A smaller community, built with care
Small village, big heart.
A smaller village with a bigger purpose
At The Grove, we believe retirement living should be exactly that - living. Not just existing in a smaller space, but thriving in a genuine community where you're known by name, not apartment number.
With fewer than 80 apartments, The Grove is deliberately smaller than most retirement communities. That's by design. It means friendlier faces, real relationships, and a management team who actually knows you.
We're not part of a corporate chain. We're independently owned and operated by Sandy Foster, who has spent over 30 years creating communities just like this one - and who still takes a personal interest in every resident's experience.
Our Philosophy
What guides us
These are the principles that shape everything we do at The Grove.
Community first
Every decision starts with one question: will this make life better for our residents? From the layout of shared spaces to how we handle everyday requests, we put community at the centre of everything we do.
Small by design
We could have built more apartments. We chose not to. Fewer than 90 homes means we can know everyone by name, not just by apartment number. It means genuine friendships, not just familiar faces.
Independence, always
This is independent living - and we take that seriously. Our role is to make your life easier, not to run it for you. You decide how much community you want, when you want it.
No surprises
We believe in transparency - especially when it comes to money. Fixed Weekly Fees for Life, a lower Deferred Management Fee, and no hidden costs. You should know exactly what you're getting into.
Run by people who genuinely care
Behind every great community is a team who genuinely cares. At The Grove, you'll find a small, dedicated group who know residents by name and take pride in making this a place people love to call home.
Sandy Foster brings over 30 years of experience creating retirement communities across New Zealand, having developed more than 1,000 homes nationwide. But unlike many developers, Sandy remains personally involved at The Grove - it's not just a project, it's a commitment to getting retirement living right.
On the ground, our Village Manager Janine leads a wonderful team of friendly, caring staff. Whether you have a question, need a hand, or just fancy a chat, they're here to help. It's this hands-on, personal approach that sets a smaller community apart from the big corporate operators.
Our Sales Manager, Steph Griffin, is a fountain of knowledge about both retirement villages and the Orewa community, having lived nearby for many years, and worked in other villages. She will never rush you and will help you along your voyage of enquiry into life in a retirement village.
When you visit, you'll see the difference a close-knit team makes. Give Steph a call on 0800 673 924 - she'd love to show you around.
Care and Support when you need it
Because we are an independent village, we don't have an on-site care facility. In reality, many seniors don't need to move into care facilities in their later years, but can live independently in their own home with the right support. So that's where we have chosen to focus our time, working out how we can support you to do that with several key initiatives:
Registered Nurse Consultant: We have a Registered Nurse Consultant available, whose role is to monitor and evaluate changes in your health and wellbeing. She offers education regarding medications and other health-related subjects, provides assistance in navigating healthcare services, does blood pressure monitoring and can assist with dressings.
Community Support: We can help you (together with your GP) access community support services that are available for those in need.
Dovida Private Support: We have formed a partnership with an organisation called Dovida, because we were impressed with their philosophy and approach which is very focused on delivering what residents need, not what suits them to deliver. They will sit down with you and your family to work out what is needed, and then craft a care plan to provide whatever support you need. This may include something as simple as home help, right up to palliative care, 24 hour support or dementia care. Please see their website for details: www.dovida.co.nz
Should you need further support, we have other options as well:
We have a priority access arrangement with Maygrove Lifecare – only a two-minute (1.3km) drive away on Riverside Drive, Maygrove Lifecare will give our residents priority access to respite and rest home care when a bed becomes available. Note residents are required to meet Maygrove Lifecare's admission criteria.
Milton Court Rest Home and Dementia Care is right next door.
We will help you navigate your way through whatever care you need, when it comes to that time.
Every individual is different – the joy of a village like ours is that we help you figure out what works for you and your family, rather than forcing you into a one-size-fits-all approach.