Harry Wilson (left) performs a karakia for Ryman Healthcare’s new Cambridge site, with Irihapeti Bullmore, Ryman Healthcare’s Taha Māori Kaitiaki – Cultural Navigator.
Work has started on a $150 million retirement village in Cambridge to house more than 350 people
A blessing from Ngāti Koroki Kahukura signalled the start of Ryman Healthcare’s new development last week on an 8.6 hectare Cambridge Rd site.
The village will include 80 care beds, 60 serviced apartments and 185 townhouses, an indoor swimming pool, café, hair and beauty salons.
Ngāti Koroki Kahukura’s Harry said the land was the original site of King Tawhiao where around 20,000 people once lived.
With plentiful crops on the land and fish in Lake Te Koo Utu it made a popular rest stop, he said.
“It was a central hub of Māoridom. Whenever people came to our turf there was no fighting.”
He also noted the historical land confiscations that forced local Māori to settle in less desirable areas.
He looked forward to the employment and residential opportunities that Ryman Healthcare’s new village would bring for local people.
Ryman development manager Tayla Beck said the village would employ around 150 team members including clinical leaders, registered nurses and caregivers as well as kitchen, housekeeping and maintenance and gardening teams.
Ryman villages offer a choice of independent and assisted living options as well as resthome, hospital and dementia care all on one site.
Sales manager Colin Caldwell said Cambridge would be the company’s 41st New Zealand retirement village in New Zealand and will build on the great work our teams have done at Hilda Ross and Linda Jones villages in Hamilton over many years.’’
