13 Sep 2003

NZ company joint partner in Fiji retirement village

11:06 am on 13 September 2003

The managing director of a leading New Zealand retirement company says the Fiji government has helped smooth the way for its planned multi-million dollar retirement village in Lautoka

Vision Senior Living's Peter Burke says the 300 unit Saweni Bay Village, a joint venture with the newly established state-owned Fiji investment corporation, will open up a new industry for older tourists, both long-term and short-term.

Mr Burke says the village, which will eb the first of its kind in Fiji, is an extension of Fiji's tourism market, where there is a lack of tourism infrastructure.

"We've got consent and we've also got a commitment from the Fiji government to put a road in, put the sewer in and put water in. And also Australia is playing a role in the police force here... Australia is running the police force in Fiji and so the security is a lot better than it was in the year 2000."

Peter Burke says construction will begin in the next few months, with the village scheduled to open mid-2004.