12 Oct 2026
Metlifecare's Ōtau Ridge retirement village has achieved a 4-Star Green Star Communities certification from the New Zealand Green Building Council, recognising the project as a leading example of healthy, resilient and sustainable community design.
The achievement is a milestone that reflects years of collaborative planning and design. As masterplanner and landscape architect, Studio Pacific worked alongside Metlifecare, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, project partners and the wider consultant team to create a retirement community that responds to its environment, supports resident wellbeing, and strengthens connections with place.
Green Star Communities certification considers how an entire neighbourhood is planned and delivered, assessing governance, design, liveability, economic prosperity and environmental performance.
“Ōtau Ridge has shown what’s possible when sustainability is embedded from day one. The Green Star Communities rating recognises that the infrastructure decisions we made early on to create a community that is sustainable, connected to its surroundings, and designed for long-term liveability were the right ones.” – Metlifecare Chief Executive Earl Gasparich
A masterplan designed for healthier, more sustainable living
Set across a 19-hectare site in Clevedon, Ōtau Ridge has been planned as a connected retirement community where homes, shared facilities and landscape work together to support healthier ageing.
The masterplan prioritises walkability, biodiversity and everyday wellbeing. More than 3 kilometres of walking paths connect residents with shared green spaces, restored natural areas and community amenities, encouraging people to stay active while strengthening social connections.
Sustainability is embedded throughout the development. Renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, electric vehicle charging and water-sensitive design all contribute to reducing the community's environmental footprint while improving long-term resilience.
Working alongside Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki
Working closely with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki was fundamental to the design process. Their knowledge and aspirations helped shape the landscape and public spaces, ensuring the community responds to the cultural history and ecological significance of Te Wairoa Awa and the wider Clevedon landscape.
The landscape design also supports long-term ecological restoration. More than 26,000 eco-sourced native plants have been established across the site, strengthening biodiversity, restoring habitat and creating a landscape that will continue to mature alongside the community.
Raising the benchmark for sustainable retirement communities
As demand grows for retirement communities that prioritise both environmental responsibility and quality of life, projects like Ōtau Ridge demonstrate the value of integrated planning from the outset.
Green Star Communities certification recognises outcomes that extend well beyond individual buildings. It reflects how thoughtful masterplanning, landscape architecture, cultural partnership and sustainable infrastructure can work together to create communities that are healthier, more resilient and better connected to place.
We're proud to have contributed to this milestone alongside Metlifecare, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and the wider project team, and congratulate everyone involved in delivering a retirement community that sets a strong benchmark for sustainable later living in Aotearoa.
By the numbers
- 4-Star Green Star Communities certification from the New Zealand Green Building Council
- 19-hectare masterplanned retirement community
- More than 26,000 eco-sourced native plants established
- 3 kilometres of walking paths, including 1.8km of native walking trail
- Integrated rainwater harvesting and water-sensitive landscape design
- Renewable energy generation and electric vehicle charging infrastructure
