A grand opening for Kevin Hickman Village

‘A beautiful village that epitomises everything which is great about Ryman’, was how the family of Kevin Hickman described the village named after him at the official Grand Opening held yesterday.

Residents packed out the stunning village lounge, which overlooks the Riccarton Racecourse, alongside wife of the late Kevin, Joanna Hickman, his children, step-children, grandchildren and siblings - one of whom is also a resident - to celebrate the milestone event in the village journey.

Christchurch Mayor Philip Mauger also joined community leaders, healthcare partners, government representatives and Ryman executives for the occasion.

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After a mihi whakatau by Te Taumata Tapu o Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ryman Chief Operating Officer Marsha Cadman told the story of the village’s development to date, and the decision to name it after Ryman’s co-founder Kevin Hickman ONZM.

The vision for the village was designed by Christchurch architects Warren & Mahoney and comprises of 155 independent living units, 65 serviced apartments and 80 care beds and also includes a café, gym, movie theatre, hair and beauty salon and swimming pool.

Marsha commended the construction team for navigating the various supply chain disruptions and delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst still embracing innovations such as the engineered timber used in parts of the build.

“A flagship Ryman village, in an amazing Christchurch location, named after the man who started it all, and who also had a penchant for horses! It couldn’t have been more fitting!”

Ryman Chief Executive Officer Naomi James described Kevin as a man who excelled in the many fields he ventured into. This included policing, sports, including rugby and athletics, horse breeding and racing and of course aged care and retirement living.

Kevin co-founded Ryman in 1984 after being saddened by living conditions he witnessed in a rest home where he had been asked to investigate a fire.

Realising he wanted to be able to offer a better quality of life to his mother, he was inspired to create something different that was, in his words, ‘good enough for Mum and Dad’.

“Kevin lifted standards across the entire aged care sector, and re-shaped what retirement living and care could look like,” Naomi said.

“He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, over four decades, that has made a profound difference in so many people’s lives. And that is an incredible legacy.”

A video was played showing Kevin talk about his early days growing up on the West Coast as one of seven children raised in a close-knit and loving family and how he was inspired to found Ryman.

Former colleagues spoke of a supportive and enabling leader who used his talents as a sports coach to encourage people to achieve beyond their beliefs, all the more poignant given Kevin passed away in August 2024 aged just 74.

Mrs Hickman described Kevin as a humble man who never liked to take the limelight who was ‘deeply honoured’ that a Ryman village would be named after him.

She said the village, which she had visited many times over the past year, was beautiful.

“It epitomises everything which is great about Ryman. The homes are gorgeous, and this village centre and care centre are something else. It’s like a five-star hotel,” she said.

“It has been wonderful to see that the legendary Ryman culture of warmth, caring, hospitality, and community which Kevin instituted so many years ago is still alive and well.”

Kevin loved to see residents happy and loved to hear the many stories he heard from people whose lives had changed for the better after moving into a village.

“As a family, we would like to thank Ryman for honouring Kevin in this way, and for developing a community here which reflects his spirit and so much of who he was as a person.

“We are enormously proud of what he achieved, and it feels very fitting that some of his story will be remembered by others through the naming of this village," Mrs Hickman said.

Christchurch singer Rebecca Nelson concluded the Grand Opening by performing some of Kevin’s favourite songs before a high tea, prepared by the village’s kitchen team, was served.