For a third consecutive year, New Zealand operator Summerset has been named the best retirement village operator at Australasian Over 50s Housing Awards 2012 .

More than 50 retirement village operators across the Australia and New Zealand were judged. Between them they operate more than 1100 retirement villages.

Summerset was established on New Zealand’s Kapiti Coast in 1997. It now has 15 retirement villages around the country.

They beat stiff opposition from the biggest and most popular operators in Australia to win at the awards night, which was held in Melbourne earlier this week.