Visitors flock to new retirement village

The first stage of Takapuna's new $100 million Metlifecare retirement village drew about 800 visitors on the weekend.

Richard de Haast, outgoing Metlifecare chief executive, said interest in the first 78 units was high after the village was opened to the public.

Although only 20 units have been sold, this was not unexpected.

"Sales are ahead of our feasibility studies and bank funding model," he said.

The first residents moved in this month and de Haast attributed the level of sales activity to a combination of issues.

Metlifecare had not built on the North Shore before and was unknown there, he said. People had also been unable to see units until the last few weeks and the residential property downturn had taken its toll.

Construction of the village's second stage is due to finish next autumn.

The board is yet to decide when work on the third and final stages would begin, de Haast said.

Lynda Hull, the Takapuna village manager, said interior design features of retirement facilities matched demographics and geography.

The new Takapuna village therefore had a natural beach-style theme.

The main five-level block is built at 142 Shakespeare Road, off North Shore Hospital's access drive in the huge new complex on the corner of Shakespeare Rd and Taharoto Rd.

Builders Haydn & Rollett said the project would eventually bring eight buildings and a podium over an underground carpark.

Stage one's 78 apartments and resident facilities overlook that podium.

Stage two work started on April 14 with builders putting up the super-structure for the new apartments due to be finished next April.

A Metlifecare spokesperson said the new village would employ 50 staff when all eight buildings were up.