In what can be said is a bold and innovative move, the New Zealand peak body has again taken a proactive step rather than waiting for potential negative messaging reaching regulators.
Stating that the RVA is aware that many village residents don’t feel their voice is being heard, the operator funded organisation has taken the progressive step to fund and create the Retirement Village Residents Council.
Stating that it is a new voice for residents, the RVA says “We are of course aware that there is already an association for retirement village residents. Many residents have told us that they do not feel fully represented by it or have found it difficult to interact with.”
“We believe there is room for all voices to be represented, and at the RVA, we think it’s essential to understand what residents want and need.”
The RVA tells us that the perceived and real independence of the new residents Council is crucial to its success.
They have appointed Deborah Hart (pictured) as the Independent Chair of the Council. She is currently chair of the independent review of New Zealand‘s electoral laws and chair of the Consumer Advocacy Council.
Ms Hart will also select other members of the Council from actual residents and villages.
“The Council will be free to express its opinions and shall be under no expectation from any party as to its outcomes. It can make public statements, without any expectation or control from any party, including the RVA. This commitment to transparency and autonomy ensures that the needs of residents will be put first,” says the RVA.
Separately we hear that the actual residents association has met with Ms Hart and seeing value in the Council.
The potential lesson for Australia is that by forming and funding the Council the operators have increased the probability of balanced and educated resident representation to government. A lesson worth watching.
