We understand that the lifestyle you’ve worked hard for is important. That’s why we focus on creating vibrant communities where residents can enjoy their passions—whether it’s gardening, travel, or simply spending time with friends in beautiful surroundings.
Here in the Waikato, we’re proud to have three of our villages — Linda Jones, Hilda Ross, and Patrick Hogan — named after local icons, celebrating the region’s rich history and people. We’re committed to honouring this legacy by providing a sense of community, alongside top-quality, innovative villages.
We hope you enjoy this issue filled with inspiration for living well, and we look forward to catching up with you soon.
The Ryman Team
Cultivating
Summer fun
A roaming retirement
With seasoned road trippers
Marion and Murray
Stories of Service
Our Anzac book commemorates those who served
Deadpan Doug
Living the good life at Patrick Hogan Village
It takes a village
Celebrating Ryman’s community partnerships
Spring sensations
Tips on adding colour to your garden this spring with Matt Leacy
Explore
From patio to plate
You don't spend 35 years in the classroom teaching home economics without having a passion for freshly picked produce and delicious home baking.
Georgina’s patio garden is brimming with blossoming fruits, fresh herbs, succulent veggies, and the star of her summer dessert, rhubarb. It’s also where Brooklyn, her 12-yearold granddaughter, selects the produce for her cooking adventures with Nana.
The scent of Georgina’s signature Rhubarb, Apple and Berry Crumble often wafts through Ryman’s Bert Sutcliffe Village, beckoning neighbours to drop by. Both sweet and tart, Brooklyn agrees that it pairs perfectly with gooey custard or melting vanilla ice cream.
“We’ve discovered that you don’t need a quarter acre to have a good garden,” says Georgina.
Having farewelled a large section to move to the village, she and husband John weren’t sure what to expect. They’ve been delighted to find that the hard work and maintenance are taken care of, leaving more time and energy for them to indulge in what they love doing.
For Georgina, that’s gardening and making the most of seasonal produce in the kitchen.
This is a passion that has followed her from the South Otago farm she was raised on to Auckland’s North Shore with John.
The pair are award-winning gardeners, taking first place in the Large Urban Garden award at the 2013 Rolleston Garden Competition.
With a laugh, Georgina and John refer to their new lifestyle as resort living – all the amenities they want, minus the maintenance worries.
And they couldn’t be happier. Their patio of weeping maples, sweet peas, rhododendrons, and fruit plants enjoy a backdrop of native bush filled with tūī and kererū. And, of course, crumble-scented air.
“Wherever we've been, we've gardened.”
Georgina’s crumble pairs perfectly with gooey custard or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Fruit filling ingredients
4 rhubarb stalks, cut into chunks the length of your thumb
2 medium apples, peeled, cored and sliced to 1cm thick
2 tbsp caster sugar, plus extra to taste
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Crumble topping ingredients
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
120g butter
Method
1. Preheat your oven to 180°C fan bake.
2. Add the sugar, water, rhubarb and apple chunks to a saucepan. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes. Add more sugar to taste, as needed.
3. When the fruit is soft (still holding its shape) and sweet enough, mix in the strawberries and blueberries. Simmer for another 3 minutes, then set aside to cool.
4. In a bowl, mix the flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. Rub in the butter with your fingers until the mixture is well combined and crumbly.
5. Pour the fruit mixture into a medium baking dish (approximately 25cm diameter) and evenly scatter the crumble topping over the fruit.
6. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 180°C fan bake until the crumble is golden and cooked through.
7. Serve warm with ice-cream or custard.
Cultivating the good life in retirement
Enjoy the best of retirement living in one of Ryman's three friendly retirement villages in Waikato.
Depending on the village that you call home, your living options include townhouses, apartments, and assisted living in serviced apartments, all set among beautiful gardens.
Many residents are keen gardeners and cultivate beautiful green spaces in their garden, patio or balcony. Others simply enjoy the village gardens, maintained to a high standard by our team of gardeners. Either way, a member of our friendly team can help with any heavy lifting.
