RVResidents is the peak body representing retirees with members in more than 70% of New Zealand’s registered retirement villages nationwide. RVResidents exists to promote and protect the rights of retirement village residents in New Zealand, providing a voice at both a local and national level. Currently we are calling for the urgent reform of the Retirement Villages Act 2003 and the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008 to improve the legislation and practices that govern retirement villages. Our campaign ‘United for Seniors’ calls on New Zealanders to help us right the balance between residents’ rights and company control in retirement villages. It is a grassroots, volunteer-led campaign that seeks a commitment from Government to overhaul the decades-old Retirement Villages Act. We need comprehensive reform of the Retirement Village Act, including three key requests: - Money is returned promptly on exiting a retirement village. There is no legal requirement on when companies need to return money now. - Legislation must cover chattels; now elderly residents may have to pay to fix or buy new water cylinders or curtains owned by the village. - An independent Ombudsman is appointed to support an impartial complaints process; currently it is an elderly individual against a large corporation who holds all the power. Financial commentators have said New Zealand’s retirement village industry is working on a super-profit model; this is revenue gained from kiwis who have worked and saved their whole lives. Let’s make it fair for the next generation of retirees.