UPDATED 7.54pm: The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have confirmed the Port View Retirement home was not registered.

The New Plymouth retirement home, run by Five Pillars, told its 19 residents last Sunday it was closing down for financial reasons, and they had two weeks to find a new home.

A ministry spokesperson confirmed no part of the Port View Retirement complex is currently registered as a retirement village, and they're unable to comment on the legality of the operation.

The Retirement Villages Act requires all retirement villages to be registered.

 

Labour's senior citizen spokesperson, Ruth Dyson, is concerned at how it was able to operate in the first place - as she says it was never officially registered, meaning the residents lack protection.

"I've asked questions of the Minister of Building, Innovation and Employment - let's see why this village wasn't registered and then see what we can do to make sure that it is registered and the residents are protected."