Our villages feature amenities such as a heated indoor swimming pool, an all-weather bowling green, hair and beauty salons, a cinema, a village café, and more.
If your needs change over time, our state-of-the-art care centres offer rest home, hospital and dementia care. The care centres are located within our villages and Ryman residents have priority access. This means that couples can stay near one another even if one person needs to go into care.
Whichever village you choose, it offers you a lifestyle you can thrive in.
Hilda Ross Village
Superbly located in the historic suburb of Hamilton East, Ryman's Hilda Ross Village is close to the river and surrounded by parks and gardens.
With a supermarket just down the road, grocery shopping has never been easier. Hamilton Central is within walking or cycling distance, as are some of the city’s most desirable eateries and coffee shops.
Best of all, the 54-hectare Hamilton Gardens is also nearby, featuring many diverse garden designs displaying the cultural meaning and context of gardens over thousands of years.
Linda Jones Village
Set along the Waikato River, Ryman's Linda Jones Village offers a tranquil retirement lifestyle only 8km from central Hamilton.
Enjoy meandering along the beautiful river walkways, try out your swing at the nearby golf courses, or take the dog for a walk in nearby Featherstone Park. And for your convenience, there are three major shopping areas located near the village including Te Awa at The Base.
Patrick Hogan Village
Ryman’s newest village in the Waikato, Patrick Hogan Village, is situated on the outskirts of the charming rural township of Cambridge, with many attractions nearby.
Located at the Velodrome, The Bikery Café is a four minute drive away. This hidden gem offers fresh, delicious food and coffee. Another option is to walk or cycle to nearby Lake Te Koo Utu Reserve where you can stroll along the flat walking trail or enjoy a picnic with family and friends.
Family fun in the summer sun
Each year, just before summer school holidays end, villages open their doors to residents’ families for our annual Family Days.
The tradition has become a highlight of the year as villages ring with children’s laughter and the happy chatter of families.
This year, residents from all over the country welcomed their friends and family to their village to relax in the summer sun and enjoy each other’s company. Villages chose different themes to add some pizzazz and spark to the day, with some pulling out all the stops!
At Ngaio Marsh, guests were welcomed to a superhero-themed party as heroes and villains took over the village centre to keep guests entertained. Children were amused for hours on a fabulous bouncy castle, fuelled up on a sausage sizzle, and even had their faces painted in honour of their favourite hero!
Miriam Corban decided on an under-the-sea theme as they took attendees on a journey into the ocean. Sea creatures were scattered on the village lawn and
the village was transformed under the warm sun. Lawn games and an ocean-themed balloon arch were a big hit amongst the guests.
Meanwhile at Murray Halberg, the team treated guests to a trip to Hollywood, while William Sanders honoured their namesake with a nautical theme that also featured pirates!
Logan Campbell welcomed a magician who had lots of tricks up his sleeve and Jane Mander held a beautiful Fiesta featuring a magnificent pinata. Down south, Anthony Wilding took to the royal court and greeted their loyal subjects, while Kiri Te Kanawa stuck to the summer theme with a fun pool party.
Every Family Day is a real treat for residents, team members, and their families as it is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to socialise and celebrate. A perfect way to kick off the event calendar for the year!
Clockwise from left: Mila, great niece of Elaine
at Bert
the clown with Frida, great granddaughter of resident Jacqui, at Logan Campbell. Glynne and Eric Cockerton with their grandchildren Noah and Scarlett.
The minions theme at Murray Halberg was a hit as well as the fabulous lolly scramble at Miriam Corban. Eddie at Grace Joel was visiting his auntie Molly, and finally, Ivy Liza, Claire Whitfield, Deborah Budden, and Janie Watkins at Ngaio Marsh.
Macky
Sutcliffe. Popcorn
A roaming retirement
After years of making memories at their classic Kiwi batch, Marion and Murray Garlick chose to take their holidays on the road. Selling up was an emotional decision, but one they don’t regret thanks to their experience with Ryman.
