PM backs freedom lifestyle

A $46 million Freedom Village in Papamoa is officially open, with Prime Minister John Key endorsing the affordable lifestyle as a way of the future.

In front of about 100 people the Prime Minister opened the 6.5 hectare village consisting of up to 160 ground-level houses.


Prime Minister John Key and Freedom Villages founder Juliette Yarrell at today's opening of Freedom Village, Papamoa. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

House options range from one-and-a-half bedroom homes to three-bedroom units.

Each self-contained unit will sit on a 240m2 site and homes will range in prices from $219,000 to a little more than $315,000.

The Prime Minister says the need for such a unique village is a concept that can be replicated nationally, because of NZ's 'dramatically increasing” ageing population.

Nationally, 60,000 people are now over 65 years old and within 40 years this age-group will increase to one million, predicts the Prime Minister.

He says with people living longer and being fitter, the idea of a lifestyle village will fit the mould for many.

'New Zealanders are going to recognise that they want to travel, so their housing configuration is going to get a lot smaller,” says the Prime Minister.

'They are going to want the funds to do what they want to do.”

Prime Minister John Key inspects a bedroom in one of the new Freedom Village units at Papamoa, which he opened today. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Freedom Villages founder Juliette Yarrell says the Prime Minister's involvement with the lifestyle village began during the early planning days before he was elected.

He promised that when finished he would return to open the village, something she's pleased he kept his word on.

The village has been designed for people looking for well-designed, low-cost housing.

Juliette says the over-50 demographic was hard hit by the Global Financial Crisis – with 50,000 people in the age-group having their savings and investments severely damaged or wiped out.

Now, a rapidly growing segment of this market is making the decision to unlock capital tied up in their current residential properties by selling their family home to enjoy the lifestyle they want. It's with this group in mind Freedom was founded.

Juliette says to see the community established and the vision come to fruition has taken years of hard work – but it is all worth it.

'Everyone talks about affordable housing for first-home buyers. This is for another very important home buyer – the lifestyler and the ageing baby boomers.”


Prime Minister John Key greeting Golden Sands School pupils at the opening of Freedom Village in Papamoa. Photo by Luke Balvert.


National's Bay of Plenty candidate Todd Muller takes a selfie with Golden Sands School pupils at the opening of Freedom Village in Papamoa. Photo by Luke Balvert.

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.