NZ Legislation - Retirement Villages Act (current)
NZ Legislation
Official data
Official primary
June 2026
Next review not yet scheduled
New Zealand
Medium confidence
published
SNZ editorial review
Evidence boundary: This record summarises the cited source. It does not establish local availability, individual eligibility, or professional advice.
Short Answer
The principal legislation governing the establishment, registration, and operation of retirement villages in New Zealand, establishing the statutory rights of residents under Occupation Right Agreements (ORAs), disclosure requirements, and the dispute resolution framework.
Key Points
- •Enacted as the Retirement Villages Act 2003; provides the statutory consumer protection framework.
- •Requires all villages with 2+ units to register on the Retirement Villages Register with the Companies Office.
- •Mandates independent legal advice before an intending resident signs an Occupation Right Agreement (Schedule 3).
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Full Summary & Notes
The principal legislation governing the establishment, registration, and operation of retirement villages in New Zealand, establishing the statutory rights of residents under Occupation Right Agreements (ORAs), disclosure requirements, and the dispute resolution framework.
Document Details & Metadata
Related Resources
Major consumer advocacy milestone. 41,373 signatures demanding: full repayment within 3 months, interim payment of 10% or $50K within 5 days, interest on late payments, public disclosure of timeframes. 84% of surveyed NZers support fixed repayment deadlines. The June 2026 capture linked the petition to an amendment bill then expected in July 2026; that timing is a historical expectation, not the current legislative timetable.
Official September 2026 update replaces the June capture’s July introduction expectation: bill planned for the next Parliamentary term, no dated introduction commitment. Revised proposals include nine-month repayment and an initial 10% within four weeks, with exemptions and limited application to future agreements. Other proposed fee and capital-loss protections would cover existing agreements too.
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