Marion and Murray have found themselves at the heart of a village community that celebrates the spirit of exploration and offers the freedom to embark on unforgettable journeys. The pair quickly embraced their lock up and leave lifestyle and found joy in joining a group of like-minded motorhome enthusiasts.
Murray shares, “When we go away with the group on a safari, the tour leader organises interesting things to see, like historic sites, and arranges a local spokesperson to speak about the area. You can’t do that if you’re just traveling by yourself. But with 20-30 vans, you’ve got a bit of clout.”
Everyone tours independently during the day, meeting up for activities and trading stories over dinner.
Murray and Marion take turns driving, ensuring both can revel in the stunning views and arrive at their destinations feeling refreshed.
From the captivating reflections on Moke Lake near Queenstown to the backcountry driving through the Molesworth Station, rugged Farewell Spit, and wind-swept Tora in the Wairarapa, these two adventurers have left their footprints on some of New Zealand’s most remarkable spots.
“We’re blessed in New Zealand; it’s a beautiful country. To park on the edge of a lake then wake up in the morning and look out to see the scenery is just unreal.”
Motorhomers are known to be the life of the party, and Murray and Marion are no exception. They enjoy an active social life both in the village as well as on the road. Sharing experiences enriches their journey, and Murray finds pleasure in parking up at an NZMCA park, ready to share laughs with fellow travellers. They swap tales about driving the renowned roads of the Forgotten World Highway and Gentle Annie Highway while eagerly listening to others’ highlights. The pair also happily join friends for day trips to events like the quirky Republic Day celebrations at Whangamōmona Hotel.
With 20 years of motorhome travel under their belts, Marion and Murray know the value of a secure home base. They are willing to go the extra mile, traversing rough, winding roads and reaching remote destinations, knowing that everything is taken care of back home.
“You get to visit some pretty outlandish places. And some of the roads are pretty rough to get there! And then when we return home, everything is exactly as it should be.”
Main & left image: Whananaki Beach, Northland. Below: Waioeka Gorge. Middle: Linley Julian, second from left (also Logan Campbell resident), Marion and Murray Garlick on the right) at Waioeka Gorge. Bottom: Puponga Hilltop Track, view of Farewell Split.
The bravery and service of our residents remembered
Stories of Service contains the recollections of Ryman residents in New Zealand and Australia who fought or served in conflicts ranging from World War II, Korea, Malaya and Vietnam.
It also includes the stories of those who served in peacetime, driven by that sense of purpose and service that compels individuals to help their country.
Many of Ryman’s village namesakes carved their honourable reputations through their military service, including Sir Keith Park, Sir Charles Upham, and Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop.
And marking Anzac Day with commemorations is hugely important in the calendar of all of our villages.
This year’s book included a number of new stories from our Keith Park Retirement Village, due to its location in Hobsonville, a former Air Force base, many residents served in the Air Force and remained in the area when they retired.
Five of the stories featured are Air Force-related but the experiences are unique.
Take Jenny Hodges, who survived the Wahine disaster after completing her training, or former fighter pilot Ross Johnson who was recruited to serve in the Malaya Emergency at just 19-years-old.
Experiences in Vietnam also feature, including Ken Dowling who served as part of 161 Field Battery, or newly trained doctor Russell Reid who was balloted to serve as a medic as part of the Territorials.
And the ‘Senior Service’ is also represented, including John Santos’s experience as the first Tongan to join the NZ Navy.
One resident, retired nurse Sylvia Frame, incredibly served in all three armed services worldwide. We thank them all for their service.
Lest we forget!
Top left: Ryman Northwood resident, Ken Dowling. Top right: Logan Campbell resident, Russell Reid. Far left: Edmund Hillary resident, Ross Johnson. Left: Keith Park resident, Jenny Hodges. Above: Keith Park resident, John Santos.
Deadpan Doug �nds family at Patrick Hogan Village
Attending the live TV naming reveal for Ryman’s Cambridge village saw Doug Lineham turned into a viral internet sensation and calls for him to become PM.
Viewers of TVNZ’s Breakfast couldn’t get enough of his dry one-liners, as he simultaneously gave cheek to presenter Matty McLean while also singing the praises of Ryman Healthcare!
