Waikiwi Gardens Rest Home

At a glance

Vacancy

Category

Rest Home

Address

25 Ruru Street
Waikiwi
Invercargill 9810

Postal Address

Same as above

Region

Southland

Phone

View Phone Number

Fax

View Fax Number

Email

View Email Address

Web

Visit Website

Social Media

Facebook

Personnel

Manager: Carly Thomson
Owner: Kate & Denzil Travers
Finance and Procurement Manager: Jenni Go
RN:: Carissa Woud
RN:: Jo Bass
RN:: Joyce Soares

Photos

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Map

A Home with a Heart. We aim to provide quality rest home care to the people of Southland.

Our rest home has a warm homely atmosphere, with care that provides a holistic approach to each individual's needs.

We also offer the Invercargill Social Seniors programme. Contact us for details.

2024 Aged Advisor winner - Best Aged Care Med/Large Facility (South Island)
2023 Aged Advisor winner - Best Aged Care Med/Large Facility (South Island)

2021 Aged Advisor runner up - Best Aged Care Small Facility (South Island)
2020 Aged Advisor finalist - Best Aged Care Small Facility (South Island)
2019 Aged Advisor finalist - Best Aged Care Small Facility (South Island)
2018 Aged Advisor runner up - Best Aged Care Small Facility (South Island)
2017 Aged Advisor finalist - Best Aged Care Small Facility (South Island)

Service/Facility Details

Service/Facility Details
Detail	Status
Contract with Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora	Yes
Certification	Yes
ORA Applies	No
Updated: 28 Mar 2022

Bed and Vacancy Details

Bed and Vacancy Details
Detail	Status
Approximate number of beds at this level of care	44
Vacancy	No
Impending vacancy	No
Short stay considered	Yes
Premium Accommodation Charges	No
MOH Certification and Audit Report	View MOH certification and audit report (opens in a new tab)
Updated: 15 Sep 2025

Testimonials

Testimonials
Waikiwi Gardens; a Home with a Heart Waikiwi Gardens, one of the best The staff are wonderful too We have lots of entertainment Theres's many things to do We go for lots of outings Do baking, craft and play games Every day is so exciting No day is even the same If you want to go into a rest home You can't do better then this Than come to Waikiwi Gardens And join in our life of bliss. Poem Written by Kathy (resident)
Updated: 28 Mar 2022

Personnel

Personnel
Type	Status	Details
Registered Nurse	Yes	3 full time RNs
Healthcare Assistants/Caregivers	Yes	We have a very kind and friendly care team working at Waikiwi Gardens Rest Home, who deliver a top quality and personalised service while ensuring our residents dignity is always respected, while maintaining a meaningful and happy life.
Physiotherapist	No	Available through Dr referral
Occupational Therapist	No	Available through Dr referral
Social Worker (on site)	No	Available through Dr referral
Activities Co-ordinator	Yes	We have 2 activities co-ordinators who provide a great weekly program of activities.
Hairdresser	Yes	Once a month on site in our lovely salon (additional fees apply).
Podiatrist	Yes	Monthly visits or as required (additional fees apply).
Dietitian	Yes	Our menu's are signed off by a dietian as being well balanced, varied and tasty. We cater for diabetics and other dietary requirements.
Chaplain/Spiritual Advisor	Yes	We have members of the church who come to the home for regular visits.
Other Personnel	Negotiable
Updated: 25 Aug 2025

Specialities or Areas of Expertise

Specialities or Areas of Expertise
Specialities or Areas of Expertise	Status	Details
Oxygen Management	Yes
Gastronomy/Nasogastric Management	Yes	If required, our nurses have the required skills and experience.
End of Life/Palliative Care	Yes	Although we do not have a contract for this service we can manage our residents end of life care. A number of our staff have training in this area and we have a good working relationship with the local Hospice palliative nurses.
Wound Care	Yes
Diabetic Care	Yes
Continence Advice	Yes
Stomal Therapy	Yes
Infection Control	Yes
Surgical Followup	Yes
Clinical Management	Yes
Updated: 28 Mar 2022

Respite, Carer Support or other Short Stay

Respite, Carer Support or other Short Stay
Respite, Carer Support or other Short Stay	Status	Details
Respite	Yes	We welcome respite stays any time. Please contact us for more information.
Carer Support	Yes	Carer support stays welcome any time. Please contact us for more information.
Other Short Stay Programme	Yes	Supported Living available, Social Seniors programme available, this is essentially a senior day centre initiative where seniors can join us for the day for activities, meals and companionship. Contact us for more information. Note: Social Seniors is on hold during Covid.
Subsidised	Yes	Private paying and subsidised care welcomed. Please contact us to discuss further.
Private Paying	Yes	Private paying and subsidised care welcomed. Please contact us to discuss further.
Booking can be made in advance	Yes	Please contact us to discuss further.
Updated: 28 Mar 2022

