450 1
  • Today's woman aged 60-70 refuses to treat the next few decades as a slow fade rather than one of more freedom.
  • The change in us is more a shift than a vibe. Few of us planned any of it. We just never got the memo.
  • Confidence and visibility aren't things we are willing to surrender when we turn 60.

    • ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/450/Screenshot-2026-06-25-091017.png url https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/raging-with-grace/202606/boomer-women-are-changing-the-time-worn-aging-script 2026-06-24 23:19:47     449 1 From Newsroom: I turn 84 today. Maybe that’s why I find myself thinking of the decision made by Maurice Gee, who published no adult fiction for his last 16 years. He stopped, as deliberately and absolutely as that.

    I also think of Harry Orsman, lexicographer, authority on English as spoken in New Zild, and one of my university tutors at what was then Victoria University of Wellington. Harry was talking to us one afternoon about Chaucer’s language and sources. He mentioned his own tutor, from the late 1940s it would have been. I can’t recall the guy’s name. But I do remember Harry pausing, smiling affectionately, and saying ”There’s not much left of him now, except a pair of bright blue eyes. But he’s still writing.” I knew instantly that I wouldn’t – couldn’t – forget that tribute.

    So there you are. One author who stopped; one who couldn’t. Pause here, to contemplate which category each of us may slip into. I know authors who stopped because they couldn’t face another rejection; others whose health or other outside-world circumstances meant they couldn’t keep going. I sympathise with them all. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/449/Screenshot-2026-06-25-090346.png url https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/06/24/mr-hill-84-today-contemplates-the-end-of-writing/ 2026-06-24 21:05:24     448 1 From the New Zealand Herald: A Rotorua iwi has launched a “world-first” aged care model designed to support kaumātua at home for as long as possible.

    Ngāti Whakaue unveiled the papakāinga model of care “designed by iwi, for iwi” at Te Puia in Rotorua on Friday.

    About 160 people attended the launch, including Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, Iwi Māori Partnership Boards and Ngāti Whakaue representatives.

    Ngāti Whakaue has been working with Te Rau Ora – the kaupapa Māori health workforce development organisation for Aotearoa – to address who will care for the iwi’s ageing population, and where. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/448/Screenshot-2026-06-25-085534.png url https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/rotorua-ngati-whakaue-launches-world-first-papakainga-aged-care-model/L7FZ7YY6ZBAVHAWULJPVZMWAPE/ 2026-06-24 20:57:12     447 1 deepfakes - the relentless march of the digital age is enough to make anyone's head spin.

    For some older New Zealanders, it's leading to a loss of social connection and even limiting their access to essential services.

    New research out of the University of Auckland has found that "technostress" is causing many older people to feel shut out by the digital world.

    But not for 92-year-old Peter Singh and his top-of-the-line iPhone 17.

    "I do my emails, I do my banking," he said. "I can find my way in the car."

    A keen photographer, he's also got every app you can think of - he's even on TikTok.

    He said he knew nothing of computers when he first joined the Eden-Roskill branch of SeniorNet, a non-profit society helping people over 50 to learn or enhance their technology skills. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/447/Screenshot-2026-06-17-194411.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/598287/technostress-causing-older-people-to-feel-shut-out-by-digital-world-research-finds 2026-06-17 07:47:47     446 1
    Research shows that those who exercise regularly are less likely to succumb to premature death, and reduce their risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and mental health disorders. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/446/Screenshot-2026-06-16-095429.png url https://www.stuff.co.nz/health/360984139/sports-professor-five-biggest-myths-about-exercise-and-aging 2026-06-15 21:56:34     445 1
    According to the latest report from the Retirement Commission, our savings by retirement age are up more than $8,000 than they were a year ago.

    Balances are growing across every demographic group, with 90% of Kiwis earning $50,000 or more (the annual minimum wage) now contributing to KiwiSaver.

    The average KiwiSaver balance across every age group now sits at $41,286, up from $37,079 a year earlier.]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/445/Screenshot-2026-06-02-094029.png url https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/360983658/average-kiwi-retires-77k-kiwisaver-many-women-its-far-less?fbclid=IwY2xjawSK2t9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF4Vzl4OVFINmNvUnpseTgwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsbo6J8u30HNNOzN7_BO2lngp4YudOUrYYnEal6RJTqeUcg1JG1 2026-06-01 21:42:12     444 1 Explainer - New Zealand celebrates King Charles' birthday with a public holiday Monday - even though his birthday isn't until November.