However, what people didn’t know is only three days before, Doug had delivered the eulogy at the funeral of his wife of 53 years and was also dealing with the loss of two of his four siblings while grappling with some health issues of his own.
The timing of his move into Patrick Hogan village in Cambridge couldn’t have been better, he says, describing it as literally a lifeline.
“It was like climbing out of a hole really. I didn’t think I was going to make it and actually at one point I thought did I want to make it?” he says.
It was the village team’s amazing response that convinced him he was doing the right thing.
Written in the welcome card was ‘we want you to know, your family has just grown significantly’.
“That’s what sold it for me,” says Doug of Sales Advisor David de Veth’s heartfelt message.
“That man is an absolute asset to Ryman and the team here are great too.”
“I came here because it was the best village in our opinion, and that’s one way I can repay everything Jan’s done for me.”
Doug and Jan had researched various retirement villages together, with Jan picking out all the furnishings for their beautiful brand-new townhouse. Doug says he can honour her wishes by living a good life there.
“I came here because it was the best village in our opinion, and that’s one way I can repay everything Jan’s done for me.”
Now former stock agent Doug is busy with a number of projects and is thrilled that his fellow residents are on hand to help out with his cat, Boo, when he goes away.
“They’re lining up to feed her!” he says.
It takes a village
At Ryman, we believe a full life is one that gets richer with age.
We don’t just talk the talk; we walk the walk by teaming up with organisations and events that share our zest for life. Whether it’s local gatherings, regional initiatives, or national movements, we’re all in to spread positivity and blaze new trails. Join us in embracing the journey!
Royal New Zealand Ballet
Our partnership with the Royal New Zealand Ballet has brought iconic classics like The Wizard of Oz, Romeo & Juliet, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella to the stage.
We are now in our tenth year of partnership and as Principal Partner we are dedicated to supporting the RNZB’s innovative and inclusive performances yearround, including this year’s Ryman Healthcare season of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Ryman residents and friends of the village all receive 15% off tickets, and our villages nationwide host ballet-themed events, from village balls to quiz afternoons, all in the name of fostering a love of dance.
Email partnerships@ rymanhealthcare.com to become a Village Friend and recieve this exclusive discount.
The New Zealand Team
No one dreams bigger than an Olympian, and nothing connects us as a nation quite like sport.
As a proud partner of the New Zealand Team, we get behind our Olympians and Commonwealth Games athletes so they can turn their dreams into reality. We proudly backed them at Tokyo 2020, the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the more recent Paris 2024 Olympics!
To find out more visit: rymanhealthcare.co.nz/olympics
Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens
We are proud to champion the women’s game like never before. We are committed to supporting initiatives that empower women and celebrate their achievements, through our official partnership with the Black Ferns and Black Ferns Sevens.
Our collaboration offers benefits fostering the sport’s growth and inspiring the next generation. Together, we’re building a vibrant community around women’s rugby.
The Court Theatre
Proud season sponsors of The Court Theatre since 2022, Ryman brings joy to residents and audiences in Canterbury year-round. With a diverse array of performances, it caters to all tastes – from world-class entertainment to thoughtprovoking experiences.
Auckland Philharmonia
Ryman Healthcare are proud to be Platinum Sponsors of the Auckland Philharmonia, and recently celebrated The Lion King Live in Concert.
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2024, we relived the magic of Disney’s animated classic The Lion King as the Auckland Philharmonia performs the beloved Oscar®-winning score by Hans Zimmer and Oscar®winning songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, live to film. A classic movie for the whole family!
Spring Sensations
Landscaping guru Matt Leacy wants to see colour in your garden this season.
The mild weather spring delivers is ideal for adding new plants to the garden, sowing seeds, and laying the groundwork for the warmer months ahead. There’s no better time to add a pop of colour and floral flair to your outdoor space.
Bright gardens are known to brighten moods. And provide a steady supply of fresh blooms for display. The key is to plan ahead and plant intentionally. Here are my tips for using florals in your garden like a pro.
