"Tauranga is interesting because you do have the highest percentage of the over 75s living in retirement villages in the country which then reflects the very dramatic growth in villages in the region."
People who moved into retirement villages, did so for a variety of reasons, he said.
"One of them, the partnership - the husband or wife has had a bit of a health scare and they're thinking ahead and thinking some stage in the next five to 10 years they are going to need care and they want to go somewhere with a care facility.
"Secondly, it's around security.
"Security means they can sell their home in the suburbs, put the equity release in their savings, purchase a place in the village for about two-thirds of what they sold their house for then they have some extra security in terms of income to live off.
"And thirdly when you are 80 and owned a home all your life, you are actually a bit sick of home ownership - the roof leaks, paint is coming off the house and you have to do the weeding.
"You get sick of it. So you look for somewhere where you can live securely and purpose built but you don't own it so you don't have to maintain and prepare it. So a retirement village is perfect for that."
With more than 30 retirement villages placed around the Bay of Plenty and plans for more, Mr Collyns said he did not believe the industry had over catered for future generations.
The number of over 75-year-olds would steadily increase until 2060, he said.
"We don't believe there is any suggestion that there will be a lack of demand in the near future.
"People who are aged 80, have a certain set of needs, it doesn't matter if it's the current generation or when I get there, there will be needs," Mr Collyns said. "That will be money, care - somebody to look after me if I need it and companionship. Villages will offer all of those going forward."
Retirement villages 'marvellous' for some but others prefer own home
A Katikati couple described their move into a retirement village as "marvellous" but a Te Puke woman says that life is not for her.
Bruce and Nan Robinson, both 82, have been living in Summerset Retirement Village for a year now, and Mrs Robinson said it was a necessary move to makefor the next chapter of their lives.
"We both feel living our lives on earth is a journey, and this is part of the journey which is bringing us to a secure and convenient lifestyle at this end of our lives," Mrs Robinson said.
She said after living in the small community for 15 years, they wanted to keep in contact with friends they had made butadjust to a new, more suitable lifestyle.
"We've been able to maintain all the things we were doing before we moved in here and more."
The biggest convenience from living in the retirement village was the immediate care and property maintenance that took off a lot of stress, she said.
It was important to make the decision to move to a retirement village "before it was too late".
In comparison to Mr and Mrs Robinson, Rob and Gaye Woods are more than happy to stay put on the large Te Puke property they have owned for 30 years.
"I live on a large section, I don't look into anybody else's house, I look over greenery and the main highway and my own trees," Mrs Woods said.
"I don't think I could hack looking into somebody else's kitchen in a retirement village, I like my space."
She might consider downsizing one day.
Mrs Woods enjoys keeping busy by patch-making, volunteering for Grey Power and Little Tots and taking careof her grandchildren when needed.
"I have choices that I suspect would be a bit more limited in a retirement village," Mrs Woods said.
