Tikanga o ngā Whakaritenga Code of Practice

Code of Practice 2008


The Code of Practice 2008 sets out further rights and obligations of retirement village operators and residents. It provides a set of minimum requirements that all retirement village operators must comply with.

Provisions in the Code override any less-favourable term in an occupation right agreement and are enforceable by residents against operators.

Operator must provide copies


The village operator must give a copy of the Code of Practice to any intending resident along with the disclosure statement, occupation right agreement and Code of Residents Rights before the intending resident signs an occupation right agreement. The village operator must also give a copy of the Code of Practice to any resident or intending resident who asks for one.

Areas covered by the Code of Practice 2008

The Code of Practice 2008 sets out minimum requirements of operators


  • Staffing of retirement villages

  • Safety and personal security of residents

  • Fire protection and emergency management

  • Transfer of residents within a retirement village

  • Complaints facility

  • Meetings of residents with the operator and residents involvement

  • Accounts

  • Maintenance and upgrading

  • Termination of an occupation right agreement by the operator or resident

  • Communication with residents

Dispute resolution diagram


The Code includes a dispute resolution diagram that clearly presents the process for making a complaint and other options available to residents.

Changes to the Code of Practice

  • Variations in effect from 1 April 2017

    In October 2016 the Minister for Building and Construction gave notice of variations to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008 which come into force on 1 April 2017. The variations were to clauses 31 - 36 concerning the complaints facility in retirement villages.

  • Variations in effect from October 2013

    In October 2012, the Minister for Building and Construction gave notice of variations to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008 which came into force on 14 October 2013. The variations were to clauses 22, 47 and 54 and concerned no-fault exit situations in retirement villages, such as a result of the Canterbury earthquakes.

  • Recommendations

    The Retirement Commissioner received submissions on the different variations processes and presented recommendations to the Minister for Building and Construction.

    2016 Recommendations to the Minister

    2012 Recommendations to the Minister