    Here's what you need to know about what will be open and closed, your employment rights if you are working and why we celebrate the monarch every June, regardless of when their birthday is.

    So is the King giving me a day off work?



    Pretty much.]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/444/Screenshot-2026-05-29-100400.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/596658/king-s-birthday-2026-what-s-open-what-s-closed-and-how-it-s-decided-who-gets-honours 2026-05-28 22:55:43     443 1 https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/443/Screenshot-2026-05-28-143844.png url https://budget.govt.nz/budget/pdfs/releases/l18-costello-supergold-card-being-upgraded.pdf 2026-05-28 02:43:04 442 1
    One of the country's most loved entertainers, Dame Jools Topp, has died at the age of 68.

    She had breast cancer, a disease that she was first diagnosed with in 2006 before it returned in 2021.

    Jools died at home on Saturday with her twin sister Lynda, brother Bruce, close friends and "all her fur-babies by her side", a statement from the family confirmed on Monday. A celebration honouring Jools’ life will be announced shortly. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/442/Screenshot-2026-05-25-162622.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/people/celebrity/topp-twin-and-comedy-icon-jools-topp-dies-at-age-68 2026-05-25 04:27:56     441 1 As the cost of living climbs and Trump's war on Iran drives fuel costs sky-high, how are Kiwis coping? What are they doing without? How are they saving money? An RNZ series examines the ways it's impacting different groups.

    The increasing cost of living is hurting most, but those on fixed incomes have even less room to move with some forced to forego coffee and meat.

    Petrol and oil prices have crept exponentially higher after the war in Iran, while statistics show pharmaceuticals and electricity also keep putting pressure on the wallet.

    Pensioners were just one group on fixed incomes struggling to make ends meet.

    As a single pensioner living alone - you'd get $555.15 a week.

    It's slightly less if that person was living in shared accommodation.

    Whereas a couple who were both eligible get $427.04 each a week.

    So when bills, insurance, petrol and other expenses add up, something has got to give.]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/441/Screenshot-2026-05-25-133405.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/595623/how-kiwis-are-coping-pensioners-forgoing-coffee-meat-to-keep-budgets-low 2026-05-25 01:41:47     440 27 Coping well, finding purpose, and staying connected as we age

    If you've ever felt pressure to "stay positive," especially as you get older, you're not alone. There's a quiet assumption that we should be grateful, cheerful, and resilient all the time. But real life doesn't work like that.

    A more realistic and kinder goal isn't constant happiness. It's coping well through life's ups and downs, having a sense of purpose, and staying connected to people and places that make us feel we belong.

    This matters especially in later life, when change can come thick and fast: retirement, health shifts, grief, reduced independence, family changes, or simply the feeling that the world has sped up and left us behind.]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/440/A-Good-Life-Isnt-a-Perfectly-Happy-One-blog-image.png page https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/blog/a-good-life-isnt-a-perfectly-happy-one/ 2026-05-21 23:48:04     439 1 https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/439/Screenshot-2026-05-12-164522.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2019034621/concern-raising-super-age-would-widen-inequality 2026-05-12 04:46:45 436 1
    Chief executive Kevin Lamb said referrals to the organisation involving elder abuse had risen by 20-30 percent over the past year, with a growing proportion linked to money troubles within families.

    He said the combination of financial stress and elder abuse was creating an extra burden for vulnerable seniors, particularly as living costs continued to rise.

    ''We are hearing from older people who are literally panicking... 'Do I turn the heating on, or do I go and buy myself proper decent food for today?'

    "Older people are facing a double whammy. They're really seeing this struggle in terms of financial hardship on themselves, but also being more vulnerable to those who would take advantage of them."

    Lamb said the problem was driven by financial hardship, with some families struggling to make ends meet and older relatives becoming a source of financial support. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/436/Screenshot-2026-05-11-100717.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-justice/594726/cost-of-living-crisis-fuelling-rise-in-elder-financial-abuse-warns-age-concern 2026-05-10 22:08:00     435 1
    Sir David has shown hundreds of millions of people some of the world's rarest creatures and inspired generations through his unique broadcasts about planet Earth.

    “I will not see how that story ends but, after a lifetime of exploring our planet, I remain convinced that the more people enjoy and understand the natural world, the greater our hope of saving both it and ourselves becomes," he wrote around the release of his 2025 film Ocean with David Attenborough.


    Sir David has released more than 100 documentaries, according to Penguin Books Australia, and continues to produce television series.