01. Colourful coordination
Make sure that the flowering plants included in your garden work well with your other plants and any structural buildings. Lush green foliage is the perfect backdrop and if you’re in doubt use white flowering plants or trees and you can’t go wrong.
Azaleas are perfect for hedging or mass planting. They come in white and vivid pink and red shades. Everlasting daisies are great for potted colour. They’re compact and come in a variety of colours.
Mandevillas are bright and hardy so are ideal in pots or used as a climber to soften façades or fence lines. Dahlias are another beautiful spring planting flower that deliver an uplifting burst of colour to gardens and interior vases.
02. Mass planting
Flowers are at their best when planted en masse in pots, a garden bed, or as a border around the bottom of trees.
Planting different floral varieties or dotting flowers sparsely can look messy. It’s well worth creating a theme and planning the look you want to achieve before adding florals to your garden.
Buying small seedlings or using seeds is a great way to keep your costs down. Spring is the right season to plant small and watch them grow as flowers tend to sprout up quickly and thrive in the warmth of spring
Check the tag on your flower before planting to understand its best use.
Sniff sniff
Perhaps you’re not bothered by colour. Perhaps you prefer your plants to be more functional than pretty. Well, what could be more functional than natural fragrance? A happy bonus of spring planting is a fragrant garden. And you can bring your scented paradise indoors with fresh cut flowers.
Lavender, sweet peas and jasmine are great options for a heady scent, and sweet peas and lavender are favourites for cut flowers.
04. Native Blooms
Native blooms not only add vivid colour to your garden, they tend to be hardy. They also attract birds, pollinators, and other beneficial wildlife to your outdoor space. Kōwhai and pōhutukawa trees are two of my favourites for filling larger gaps with colour. Native flowering trees have the added benefit of not needing to be replaced seasonally.
Growing Dahlias with Arch
A resident at Ryman’s Ernest Rutherford Village, Arch sees gardening as an investment in the future. “When you plant your tubers or bulbs, you've got something to look forward to later on.”
One of his gardening specialities is the dahlia. While the flower is enjoying a renaissance, Arch has loved dahlias for a while. A prize-winning grower, some of his dahlias have been placegetters in shows organised by the Brightwater Horticultural Society, which he was president of for many years.
Novice growers are often intimidated by the idea of growing dahlias, but Arch says they’re just like growing spuds in terms of technique. All you need is a sunny location with well-draining soil. Dig a hole and plant your tubers with the eyes, or growing point, facing up. And don’t worry if you have limited space, dahlias can also be grown in pots.
Come explore with us!
They cascade, crash, and occasionally trickle. Here’s a list of must-see waterfalls in Aotearoa.
Our mountainous New Zealand landscape is a waterfall paradise. Every region boasts several picturesque falls worth visiting. We’ve plucked a handful of special ones from the list, some popular and others off the beaten track, but all beautiful. The access hikes are scenic, and the waterfalls offer a meditative sense of calm. So, pack a picnic and throw your crew in the car – we’re going exploring!
Otuihau Whangãrei Falls, Whangãrei
10 min return, easy Sealed trail for all abilities.
This picturesque 26.3-metre-high waterfall cascades over basalt cliffs to breathtaking effect. Traditionally an eeling spot for local Māori, today it’s a popular picnic spot. Walk 5 minutes to the falls on a trail suitable for people of all abilities. The two viewing platforms above the falls offer a bird’s eye view of the nīkau, tōtara, mānuka, ti kouka, and ponga below.
Be warned, the waterfall can have little or no water during a dry summer.
Waireinga/Bridal Veil Falls, Raglan
20 min return, easy
Sealed trail for all abilities.
This stunning 55-metre waterfall lives up to the hype and you’ll be grateful for its several viewing platforms. Spilling from the clifftop, it forms a dramatic bridal veil shape. A friendly trail weaves through native forest and you can choose to venture a further 20 minutes return down steps to the base where you’ll be greeted with a view across the pool and directly up the veil.
