A charming, educational and uplifting TV series has taken great strides towards challenging people’s perception of dementia.
The series The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes featured eight people living with various forms of dementia running a restaurant alongside renowned chef Ben Bayley, with the idea that people with dementia still have much to offer the world.
Dementia Auckland Clinical Lead Rhonda Preston-Jones helped recruit the participants and acted as an adviser during filming, ensuring the wellbeing of the participants throughout the process. The decision to be involved was not made lightly, as the merits of the concept were debated alongside the fear that the show could be seen as exploitative.
But with the commitment to produce a show with dignity at its core, and the chance to challenge stereotypes and help the condition be better understood, Rhonda agreed to be involved. Families, too, had some hesitancy. As there can be a lot of stigma around the disease, they were concerned about how their loved one would be perceived and were concerned of the judgement that could come from others towards the people they support.
How the participants would cope was a great unknown – the task at hand involved doing many things that people with dementia would find especially challenging. Restaurant work is busy, noisy, fast-paced, physically demanding, and requires multitasking skills and the ability to learn the task at hand and retain information. It can be sensory overload for someone with dementia; they could tire easily and could have less resilience when facing these challenges. It could be setting them up for failure if they weren’t well supported. Ben and his team provided an abundance of encouragement and understanding the whole way through, so it
became more about what the participants could do rather than what they couldn’t.
Rhonda says that over the five weeks of filming, the participants showed blossoming confidence and belief in themselves, and the show became a lesson in what people with dementia are capable of – given the right support to thrive.
The show enabled viewers to get to know the participants through their backstories and see the person, not the disease.
A daughter of one of the participants said, “I’m just waiting for the whole of New Zealand to fall in love with our dad because we love him so much – he’s amazing.”
David Scott, whose wife, Suz, was on the show, said she loved the teamwork environment and got a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment out of the experience.
“She got a positive kick out of doing something worthwhile. It took her a long time to come down from the high of it. I was so proud of her and pleased that she had the opportunity to do something meaningful.”
Rhonda says there is a powerful message behind the show.
you
Participants were scored on their level of wellbeing at the start and end of filming, and a significant increase was noted. The confidence boost, pride, enjoyment and sense of achievement they got out of it made the show well worth doing, says Rhonda.
“If
provide people with the right scaffolding to support them, they can still be themselves and still function. Yes, they’ll make mistakes, but that’s OK.”
"I'm going on a cruise," she said, "so come for morning tea".
We gathered in her sunny lounge, six other 'girls' and me.
The coffee flowed, the scones were hot, assorted crackers and cheese, she'd gone to a lot of trouble for the 'girls' she wanted to please.
We relayed lifetime stories, swapped unseemly feline jokes, but it was all in order, as we didn't bring our blokes.
My contribution to the tea? A plate of brownie biscuits but 'cos of a story I'd told them before, they were hesitant to risk it.
One hubby 'cross the road said, the laughter was so loud, he thought that by the noise we made, there must have been a crowd!
I don't know where two hours went, the time just seemed to fly, but we were having so much fun, guess that's the reason why.
I bet some ears were burning, but it was all in jest, as far as morning teas go, it really was the best.
Fay Tuffin Summerset RototunaAs our ages are creeping up Our bodies have a few hiccups. Villa, warm and cosy, Makes you very dozy.
Tūī and fantails come in threes, Who live close by in the trees. Happy hour is there to please. Wine or two with cracker and cheese. Gardens and lawns attended to, Nothing more for me to do.
Entertainment all the time, Bingo winnings not a crime. Not to forget our little boy Marlo, favourite pet to Mike and co. Oh, life here is very special as it can, especially sharing it with my man.
Margaret Hardy Summerset on SummerhillIf you would like to submit a poem for consideration in Poet’s Corner, send it to magazine@summerset.co.nz
Haikus are a traditional Japanese poem, said to celebrate the changing of the seasons. But really, they can be anything you like, as long as they follow these three rules:
z There are no more than 17 syllables.
z There are only 3 lines.
z Typically, every first line of haiku has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the third has 5 syllables.
To welcome in spring, we are running a haiku competition! They can be about anything, as long as they are in haiku form. Please send your entries to magazine@summerset.co.nz. The winner will receive a $50 Prezzy Card and will be announced in the summer issue of Summerset Scene , coming out in December.
Marie Harris from Summerset in the Orchard. At age 14 he has slowed down his flying career somewhat, but his vivid plumage is reminiscent of the sun and sea of the tropics, and he can certainly still carry a tune. Marie, who has owned several birds in the past, says, “His colouring is unusual and gets a lot of comments. Billy’s ‘pretty boys’ and chatter has slowed down as he has become older, but when visitors come, he makes sure he is heard.”
When he was younger, Billy enjoyed flying around the house, but now he is content to remain in his cage. Billy is well known in the village, and when Marie goes away, she has plenty of offers from fellow residents to look after him and enjoy his pleasant trilling and whistling.
, the Shih Tzu/Maltese cross, who lives with Trevor and Margaret Hardy at Summerset on Summerhill in Palmerston North. He might be small, but his bark is mighty, especially when it comes to cats, for Marlo is not a feline fan and likes to let them know. He also does not like the doorbell ringing, as the sound offends his ears. However, he loves seeing those who ring it, greeting every visitor with a toy in his mouth and a wag of his tail. At 5 years old, Marlo is a sociable, well-travelled pooch, who likes to be in the centre of the action. Owner Margaret says, “He loves to visit the village rec centre to see Mike, our entertainment guy. Mike always gives him treats. Marlo loves travelling in the car and in our motorhome. He does not like to be left behind!”
