This article was prepared by Sanderson Group and is being published by the New Zealand Herald as advertorial.
After nearly four decades at the forefront of luxury retirement living in New Zealand, Fraser Sanderson could easily have rested on his achievements. As founder and chair of Sanderson Group, he built a reputation for uncompromising quality and truly people-first values. Yet for Fraser, and his wife Donna, retirement wasn’t an endpoint – it was a call to create something exceptional. That spark of ambition became The Pitau: a five-star-plus retirement residence in Mount Maunganui, poised to set new benchmarks for luxury and care, nationally and internationally.
Set along the sun-soaked shores of Mount Maunganui – one of New Zealand’s most iconic addresses – The Pitau represents the culmination of Sanderson’s life’s work. It’s a bold reimagining of what golden years can look like: a place where elegance, innovation, and wellbeing converge for those who want to live fully, at every stage of life.
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Sanderson Group has a celebrated track record spanning nearly 40 years, with landmark projects such as Queenstown Country Club, as well as the iconic retirement living Country Clubs at Tamahere, Omokoroa and Matamata, and The Hill Pukekohe. These developments have cultivated vibrant communities of residents and staff, all bound by the group’s unwavering commitment to excellence. At the heart of this success is Fraser’s guiding principle: “I love people, and I love looking after people.” That warmth is coupled with strict adherence to the highest standards, ensuring every detail is meticulously executed. “If it’s not good enough for our family, then it’s not good enough for yours,” says Sanderson.
Part of what distinguishes Sanderson Group is its holistic approach to construction and design. Every step – from the initial architect’s plans to the last landscape plant – is managed by in-house talent. This end-to-end control means nothing is left to chance, and everything lives up to Sanderson’s unwavering expectations. At The Pitau, these standards manifest in unprecedented ways: high-studded, light-filled living spaces blend with seamless indoor-outdoor flow, balconies overflowing with greenery, and exteriors delicately clad in hand-selected Travertine tiles from Turkey. Fraser and Donna, in fact, plan to call The Pitau home themselves.
The amenities at The Pitau redefine what retirement living can be. Residents can enjoy a large indoor swimming pool, an expansive gym, a yoga studio, sauna and spa, a cinema, library, hair and beauty salon, wine and whisky bar, restaurants, cafes, and a tranquil courtyard with a reflection pond – all designed to rival the offerings of a high-end hotel or private resort. Yet The Pitau is also built for peace of mind, including best-in-class dedicated memory care and hospital-level suites, allowing residents to age in place with dignity and security.
Perhaps most notably, Fraser has observed a new trend – retirees choosing to move in sooner, seeking vibrant community and exceptional quality living earlier than ever before. In this way, The Pitau stands as a beacon for those who want more than just a comfortable retirement – they want to thrive and live well.
Fraser and Donna Sanderson’s story continues, now leading not just a company but an industry, redefining retirement as a time of life rich with possibility, connection, and uncompromising luxury. The Pitau is testament to a legacy undiminished, and a future, where the best is yet to come.