WORDS — JAMIE CHRISTIAN DESPLACES
Golden Girls of Sunrise House
ABOVE: HELENE, EDNA, MAATA & KEIKO
In a modern, open-plan residence overlooking sprawling playing fields on Auckland’s North Shore, a group of sassy ladies are rewriting the rules of senior living – and in the process, having a blast.
A microcosm of Aotearoa’s wonderful multiculturalism at work, the women – aged from their late 60s to late 70s – hail from Canada, Japan, Rarotonga, and New Zealand. Verve visited their home, Sunrise House, for some tea, cake, and a natter.
“They’re just as mixed in the house next door,” says New Zealand-born Edna, who used to work in advertising and a legal office and is a recent member of the household. “They’ve got Scotland, England, and Russia, as well as a Kiwi, but those girls are even older than us!” 90