Retirement Commission / Ipsos — Retirement Village Exit Experiences, Annual Investigation 2023
Retirement Commission; research by Ipsos
Publisher: Retirement Commission
Independent evaluation
Statutory oversight
2026-10-09
Next review: 2027-10-09
New Zealand
High confidence
verified
SNZ editorial review
Evidence boundary: Historical qualitative research published May 2023, with 18 purposively recruited resident/whānau interviews and no not-for-profit village exits in the final sample. Themes describe participants’ experiences, not representative prevalence, current legal advice or adjudicated breaches. The original 51-page PDF and official report listing were read; original June 2026 access provenance is retained.
Short Answer
Ipsos qualitative research commissioned by the Retirement Commission into residents' and whānau experiences of leaving or moving within a retirement village.
Key Points
- •Ipsos interviewed eight residents and ten whānau members who had supported a relative’s exit or internal move, between 28 March and 4 May 2023, across six New Zealand regions.
- •Participants were recruited to include positive, neutral and negative experiences. The report expressly states that their views are not necessarily representative and the study does not measure public opinion about the sector.
- •Not-for-profit villages were within the intended scope, but no participants exiting those villages were included in the final sample.
- •Interview themes include limited consideration of exit terms on entry, expectations about ongoing care and support, uncertainty over repayment timing and fees, and the emotional effects of bereavement and care transitions.
- •Practices associated with better experiences include clear explanations of the business model and exit process, written information, involvement of whānau, a consistent point of contact, regular updates and compassionate handling of bereavement.
- •The findings support discussing likely care transitions and exit scenarios before signing an occupation right agreement; participant expectations about duty of care are perceptions, not a legal determination.
Full Summary & Notes
Ipsos qualitative research commissioned by the Retirement Commission into residents' and whānau experiences of leaving or moving within a retirement village. Eighteen interviews explore the emotional and financial effects of care transfers, death, resale and repayment, and identify communication practices associated with better experiences. Published in May 2023, the study gives detailed participant perspectives rather than representative satisfaction rates or findings of legal breach.
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