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A Family Affair - Lady Wigram Retirement Village
Words Lucinda Diack

Lady Wigram Retirement Village is family-owned and family-run. The village’s sophisticated design, welcoming environment and high-end service level have been the owners’ guiding principles since its opening in 2015. 


After spending some time talking to Lois Slemint, aged 93, I can’t help but feel a little excited about growing older. A resident at Lady Wigram Retirement Village, she hasn’t looked back since moving into her apartment in June 2020. ‘I would have been lonely if I stayed in my own home,’ she explains. ‘Here I can have someone clean my apartment if I choose to, socialise if I want to, even have someone cook for me.’ 


While many of us would like to remain in our own homes for as long as possible, for Lois and a number of other residents at Lady Wigram, the continuation of care available gives them the peace of mind to move while they are still able. ‘It has been lovely making new friends and [having] access to the amenities, in particular the pool which I regularly use,’ she continues. ‘I feel very lucky, and knowing that when the time arises I can shift into the rest home is great. I have everything I need here.’

It is feedback founder John Tooby and daughter, General Manager Olivia Cleave never tire of hearing. ‘We encourage our residents to treat the facilities as their own,’ explains Olivia, ‘and it is lovely walking through the Club House [which houses a restaurant, bar, lounge, movie theatre, library and billiard room] and experiencing that buzz of social interaction.’ 


Located on 5.7 hectares of land in Wigram Skies, Christchurch, the multi-million-dollar complex began a staged opening in 2015. ‘Although we are a relatively new village,’ continues Olivia, ‘we have more than three decades of experience behind us,’ with John having had a long and successful career in aged care. 


‘I wanted my next step in this sector to be a worthwhile retirement project,’ he explains, and they have certainly achieved that. While the amenities and high-quality care put this retirement village on the map, the family-owned and operated nature sets them well and truly apart. ‘There aren’t many others out there like us,’ says Olivia. ‘My sister Charlotte and I grew up above a rest home, so we were always destined to work with Dad.’ 



‘The girls both went away and followed their own passions and career paths,’ shares John, ‘and now bring their own experience to the business, which is great.’ 


While Olivia is in charge of the operations throughout the village, Charlotte looks after front of house for the independent living residents, and her husband Salvatore Polizzi (Sal) takes care of the kitchen. ‘One of the most important things for me was the food,’ continues John, ‘and Sal has elevated this.’ With a proven track record as executive chef for 13 restaurants in Banff, Canada, he is no stranger to serving nutritious, delicious meals that meet all the dietary needs of the residents. ‘The food quality has gone through the roof, I love when I get to take some home,’ laughs John. 


‘As a family, we’re all foodies and we know that when people decide to move to a retirement village, enjoying good food that they don’t have to cook themselves is something they really look forward to,’ shares Charlotte. Given the fine dining evenings crafted for the villa and apartment residents typically sell in less than a day, it is something everyone agrees with.



Built in stages, the village currently includes a 40-room rest home, 60-room hospital, 40 dementia care rooms, 101 villas and 73 apartments. The final stage – an additional 33 apartments – will be completed by the end of 2022. Yet despite the expansive size, the environment is intimate and sophisticated. ‘We want everyone who lives and works here to feel like they are part of the family that is Lady Wigram Village,’ concludes Olivia. Something they have without doubt achieved. As Lois states, ‘It is simply wonderful.’ 


ladywigram.co.nz

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