When Cathy and Peter Holmes began looking to downsize from their Ōtaki home, they weren’t just searching for a smaller property with less maintenance - they were searching for somewhere that felt right for the next stage of life.
They had looked at villages and townhouses everywhere between Wellington and Palmerston North, but many places felt too crowded or too confined.
“So many places just felt packed in,” Cathy says. “But here, it felt open.”
They decided to stop in and take a look at the emerging Speldhurst village, where Managing Directors Wayne and Bridget Bishop were beginning to bring his vision for the community to life.
Cathy was a volunteer with Levin Riding for the Disabled, which at that time was situated on the Speldhurst site.
“We were aware of the development and wondered what it could offer us,” she said. The first 10 houses were under construction, surrounded by open space, lots of trees and grass. Many of the streets still existed only on plans, and The George, now the social heart of the village, hadn’t yet been built.
Still, they could immediately see the potential. Peter laughs remembering one detail they wouldn’t compromise on.
“Wayne offered us one of the houses which had a single garage,” he says. “But I wanted a double garage.”
Having sold their Ōtaki house, they were looking to either buy or rent. They had a look at what was being built at Speldhurst and chose a two-bedroom duplex with a double garage.
While their place was being built, Wayne offered to rent them one of the village show homes. The decision to move was made and Peter and Cathy became some of Speldhurst’s very first residents. They moved into the rental at the end of May 2016 and then into their own duplex with the double garage on 11 November 2016.
By the end of 2016, the number of residents was growing with around 40 people in total, and village life naturally revolved around the people living there. Before The George opened in 2018, organised activities were held in Guy House - one of the original buildings on site, built around 1905 and restored by Wayne Bishop Group. Neighbours also gathered in each other’s homes for drinks, conversation, and simple catchups as the community slowly began to form.
“There was always a friendliness,” Peter says. “Everyone made an effort to get to know one another.”
As some of the earliest residents, Cathy and Peter have watched the village evolve over the past decade. Most of the activities, groups, and traditions residents now enjoy have grown from the interests and ideas of the people living here, supported and encouraged by the wider Speldhurst team.
Cathy helped establish the family history group nearly eight years ago, which still meets monthly today. There are now over 38 regular activities organised by residents. These include a book group, art and music groups, a quilting circle, creative exhibitions, bowls, exercise groups, outings, and volunteer initiatives supporting the wider community.
Residents have also organised ANZAC Day ceremonies and other significant events.
“It’s always felt like a place where people contribute what they can,” Cathy says.
That sense of community became especially clear during COVID, when residents naturally looked out for one another. The village manager kept residents regularly updated on COVID regulations. Some residents operated a telephone tree to check on the needs of other residents who lived on their own or were without email. There were also deliveries of medicines and groceries, and when restrictions eased outdoor music sessions helped people stay connected during an uncertain time.
“You realised how much people cared during that time of much uncertainty,” Cathy says.
Even as the village has grown, they believe that original sense of connection has remained.
“You can be as involved as you want to be,” Cathy says. “That’s what makes it work.”
Major developments include the appointment of a village manager and staff. The Residents Association Committee represents residents and meets regularly with management. The Social Committee organises community events and a weekly happy hour enjoyed by many residents. Residents also have roles as meet and greet officer for new residents, village van coordinator and drivers, and street ambassadors.
Over the past decade, Peter and Cathy have watched Speldhurst evolve from a small collection of homes into a thriving lifestyle village - one shaped as much by the people who live there as the place itself.
Looking back now, neither has ever regretted making the move.
“We were looking for something suitable for our future years,” Peter says. “And this has been exactly that.”