Summerset Mount Denby
7 Par Lane, Tikipunga, Whangārei 0112
Phone (09) 470 0282
Summerset Falls
31 Mansel Drive, Warkworth 0910
Phone (09) 425 1200
Summerset at Monterey Park
1 Squadron Drive, Hobsonville, Auckland 0618
Phone (09) 951 8920
Summerset at Heritage Park
8 Harrison Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 1060
Phone (09) 950 7960
Summerset by the Park
7 Flat Bush School Road, Manukau 2019
Phone (09) 272 3950
Summerset at Karaka
49 Pararekau Road, Karaka 2580
Phone (09) 951 8900
Summerset St Johns
180 St Johns Road, St Johns 1072
Phone (09) 950 7980
Summerset Half Moon Bay*
25 Thurston Place, Half Moon Bay, Auckland 2012
Phone (09) 306 1422
Summerset Milldale*
Argent Lane, Milldale, Wainui 0992
Phone 0800 786 637
WAIKATO
Summerset down the Lane
206 Dixon Road, Hamilton 3206
Phone (07) 843 0157
Summerset Rototuna
39 Kimbrae Drive, Rototuna North 3210
Phone (07) 981 7820
Summerset by the Lake
2 Wharewaka Road, Wharewaka, Taupō 3330
Phone (07) 376 9470
Summerset Cambridge
1 Mary Ann Drive, Cambridge 3493 Phone (07) 839 9482
BAY OF PLENTY
Summerset Rotorua*
171–193 Fairy Springs Road
Rotorua 3010
Phone (07) 343 5132
Summerset by the Sea
181 Park Road, Katikati 3129
Phone (07) 985 6890
Summerset by the Dunes
35 Manawa Road, Papamoa Beach, Tauranga 3118
Phone (07) 542 9082
HAWKE’S BAY
Summerset in the Bay
79 Merlot Drive, Greenmeadows, Napier 4112
Phone (06) 845 2840
Summerset in the Orchard
1228 Ada Street, Parkvale, Hastings 4122
Phone (06) 974 1310
Summerset Palms
136 Eriksen Road, Te Awa, Napier 4110
Phone (06) 833 5850
Summerset in the Vines
249 Te Mata Road, Havelock North 4130
Phone (06) 877 1185
TARANAKI
Summerset Mountain View
35 Fernbrook Drive, Vogeltown, New Plymouth 4310
Phone (06) 824 8900
Summerset at Pohutukawa Place
70 Pohutukawa Place, Bell Block, New Plymouth 4371 Phone (06) 824 8530
MANAWATU–WHANGANUI
Summerset in the River City
40 Burton Avenue, Whanganui 4500
Phone (06) 343 3133
Summerset on Summerhill
180 Ruapehu Drive, Fitzherbert, Palmerston North 4410
Phone (06) 354 4964
Summerset Kelvin Grove*
Stoney Creek Road, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North 4470
Phone (06) 825 6530
Summerset by the Ranges
104 Liverpool Street, Levin 5510
Phone (06) 367 0337
WELLINGTON
Summerset on the Coast
104 Realm Drive, Paraparaumu 5032
Phone (04) 298 3540
Summerset on the Landing
1–3 Bluff Road, Kenepuru, Porirua 5022
Phone (04) 230 6722
Summerset at Aotea
15 Aotea Drive, Aotea, Porirua 5024
Phone (04) 235 0011
Summerset at the Course
20 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt 5018
Phone (04) 527 2980
Summerset Waikanae
28 Park Avenue, Waikanae 5036
Phone (04) 293 0002
Summerset Boulcott
1A Boulcott Street, Lower Hutt 5010
Phone (04) 568 1442
Summerset Masterton*
Lansdowne, Masterton 5871
Phone (06) 370 1792
NELSON–TASMAN–MARLBOROUGH
Summerset in the Sun
16 Sargeson Street, Stoke, Nelson 7011
Phone (03) 538 0000
Summerset Richmond Ranges
1 Hill Street North, Richmond 7020
Phone (03) 744 3432
Summerset Blenheim*
183 Old Renwick Road, Blenheim 7272
Phone (03) 520 6042
CANTERBURY
Summerset at Wigram
135 Awatea Road, Wigram, Christchurch 8025
Phone (03) 741 0870
Summerset at Avonhead
120 Hawthornden Road, Avonhead, Christchurch 8042
Phone (03) 357 3202
Summerset on Cavendish
147 Cavendish Road, Casebrook, Christchurch 8051
Phone (03) 741 3340
Summerset Rangiora*
141 South Belt, Waimakariri, Rangiora 7400
Phone (03) 364 1312
Summerset Prebbleton
578 Springs Road, Prebbleton 7604
Phone (03) 353 6312
Summerset Rolleston*
153 Lincoln Rolleston Road
Rolleston
Phone (03) 353 6980
OTAGO
Summerset at Bishopscourt
36 Shetland Street, Wakari, Dunedin 9010
Phone (03) 950 3102
Summerset Mosgiel*
51 Wingatui Road, Mosgiel
Phone (03) 474 3930