Features

Features
Feature	Status	Details
May Bring Own Furniture	Yes	Some bedroom furniture and a chair. There is a fixed desk/drawer unit in most rooms. You are welcome to hang pictures etc on the wall. This is your home!
Single Rooms	Yes	With a handbasin.
Shared Rooms	Yes	Four double rooms with en-suites - available for couples or friends. We do not have 'shared' rooms in that people who do not know each other will share a room.
Rooms suitable for a couple	Yes	We have four double rooms with en-suites, these are suitable for couples or friends.
Ensuite	No	Only in the double rooms.
Alcohol Permitted	Yes	We have a couple of happy hours each month. Residents may have alcohol in their own rooms if permitted.
Negotiate To Bring Own Pet	Yes	We look at this on a case by case situation.
Phone Access In Own Room	Yes	There is a mobile resident phone available. Residents may have their own landline at their cost.
Wifi	Yes	There is wifi throughout the building.
Resident can adjust heating in own room	Yes	Yes, radiator heating in each room. Our care staff will keep an eye on this for you too.
Cater for under 65 yrs with Disability	Yes	We have a few residents under the age of 65 and ensure that their care plans are tailored accordingly.
Lounges/seating areas	Yes	We have one main lounge that leads out to a sunny, warm, conservatory. We also have 2 other common areas where residents can entertain visitors, watch TV, do activities or just relax.
LGBTQIA+ Friendly	Yes
Female residents only	No	We have a really good mix of females and males.
Male residents only	No	We have a really good mix of females and males.
Primary Health Funded Short Term Care	Yes
Provide End of Life/Palliative Care	Yes
Day Programme for day stay clients	Yes	We offer our Invercargill Social Seniors day care programme every week day. A day full of activities, meals and companionship. Please contact us for more information or to book your place. Note: Social Seniors is on hold during Covid.
Outings	Yes	We have our own 9 seater van. Our van trips go out and about throughout the week to various places around Southland.
Whānau Room	Yes	We have rooms available for family if they wish to stay overnight to be with a family member.
Residents Committee	Yes	Monthly meetings, chaired by management. Any issues raised are taken to the relevant parties and reported back to residents at the next meeting.
Newsletter	No	We have a Facebook page.
Policy for management of challenging behaviour	Yes	Please contact the manager if you wish to discuss this.
Confused Residents	Yes	We have some mildly confused residents, each managed with a unique care plan.
Rural Setting	No	We are located at the end of a cul de sac and have lots of green space surrounding our building. It has a rural feel.
Smokers Room	Yes	We are smoke free however, have designated smoking areas.
Smoking Permitted	Yes	We are smoke free however, have designated smoking areas.
Semi-Secure	Yes
Updated: 25 Aug 2025

Special Features

Special Features
At Waikiwi Gardens Rest Home we strive to provide a warm and friendly atmosphere where people feel they belong and are happy to call home. We have some of the best caregivers in the aged care business who take real pride in helping to make Waikiwi Gardens the best place in Invercargill. We offer a top class activities program with a huge variety of outings, crafts and entertainment. Our coordinators provide a fun 5 day a week program that allows residents to maintain active lifestyles and to continue engaging in the activities they value and enjoy. With fresh home baking on a daily basis and a huge variety of different meals offered, one of the biggest complaints we hear is how good the food is! Our wonderful cooks ensure all dietary needs are met and take real pride in what they serve. With fantastic staff, beautiful meals, and a great social program, you'll find Waikiwi Gardens Rest Home to be a wonderful place to live.
Updated: 25 Aug 2025

Interests & Activities

Interests & Activities
One of the reasons that Waikiwi Gardens is such a great place is the excellent activities program that we offer. It includes many visiting entertainers as well as an extensive range of outings. We offer a real variety of entertainment to suit all physical abilities and a wide range of interests. Housie, bowls, live music, home sports, concerts, BBQ's, movies, country drives, walks down memory lane, dancers and school visitors are to name but a few of the exciting activities that our coordinators have planned each and every week. There is a weekly planner posted every week with up and coming events. Requests and suggestions from residents and their families are very welcome. Every new resident will have one on one time with our activities coordinator to find out their interests.
Updated: 25 Aug 2025

Additional Information

Additional Information
Topic		Details
What's included in your fees and what's not		Please contact us for more details.
Staffing qualifications and details		We have very low staff turnover, as our staff have great relationships with the residents. We have registered nurses and all our caregivers are well trained. Our support staff are great, always ready with a friendly face.
Details about meals		Breakfast is served in bed or in the dining room, your choice! There is a good variety to choose from including; toast, cereal, fruit and porridge, tea or coffee and juice. We have morning and afternoon teas with home baking usual scones, muffins or something savoury. Lunch is the main meal of the day. This could be anything from fish and chips to a full roast. Our meals are top quality and well balanced. Our deserts range from apple sponge to sago and fruit. A lighter meal is served in the evening. This could be scrabbled eggs or soup or quiche. We offer fruit to finish. Supper is served later in the evening and is a sandwich and cake or a biscuit. We have an area where you are welcome to make your own tea and coffee throughout the day.
Updated: 25 Aug 2025

Languages Spoken

Languages Spoken
Language	Status	Details
English	Yes
Filipino	Yes
Malayalam	Yes
Māori - Te Reo	Yes
Portugesse	Yes
Spanish	Yes
Updated: 25 Aug 2025

Religious/Spiritual Affiliations

Religious/Spiritual Affiliations
Religious/Spiritual Affiliations	Status	Details
Anglican	Yes
Baptist	Yes
Brethren	Yes
Christian	Yes
Denominations/Faiths represented	Yes
Inter denominational	Yes
Methodist	Yes
Non denominational	Yes
Presbyterian	Yes
Roman Catholic	Yes
Updated: 28 Mar 2022

Distances

Distances
Location	Distance	Details
Public Transport	0.30 Km	Bus stops at the end of of our very short road.
Shops	0.30 Km	Hairdressers, fish and chips and a restaurant are all in Ruru street. With a pharmacy and dairy just around the corner. A supermarket is 2 blocks away.
Parks	0.10 Km	School playground next door for the children, plus there are many other lovely parks in the area.
Library	8.00 Km	Central Library.
Updated: 28 Mar 2022

Credentials & Membership

Credentials & Membership
Credentials & Membership RC	Status	Details
National Certificate in Diversional Therapy	Yes
Aged Care Association New Zealand (ACA)	Yes
Police checked	Yes
Other details	Yes	Aged Advisor

Updated: 28 Mar 2022

The Ministry of Health conducts regular audits of Residential Care Facilities. They can be found HERE.