We thank our principal sponsor for their support.

Morning Walk

sponsored by - Covenant Trustee Services

Welcome and Conference opens - Norah Barlow, President RVA

Hon Maurice Williamson, Minister for Building and Construction - National’s directions around retirement villages and the National Government’s objectives in general for the country.

Andrew Matthews  Andrew Matthews is an international speaker on “attitude”, “being happy”, “success” and “prosperity”. Andrew’s presentations are laced with humour and he draws lightning-fast cartoons as he speaks! 
In the field of motivation and personal development, his books, “Being Happy!” and “Follow Your Heart” are classics. 
In his presentation for the RVA Andrew will discuss how you can:

• Deal with disasters
• Conquer worry
• Enjoy better relationships
• Embrace change
• Enjoy your work
• Apply the “Being Happy!” philosophy

Dr Don Brash - Closing the gap with Australia.  Dr Brash chaired the 2025 productivity Taskforce which provided advice to Government on how best New Zealand can close the gap between living standards in NZ and those in Australia by 2025. By June the next Budget will have been released so there will be plenty of scope to compare what the 2025 Taskforce recommended with what the Government will have announced.  One of the issues most relevant to older New Zealanders (and therefore to retirement village operators) is the sustainability of New Zealand Superannuation in its present form: the 2025 Taskforce urged the Government to face up to the inevitability of having to raise the age of eligibility for that pension.

Speed Networking with the trade show exhibitors

Dr David Kennedy, University of Sydney - Retirement village residents' health, happiness and well-being compared with a similar group living in their own homes in the community - outcomes of research undertaken on behalf of th RVAA. 

Cameron Bagrie, Chief Economist, The National Bank - An economic overview

Sponsored by - The National Bank

INsite / RVA Manager of the Year Award finalists speak - What's made these finalists the top in their business? There's going to be some ideas you can use when you get back home!

sponsored by - INsite

Barbara Squires, Benevolent Society, Bondi - The Benevolent Society's Apartments for Life project at Bondi has been inspired by Hans Becker's work with Humanitas in the Netherlands. As Hans says, 'the aim is happiness'. Our project will push the boundaries of 'ageing in place' by making sure people control their own lives and are able to in the same apartment to the end of their lives.

Independent villages vs care villages - the advanatges and disadvantages of each, who delivers care to the residents; the operator's role, DHB attitudes and funding

Cocktails and Gala Dinner - $160.00 per person

sponsored by - The National Bank

INsite - RVA Manager of the Year award presentation

sponsored by - Insite

Morning Walk

sponsored by - Covenant Trustee services

Bill Moss, AM, Chairman of the FSHD Global Research Foundation and Moss Capital - Supply and demand issues facing the retirement village industry, industry self regulation, the urgent need for both debt and equity in order to fuel the sector's growth, retirees' need for flexibility to use their accumulated wealth to assist in the provision of their housing needs, the role of Government in the retirement village industry (not confirmed)-

Breakout sessions – Operator/developers and Managers

Operators
Rob MacLeod - tax working group party
Cameron Bagrie - more focused discussion on funding and retirement village future

Managers
Managing difficult behaviour - staff residents
Dealing with the challenges of managing a high-rise retirement village

Barry Watson, Team Success - During the last 18 months retirement villages have come under a range of wild challenges that they haven't had to deal with in recent years. Housing prices and volumes have slumped and days on the market for higher priced homes have increased.  Coupled with this, many of your potential customers have taken a knock of confidence which has meant, in some cases, they are delaying making the decision to enter some of your facilities. If that wasn't enough, we have also seen many new facilities coming onto the market which has heightened competition and can put pressure on your ability to get a higher return on investment. To get practical answers to the sales and marketing challenges before you - attend this session. 

Mark McCrindle, McCrindle Research - In 2008 McCrindle Research partnered with villages.com.au and completed a landmark study into the attitudes and opinions of the Over 65's Builders generation to retirement villages and retirement living generally. This segmentatio study identified six key segments within the 65 - 75 year old cohort. Mark shares some of the insights gained from that research.

Wrap-up speaker

Conference closes