The Great Warkworth Bake-off

Top New Zealand author Robyn Paterson (pictured) is to judge Warkworth’s best baking at a special contest at Summerset Falls on 25 June.

Members of the public are encouraged to bring their best scones, muffins or cakes to the inaugural Great Warkworth Bakeoff, which gets underway at the retirement village at 84 Woodcocks Road from 11am.

Visitors will get the chance to tour Summerset Falls before Robyn Paterson, the author behind “Tips from your Nana”, begins the judging of Warkworth’s best baking. She will joined by local identity Andrea Hinchco.

The overall winner of the bakeoff will receive a Nestle Hamper and restaurant vouchers. Second and third place-getters will receive Nestle Hampers as well as special runner up prizes. The public will also have a chance to enter a raffle-draw to win a copy of “Tips from your Nana”. Tickets for the draw will be given away at the door.

The contest is a joint initiative by leading retirement village operator Summerset and Lifemark, an independent trademarked seal of approval for housing in New Zealand.

The building sector’s equivalent to Tourism New Zealand’s Qualmark, homes awarded the Lifemark have 33 design features including a level entry, widened doors and passageways, all aimed at making the house accessible for everyone and easy to adapt as residents’ needs change over time.

Helena Coolen, business development manager at Lifemark, said: “The Great Warkworth Bakeoff is a fantastic opportunity for the public to prove they are the best bakers in the country and see for themselves one of the country’s leading retirement villages. Summerset is committed to designing and building homes that are fully accessible and useable by all people including friends and family who visit.”

Norah Barlow, chief executive at Summerset, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the Warkworth public to Summerset Falls and of course seeing and sampling the very best scones, muffins and cakes in the area.

“Summerset was the first retirement village operator in New Zealand to be awarded the Lifemark and the Great Warkworth Bakeoff is our way of showing how Lifemark offer new retirees additional peace of mind about their lifestyle investment.

"There are very few “old people” in our villages, but there are many senior folk getting the very best out of life with Lifemark helping them get the best out of their homes, too.”