Dargaville Racecourse Retirement Demand

Retirement demand analysis to understand the aspirations, needs and requirements for retirement living in Kaipara.‍

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An opportunity to develop the Dargaville Racecourse site was enabled through a Provincial Growth Fund grant and tripartite arrangement with the Dargaville Racing Club, the Dargaville Development Board and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua. The tripartite group wanted to obtain independent market insights about retirement living in Dargaville.

In partnership with community groups for older people, TUA facilitated focus groups with older residents in Dargaville to understand their housing tradeoffs, needs and aspirations for old age. This included discussion about household composition, health, income, affordable price points, location preferences, ideal unit sizes, perceptions of retirement village models and amenity requirements.

The Retirement Demand identified the nature and extent of the local and regional demand for retirement living options, including affordable price points, location, unit sizes, retirement village models and amenity requirements for older people. 

In addition to the desktop research we included qualitative and quantitative insights of older people in Northland, review of other retirement options in the region and engagement with retirement living providers about past developments and what is appropriate in the Dargaville market.

The report formed part of the successful plan change application to Kaipara District Council for the redevelopment of the Racecourse site.