Jump to Content

Retirement Villages Wairarapa

There are 10 retirement villages in the Wairarapa. Many consider Wairarapa as the hidden gem of the North Island. You’ll find retirement villages throughout the region, from Masterton, ‘NZ’s Best Little City’, to the winemaking region of Martinborough. If you enjoy sunny summers and crisp winters, Wairarapa might be your place to call home.

Let us help you find somewhere

Villages in Wairarapa

Showing 6 of 10 results


Retirement Village
  • 140 Chapel Street
  • Masterton
  • Masterton

Retirement Village
  • 8 Roberts Road
  • Lansdowne
  • Masterton

Retirement Village
  • 227 High Street South
  • Carterton
  • Carterton

Retirement Village
  • 1 Oxford Street
  • Lansdowne
  • Masterton

Retirement Village
  • 67 Reading Street
  • Greytown
  • Greytown

Retirement Village
  • 35 Edith Street
  • Masterton
  • Masterton

Why choose a Retirement Village in Wairarapa?

Over the hill or through the railway tunnel from our capital city is one of the country’s best kept secrets: the Wairarapa. Each town in the Wairarapa has its own charm and community style. Greytown’s Edwardian buildings and tempting shops and cafes draw Wellingtonians across the hill, as do Martinborough’s vineyards. Featherston’s many bookshops form the focus for its annual Booktown Festival, with events and guest speakers. Carterton still retains its rural hub atmosphere, and hosts an annual A&P Show at Clareville. Masterton, home of the Golden Shears, is the main shopping centre for the region, and the base for the regional hospital. Long established communities offer many activities from bowling clubs to choirs and drama societies.

Warm, sunny summers and crisp winters make for plentiful fresh vegetables and berry and stonefruit. Martinborough, Gladstone and Masterton are the main winemaking areas, with many wineries open for tastings. You can ride the shuttle bus at the annual Toast Martinborough festival to explore wineries, cellar doors and food. Then in February relax by the Ruamāhanga River at the Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival, listening to live music and sampling local wines paired with food.

You’ll find a cluster of retirement villages in Masterton, with others in the smaller towns like Carterton and Martinborough, and new developments underway, that offer a range of properties, price points and options.

All about retirement villages

A retirement village is a community specially built to cater towards the needs and lifestyles of older people. Many retirement villages offer units, villas, suites, or serviced suites. This gives you the option to choose to live independently within the village environment or to get extra help with cleaning or meal delivery.

Retirement villages
card icon
What costs will I still need to pay once I enter a village?

You are responsible for paying for your personal costs, such as personal contents insurance, internal maintenance to your dwelling, power, phone and paid television/streaming services. You may also find that some activities/outings incur additional costs too. Most retirement villages in New Zealand also charge weekly fees, which covers expenses such...

Retirement villages
card icon
What is an ORA?

Buying into a retirement village works differently to purchasing a regular house. In most villages, you don't actually 'own' the unit or the land it's on, as you would in a traditional property purchase. Instead, the amount you pay upfront is called your Capital Contribution , which gives you the...

Retirement villages
card icon
What are the costs of entering a village?

Depending on where you want to live in New Zealand, the cost of ‘buying’ into a retirement village can vary greatly – some units can be priced in the $100,000s while others can reach into the millions. This ‘purchase’ price is known as the Capital Contribution. You can search for...

Retirement villages
card icon
Is a care suite different to a serviced apartment?

A care suite is a hybrid-type option that combines a village offering (meaning it requires an upfront ‘purchase’ price) and support at a higher level of care as certified by Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health and governed by the Age Related Residential Care (ARRC) Agreement. They may also be referred...

find more articles in the Knowledge Lab

Sign up for our e-newsletter and receive the latest information to support you on your ageing journey.

Join Eldernet