Rona Mason was told that if things went wrong for her, the 'newspapers would have a field day”.

'Little old lady evicted from retirement village home” – imagine that headline leaping off the front page. That's what Rona claims she was told.

They were intended to be reassuring and comforting words for Rona from a retirement village manager seven years ago. She believes he was telling her it would never happen.

And he could never have imagined how prophetic those words would prove to be.

'I thought at the time I would be here till I couldn't look after myself or I died,” says Rona. 'When you go into a retirement village that is your expectation.”

Or, as it turns out, until Oceania Healthcare decided to terminate Rona Mason's tenancy at Melrose Retirement Village on Waihi Road.

'We require you to vacate Villa 57 by Friday, 29 January, 2016.”

This would, Oceania told Rona, allow her to enjoy Christmas. But Rona's more worried about the rest of her life than presents and Christmas pudding.

This is a cautionary tale about a person who believed she had peace of mind and security in her dotage but, as it seems, there were no guarantees.

Rona signed a tenancy agreement – 'the tenancy shall commence 18th September, 2008” it says. There's no specified duration of tenancy but it 'may be ended by either party giving notice as required under the residential tenancies Act 1986.”

And Oceania has given notice – an extended notice of four months. 'The villa was intended for sale from the time Mrs Mason signed the tenancy” says Oceania CEO Earl Gasparich. The company's now negotiating the sale with several interested parties.

But Rona's not out on the street. Not yet. She has an option. Oceania has offered her what they call a 'studio cottage” – a much smaller, one-bedroomed unit at a lower rent.

'Should Mrs Mason wish to move into the cottage” says Mr Gasparich, 'it will be refurbished with new carpet, paint and curtains at our cost.

That may seem a reasonable compromise. But not to Rona.

'No, no, no!” She is quite defiant. 'They don't understand.” She wants her space and to keep all of her possessions.

'It just feels unfair, unjust and just plain wrong” says Rona.

So she wrote back to the company.

'I do not know how much longer I have to live.” Rona's a cancer survivor in her late 70s. 'But I ask that I be allowed to remain in my home.”

It was a plaintive appeal to Oceania to reconsider.

'I do not ask for much in this life – please allow me to continue to live in my own home.”

Rona doesn't ask for much, she's more of a giver. She is a Salvation Army home chaplain.

And as Rona told Oceania in the letter: 'My work involves me giving guidance and counselling to those in distress. My situation has now dramatically reversed.” Now it's Rona who's worried and stressed and in need of support.

And she asks: 'Why should I be defending myself at this stage of my life. I haven't done anything wrong.”

Oceania simply wants Rona to downsize. But 'no deal” says Rona.

'I moved here as a favour to Melrose,” she said in a letter to management. ”I thought it would be permanent and secure. How wrong I was.”

What about the rent concession? Rona's new rent would be $180 per week, apparently $30 below market rental. Plus the upgrade.

Or if she chose to move out of Melrose it would assist by moving her furniture and household items. And even if she stays, Oceania would 'assist every way possible to make the transition as smooth as possible” because 'it understands the unrest relocation can cause.”

What really rankles with Rona is she would have to shed many of her possessions if she moved to a smaller villa.

'I would have to strip away parts of my life. They are treasures I have accumulated over the years and reminders of my life and the person I have become.”

That includes her precious piano. It would have to go. She got the piano when she was just 12 and still plays three or four times a week.

Oceania says the piano may fit into the new premises 'depending on what other furniture Mrs mason may choose to keep,” says Mr Gasparich.

'We are for Mrs Mason to keep her piano. Alternatively, we're happy to keep the piano at the Village Community Centre where Mrs Mason will still be able to play.”

It's right next door to the new cottage.

The company has offered to work with Rona to see if possessions that don't fit into the new cottage can be stored elsewhere at the village.

Rona says she has cared for the villa as if it was her own. It's as neat as a pin, like Rona herself. 'To discover I am being evicted from it, presumably in order to increase the company's profitability, is deeply upsetting, unfair and unjust.”

And Rona says she doesn't deserve this.

She sought the advice of the Tenancy Tribunal, Age Concern and Citizens Advice Bureau. There was no legal issue, 'but I was advised it was a moral and ethical issue.”

And now she is throwing Oceania's marketing pitch back at them.

'You are in control,” says the advertising. 'We live and breathe the values of respect and excellence” and 'we meet or exceed the expectations of our residents”.

But Rona says the company's actions to 'evict her” don't reflect its commitment to its stated core values.

Oceania remains conciliatory.

'We care deeply for all residents, and naturally we want to ensure Mrs Mason is happy and comfortable” says Mr Gasparich.

And Oceania says they're 'eager to work with her to find another suitable accommodation option that is both affordable and suits her needs.”

But at the moment Rona won't budge.

'I have been a fighter all my life. This is my home and I am going to battle to stay in it.