Retirement community near the beautiful Hutt River

Located on Mabey Road in Lower Hutt, the village encompasses views of the Western Hills, and enjoys easy access to parks and river walks along the beautiful Hutt River. Features include architecturally designed townhouses, assisted-living apartments, and a care centre, set amongst beautifully landscaped gardens. If your needs change over time, our state-of-the-art care centre provides 76 care rooms offering rest home and hospital care. Shona McFarlane care centre is located within the same village community and, as a Ryman resident, you will have priority access over non-residents at the time of your transfer. Should a space for the type of care the village offers be unavailable at the time of your transfer, we will do our best to accommodate you at another Ryman village that provides the level of care you need* until a space becomes available at Shona McFarlane Village.

Village amenities include an all-weather bowling green, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, grand internal atrium, library, gym, café, hair salon, bar and shop.

There is always something to do; from organised events and shopping trips, to activities that inspire movement. The measure of a full life at Shona McFarlane Village is certainly one that will get richer with age. 

*Care options vary between villages, please check with our team for details of the care offered at each village. 
 

Upcoming events at Shona McFarlane


Independent and assisted living

 FREEDOM TO LIVE THE WAY YOU WANT

Shona McFarlane village offers living choices to suit everyone, so residents can live the way they want and blaze their own trails. Our townhouses are light and spacious, with clean lines and a clever open-plan design layout that provides an easy flow throughout.

We also offer assisted-living apartment and a range of care options.  Its all part of what we like to call the Ryman Difference

ENJOY A LITTLE CERTAINTY

Our pioneering approach to retirement living includes resident-friendly terms designed to protect you and your family. Our base weekly fee is fixed for the entire time you occupy your apartment or townhouse*, and our standard deferred management fee is capped at 20 percent – one of the lowest in the retirement sector.

*Some conditions apply. 

Independent and assisted-living amenities

SM Cafe

Connect and unwind

Community is central to the lifestyle so we offer amenities that encourage that sense of togetherness, such as a dining room, bar, hair and beauty salon, and café. 

SM Library-1

Skills and passions

Retirement is a great time to sharpen your skills on the passions and pastimes that you love. Spend time enjoying the activities room, pool table, and library.

SM Bowls

Active and thriving

Incorporate regular activity into your everyday routine or enjoy the camaraderie of a little game time. Amenities include a swimming pool, spa pool, gym, and bowling green.

"The people here are absolutely fantastic. They welcome you, and I love that."

Jennett McGaw - Independent resident 

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Enjoy all the upsides of living independently in a Ryman village. Easy living, security, plus a huge bonus – the support of a vibrant village community.

ASSISTED-LIVING APARTMENTS

Assisted-living apartments come with support you can count on. A chef-prepared meal, housekeeping – it's great for you and reassuring for your family.  

GUIDE TO RETIREMENT LIVING

It's hard to put your finger on why Ryman villages just feel different. For the inside knowledge, check out our guide. 


A RANGE OF CARE OPTIONS

Our retirement villages offer a range of care options - not as an add-on, but woven into the fabric of our villages.

Shona McFarlane care centre offers care options including rest home and hospital care. Like all aspects of our villages, we constantly look for ways to improve both the care we provide and the innovation behind it. Care is customised using our myRyman Care app and residents love the food in our seasonal Delicious menu, which is prepared fresh on site by village chefs. 

Shona McFarlane is one of over 90% percent of established Ryman villages that have been awarded 4-year certification by the Ministry of Health. It’s recognised as the ‘gold standard’ in care.

SM 4-year cert - Mar 2022 - Mar 2026 - White space

Accommodation premium

At Shona McFarlane Village, our private care rooms provide superior accommodation – you'll enjoy a spacious room with a private ensuite. The price of your private care room depends on the type of room you select. This will be clearly outlined in your admission agreement.

Accommodation premiums range from $43 to $70 per day

If you would like more information our village manager will be happy to help.

Care centre amenities

SM Salon

A little pampering

Treat yourself to a pamper session in our hair and beauty salon or a sweet treat from the café. 

SM Lounge

Relax and connect

Lounge and dining areas provide spaces to relax and enjoy mealtimes. The food tastes great and the social interaction is good for the soul.

SM Attrium

Calm spaces

Tranquil indoor and outdoor spaces dedicated to our care residents allow you to relax and meet with family and friends.

"My wife is being looked after very well. It gives me a sense of relief."

Brian - Independent resident 

RESTHOME AND HOSPITAL CARE

Personal attention, warmth and building trusting relationships are all crucial to the customised care we provide at our care centres.

A RANGE OF CARE OPTIONS

It's hard to put your finger on why Ryman care centres just feel different. For the inside knowledge, check out our care guide. 

Village location

What's in the neighbourhood?

Waitatarua Reserve placer-640x450

Avalon Park

Located a short distance from the village, Avalon Park offers wide open spaces and lovely walking tracks. If you feel like a longer walk, you can connect to the Hutt River Trail.

Dowse Art Museum

Dowse Art Gallery

Visit Dowse Art Gallery for your fill of contemporary art and culture. With a range of exhibitions and a brand-new whanau space, there is something for everyone.

Shopping-Mall

Queensgate Shopping Centre

Get your shopping fix at the one of the many stores at Queensgate Shopping Centre, with over 140 stores located under one roof.

OUR NAMESAKE

 

ShonaMcFarlane-Photo-350x350

Each Ryman village is named in honour of a Kiwi or Aussie trailblazer: Anthony Wilding, Lady Diana Isaac, Evelyn Page. They pushed further and set the bar high for others to aspire to. In creating communities that challenge the expectations of ageing, Ryman villages are also setting the bar high. They’re demonstrating that a retirement lifestyle brimming with new experiences, connections and fulfilment is something we should aspire to. Our Kiwi and Aussie namesakes represent the measure of inspiration, while Ryman villages represent the measure of retirement living.

Shona McFarlane (1929-2001)

An accomplished artist and professional journalist, Shona McFarlane CBE was widely known for her role as a panellist on the long-running TV chat show Beauty and the Beast. Born in Gore and educated in Dunedin at Otago Girls’ High School, she began her career as an art teacher in New Zealand schools in the early 1950s.

McFarlane was a notable campaigner for the preservation of Dunedin’s significant historic buildings in the 1960s, during which time she was President of the Otago Art Society.

Appointed to the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council (predecessor to Creative New Zealand) in 1969, McFarlane was the first woman invited to join. Her confident and enthusiastic character paved the way for other women.

The artist of many paintings, McFarlane found her preferred style in still-life. Her works can be seen in galleries and museums around New Zealand and she published several books featuring her paintings, accompanied by entertaining accounts of her life experiences. In 1994, McFarlane was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her commitment to the nation’s art scene.

Defeating breast cancer inspired her to campaign for increased government funding for the disease’s early detection and intervention. A trailblazing, vivacious artist, her legacy is remembered through the Shona McFarlane Gallery in Dunedin.

Before her death in 2001, the autobiography titled Shona McFarlane: A Memoir was released. It offers a first-hand glimpse into her life.