James Wattie Retirement Village in Havelock North is conveniently located on Te Aute Road with superb views of Te Mata Peak. It is a short drive to The Village offering retail shopping, a supermarket, specialty shops, and a variety of dining options.
Village amenities include an all-weather bowling green, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, library, gym, café and shop, hair and beauty salons, bar, and movie theatre.
There's a retirement lifestyle choice to suit everyone, from independent living in a townhouse or apartment, to the ease of assisted living in a serviced apartment, and a range of care options.
James Wattie Village has some beautiful homes available now, why not come and take a look for yourself?
Independent and assisted living
Enjoy the best of independent retirement living with apartments and townhouses built to the highest specifications and with an abundance of light.
Assisted living apartments come with support that makes life easier, such as housekeeping and a chef-prepared meal every day. They’re light and spacious with a high-spec kitchenette, a tranquil bedroom and ensuite, call bells, and a living area perfect for entertaining. In some circumstances you can receive services up to rest home level care in your serviced apartment.
A range of care options
James Wattie Village offers a range of care options including rest home care, hospital care, specialist dementia care, and respite care in our state-of-the-art care centre. Ryman residents always have priority access to the care centre over non-residents. Should a space 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 James Wattie Village.
*Care options vary between villages, please check with our friendly team for more details.
If you would like access to our plans and specifications, please fill in the form below.
Our independent and assisted-living residents live in spaces designed to inspire, indulge, and entertain. Assisted living in a serviced apartment offers the benefits of independent living with added support to make life easier, including housekeeping and delicious chef-prepared meals.
To retire with confidence, you need financial certainty. We're transparent about our costs, offering options to fit your ideal retirement lifestyle. No matter which option you choose, you'll know exactly what you're paying and what you'll receive in return.
We offer a choice in Deferred Management Fee (DMF), of either 30% or 25% with the latter option having a higher entry price.
You can choose between fixed or indexed weekly fees which are set at the time of signing your agreement. Indexed weekly fees are linked to the annual increase in superannuation.
Jennett McGaw - Independent resident
Community is central to the lifestyle so we will offer amenities that encourage that sense of togetherness, such as a café, dining room, bar, hair and beauty salon, and shop.
Retirement is a great time to sharpen your skills on the passions and pastimes that you love. You will be able to spend time enjoying the movie theatre, workshop, craft room, billiards room, and library.
Incorporate regular activity into your everyday routine or enjoy the camaraderie of a little game time. Amenities will include a swimming pool, spa pool, gym and bowling green.
Our retirement villages offer a range of care options - not as an add-on, but woven into the fabric of our villages.
The James Wattie care centre will offer a range of care options including rest home, hospital and specialist dementia care in care rooms and care suites. 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.
Brian - Independent resident
You will be able to treat yourself to a pamper session in our hair and beauty salon or a sweet treat in the shop.
Lounge and dining areas will provide spaces to relax and enjoy mealtimes. The food tastes great and the social interaction is good for the soul.
Tranquil indoor and outdoor spaces dedicated to our care residents will allow you to relax and meet with family and friends.
Take a drive up Te Mata Peak to take in the spectacular views of the region. If you want some fresh air you can walk the summit, starting with the easier yellow track.
Grab a coffee and spend your Sunday morning wandering the Hawke's Bay Farmers Market. Stock up for your week with fresh fruit & vegetables, meat, bread, eggs and more — all available straight from the local producers.
Hop on your bike and explore the 35 cellar doors in Hawke's Bay — all accessible from the Hawke's Bay Trail. The diverse region is best known for Merlot, Cabernet blends, Syrah and Chardonnay. Look out for the Hawke's Bay Wine and Food map.
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.
Sir James Wattie was a highly successful and benevolent businessman who created the Wattie’s food processing empire.
The son of Scots immigrants, Sir James was a bright student who studied accounting at night school while working as a clerk.
In 1934, he spotted the opportunity to open a local cannery in Hastings, making the most of local produce that was being shipped out of the region for processing.
With the support of local farmers and a willing local workforce, Wattie’s started out as a modest canning business but grew into one of New Zealand’s largest food suppliers and exporters.
Sir James was a shrewd businessman. He planned carefully, believed in marketing, travelled overseas to develop new markets and invested in new technology. He shared his success with the growers who supplied him and the workers who kept his factories going.
Hastings became something of a company town and James Wattie was a local legend.
He was prepared to work in any section of the factory where help was needed.
He was on a first name basis with workers, and even in his last few years he would walk through the factory or sit down in the cafeteria mixing with staff.
In recognition of his company's achievements in New Zealand and the establishment of markets overseas, Wattie was invested with a CBE in 1963, and knighted in 1966.
He was modest, approachable, considerate and generous. He acknowledged the role his wife Gladys played in his success.
He was quick to share the credit and acknowledge the goodwill and support he received from others.
By the time he retired in 1972 he had built Watties into the biggest force in the food industry in New Zealand.
When he died in 1974, more than 2,000 mourners attended his funeral and he left a huge legacy in the bay.
Photo credit: Evening Post, PAColl-8557-20. Alexander Turnbull Library
Phone: 0800 588 222
Christchurch office: 03 366 4069
PO Box 771, Christchurch 8140
New Zealand