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Kauri Lodge
photos: operator / Village Guide
Retirement living · Riccarton, Christchurch

Kauri Lodge

Riccarton, Christchurch · independent villas + studios + rest home care on 10,000m² of gardens
Life Score
55
Good
Capital Back
36
the money ↓
See what life here is like — then weigh what it means for your family further down.
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The village

Life here

Kauri Lodge sits on the edge of Riccarton Bush in Christchurch, offering residents a rare blend of peaceful green spaces and urban convenience. Independently owned and operated by the Bennett family for over two decades, the village is known for its warm, inclusive culture where long-serving staff create a genuine sense of belonging. Whether you choose a spacious two-bedroom villa, a self-contained studio, or a fully staffed room, life here revolves around connection, activities, and the freedom to live as you wish—with Westfield Mall and Hagley Park just moments away.

Your home

Living options

Accommodation Choices

Kauri Lodge offers three distinct living options to suit different needs and lifestyles.

✓ Villas: Two bedrooms, internal access garage, underfloor heating, double-glazed windows, modern fittings
✓ Studios: En-suite with kitchenette and lounge, staffed 24/7
✓ Rooms: En-suite standard and premium options, staffed 24/7 with registered nurse care
Living options
A day in the life

What living here is actually like

Kauri Lodge residents enjoy a vibrant social calendar and plenty of reasons to connect.

Activities & Community

An onsite Activities Coordinator runs a jam-packed programme of events and classes. Residents can enjoy art classes, concerts, shopping excursions, Tai Chi, lawn bowls, themed dinners, live entertainment, summer barbecues, bingo nights, craft workshops, and more. Communal spaces include a restaurant, lounge, and sun-drenched library. Participation is entirely optional—residents choose how much or how little village life suits them.

✓ Art classes and craft workshops
✓ Concerts and live entertainment
✓ Shopping excursions and outings
✓ Tai Chi sessions
✓ Lawn bowls
✓ Themed culinary events and summer barbecues
✓ Bingo nights and musical performances
✓ Restaurant, lounge, and library
Always something on
On your doorstep

Facilities & services

24/7 registered nurse and caregiver staff
On-site chef
Hairdressing salon
Podiatrist service
Beautician service
House doctor
Nurse call system in all rooms
Heat pumps in all rooms
Fully en-suited rooms
Beautiful gardens and green spaces
On-site parking
Library
Restaurant
Lounge
Peace of mind

Care for life, on site

If your health changes, you won't have to leave the place you know. Kauri Lodge offers these levels of care on site:

Independent→Serviced→Rest home
✓ Registered nurse (24/7) · Experienced caregivers (24/7) · Podiatry · House doctor · Beautician
Care and community
Where it is

Setting & neighbourhood

Kauri Lodge occupies a spacious 10,000 square metres of green spaces and well-maintained grounds in the heart of Riccarton, Christchurch. The village borders Riccarton Bush, providing a peaceful country outlook while remaining conveniently positioned near major city amenities. Westfield Mall is on the doorstep for shopping and coffee with friends, and Hagley Park is a short stroll away for summer walks. The location strikes a perfect balance between homeliness and urban convenience, with ample on-site parking for residents and visitors.

Interested?

Like the look of Kauri Lodge?

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Now the practical part

The money — what comes back to your family

You've seen why you'd love it. This is the part most families only discover at the exit statement — so we put it in plain sight. Every figure is from the village's own filed Disclosure Statement.

Capital Back score
36
Below average · #381 of 520
Better than 27% of NZ villages — yet the market median is just 46. The sector is tough.
Deferred fee
6%
~$8k on a $140k unit, over 4 years
Your share of capital gain
0%
operator keeps 100% of any uplift
Time to get capital back
—
not enough resales disclosed
Fees after you leave
Continue
charged until the unit resells
7 years
Your estate receives
$99,500
Operator keeps (deferred fee)$40,500
Share of your $140,000 back71%
Before you sign, get independent eyes on the contract.An ORA-review lawyer or independent financial adviser — never paid by any operator — checks what it really means for your family.
⚖ Get independent advice →
How the 36 is built

Nothing hidden — every component

The Capital Back score is a transparent weighting of five filed terms — you can see exactly where this village wins and loses.

Move-in fee you don't get back Deferred Management Fee — weighted 30%
6% deferred fee — lower is better.
85
Share of capital growth Capital gain to resident — weighted 15%
0% — the operator keeps any resale uplift.
0
Fees stop when you leave Weekly fees on exit — weighted 15%
Fees continue until the unit resells.
0
Interest if repayment is slow Interest on delayed capital — weighted 10%
No interest on delayed repayment.
0
The filed terms, in plain English

What the Disclosure Statement actually says

Every operator uses different words for the same thing — we normalise them so you can compare like with like.

%

Deferred Management Fee

6% of $140,000 = ~$8,000

Accrues over your first 4 years, charged on the entry price.

Market: median 30%; only 16% of villages charge under 25%.
↑

Capital gain

0% to the resident

Any increase in the licence value at resale is kept entirely by the operator.

Market: just 8% of NZ villages share any capital gain.
!

Fees & interest on exit

Watch this

Weekly fees continue until the unit resells.

Market: 220 of 520 villages keep charging weekly fees after you've gone.
Before you sign the ORA

The reckoning usually arrives too late

  • You're buying a licence to occupy, not the home — you can't sell, rent or borrow against it.
  • Roughly $8,000 is gone in deferred fees within 4 years, whatever the unit later sells for.
  • Your family carries the risk of how long resale takes — and the operator's ability to pay.
  • None of this is hidden — it's all in the Disclosure Statement most people sign without reading.
Have someone independent read it first

We'll connect you with a retirement-village review lawyer or independent financial adviser — no operator pays to be here.

Request an ORA review → Talk to a financial adviser