Devil’s Punchbowl, Arthur’s Pass
1hr return, moderate Gradual incline with steps.
Nestled in the heart of Arthur’s Pass National Park is a 131-metre waterfall. The walking trail takes you to the base of the falls and offers an early view from the second bridge before climbing 240 steps 150 metres to the viewing platform. When your heavy breathing has stopped, take a moment to enjoy the lush beech forest and native birdsong. Keep an eye out for pīwakaka (fantails) playing in the trees.
Kitekite Falls, Piha
1hr return, moderate
Gradual incline with steps. Famous in the Waitākere Ranges, the Kitekite Falls access route winds up through rainforest offering a stunning view of the falls along the way. Featuring six drops, the falls plummet into a large pool at the bottom. Pack a towel as visitors often jump in the base pool for a dip, or hike to the top of the falls where a pair of pools feature a view of the valley.
Thunder Creek Falls, Haast
10 min return, easy Sealed trail for all abilities.
Named for its roaring waters, ThunderCreek Falls offers a satisfying 28-metre drop. Stroll the sealed trail through kāmahi and silver beech while listening for native birds. Located in Mt Aspiring National Park, this narrow, chute-like waterfall plummets down the hillside. Positioned between Wanaka and the West Coast, this waterfall is a visually stunning way to break up a long drive.
Puzzles
There is nothing better than solving puzzles with a cup of tea or coffee. So get your pen ready, grab a few friends, and enjoy!
Crossword
Across
1/5. German physicist who developed the theory of general relativity (6,8)
9. Decisive battle during the 11th century Norman invasion of England (8)
10. Small and usually decorative food held with the fingers (6)
11. Irish writer and poet who wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray (5,5)
12. A unit of digital information in computing (4)
13. Wife of Hitler for less than 40 hours before committing suicide with him (3,5)
16. Alpine event added to Olympics in 1936 (6)
17. An equiangular polygon (6)
19. Period of migration following discovery of a precious mineral (4,4)
21. Trickster god in Norse mythology (4)
22. The study of earthquakes (10)
25. Headdress of cloth worn by medieval women and nuns (6)
26. Capital of Sierra Leone (8)
27. Chemical element with the atomic number of one (8)
28. Miscellaneous small items (6)
2. “The ___ punishment is not that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else”: George Bernard Shaw (5)
3. A performer in the background of a production (5)
4. In Māori mythology, a being that lives in deep pools or dark caves (7)
5. Fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (7)
6. Region at the centre of an atom (7)
7. British Prime Minister, 1997-2007 (4,5)
8. “The aged love what is practical while ___ youth longs only for what is dazzling”: Petrarch (9)
14. Measure of the resistance or ‘thickness’ of a liquid (9)
15. Group of stars also known as the Plough (3,6)
18. A sum of money saved for future use (4,3)
19. Creature with the body of a lion and head and wings of an eagle (7)
20. Common name for saltwater and freshwater snails (7)
23. Language spoken in ancient Rome (5)
24. Patrick ‘Paddy’ ___, journalist with TV3’s Newshub (5)
Book review
Word Builder
How many words of three or more letters, can you make from these six letters?
10 = Good, 14 = Very Good, 18+ = Excellent
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
By Mary Ann Shaffer
Sudoku
Fill the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the digits 1–9.
Crossword answers: Across: 1/5 Albert Einstein, 9 Hastings, 10 Canape, 11 Oscar Wilde, 12 Byte, 13 Eva Braun, 16 Slalom, 17 Isogon,
Despite its long but interesting title, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a fantastic little slice of life story.
The novel is set in 1946 and is unique because it is written in the form of letters between the heroine Juliet Ashton and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
In the novel, Juliet has a problem – she needs something to overcome her writer’s block.
Inspiration strikes when Juliet receives a letter from a stranger, a Mr Dawsey Adams. The letters eventually lead to Juliet exchanging delightful messages with all of the members of the society.
Throughout the book Juliet discovers what everyday life under German occupation was like during the war, and also develops deep friendships with the society members.
The book is the perfect addition to any bibliophile’s collection.