    Schools, universities, zoos, museums, environment groups, the BBC – where he began his broadcasting career – libraries and New Zealand's Department of Conservation are among the organisations paying tribute to the legendary broadcaster.

    ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/435/Screenshot-2026-05-08-091001.png url https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/05/08/i-will-not-see-how-planets-story-ends-sir-david-attenborough-turns-100/ 2026-05-07 21:11:17     434 1
    Taupō residents can build their digital confidence through a series of free digital workshops running every Thursday throughout May at Taupō Library.

    The first session, Online Safety in the Digital World, takes place on Thursday 7 May at 10am and focuses on online scams and simple ways to protect yourself online.

    The workshops are a collaboration between Taupō Library, Age Concern Taupō and Central Plateau REAP, responding to growing demand for digital safety support in the community.

    “We have Tech Assist every Friday for an hour in the library, and the majority of customers who come in for assistance are older,” says Taupō Library team lead operations Tu Biddle.

    “While most of their queries are about how to do something on a phone or computer, we are seeing more devices having issues due to updates not being installed, malware from unsecure websites, and free app downloads.”]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/434/Screenshot-2026-05-07-162911.png url https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2605/S00091/free-digital-workshops-at-taupo-library-help-locals-stay-safe-online.htm 2026-05-07 04:36:56     433 1
    NZ HeraldAcademics are urging politicians to stop treating demography as background noise and start treating it as core national planning requiring cross-party collaboration.

    A new report suggests New Zealand’s rapidly changing demographic make-up has reached a critical point.

    Within decades, a quarter of all New Zealanders could be 65 or older – a situation unheard of in our history.

    In the 1960s, there were seven people aged 15-64 (those who pay the most tax) for every person over-65. In 2025, it was four to one, and in 2065, it is forecast to be two to one.

    At the same time, migration patterns are shifting, cities like Auckland are absorbing most growth, and regional decline is accelerating.

    The Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures report argues these trends can no longer be managed as separate issues – we need a national population strategy to link housing, health, infrastructure, and economic policy.

    Sir Peter Gluckman and emeritus professor Paul Spoonley co-authored the new report titled People, Place and Prosperity: The Case for a Population Strategy.

    “New Zealand now faces a pivotal decision regarding our demographic trajectory,” the report, released today by the Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures, said. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/433/Screenshot-2026-05-04-181704.png url https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/report-warns-on-ageing-population-shrinking-workforce-regional-risk-the-front-page/DOIROO5YC5DMJLMSPBMEARDFOE/ 2026-05-04 06:22:06     432 1
    His Majesty also used the message to “renew his vow of service”, following a challenging start to his reign, including a cancer battle, estrangement from his 41-year-old son, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and dealing with his 66-year-old disgraced brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as more details emerge about his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – of which Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing.

    A royal insider told the Mirror: “The start to the King’s reign has not been without its obvious troubles, but there has been much to celebrate as well.

    “He has been immensely positive in the face of adversity, continuing his cancer treatment while maintaining an incredible work rate.]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/432/Screenshot-2026-04-23-170110.png url https://www.thecoast.net.nz/news/king-charles-honours-the-late-queen-elizabeth-iis-100th-birthday/ 2026-04-23 05:02:49     431 1
    Good Shepherd has released the report, which focused on the housing experiences of women over 65.

    It follows concerns being raised that the recent adjustment to NZ Super is not enough to keep up with growing pressure, particularly in fuel prices.

    NZ Super lifted 3.1 percent this year, in line with last year's rate of inflation. But the cost of essentials has risen by more than that overall figure, and rates and fuel are expected to continue at a faster pace this year.

    Good Shepherd said many women were facing significant challenges because of having more limited income as well as the lifetime effect of low pay, having taken time out of the workforce to look after children and other factors. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/431/Screenshot-2026-04-23-165053.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/community/592484/cost-of-living-squeeze-hits-pensioners-with-some-using-foodbanks-to-survive?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&fbclid=IwY2xjawRVDIVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeRIi_s6EHseoFgfxxioF6y 2026-04-23 04:52:34     430 1
    The local of 60 years is the head of the Stewart Island Seniors Cottage Trust.

    The trust is trying to raise an additional $1 million to build small, warm, accessible homes for elderly residents at a site in Oban.

    It has already raised $750,000, purchased a section and drawn up plans for between six and eight one-bedroom duplex units.Stewart Island locals fight for elders Checkpoint16 April 2026Queue

    Ford said seniors were stuck in ageing, draughty homes or paying housing costs beyond their means in a bid to stay put on the island.

    "If there's only one person in the house on a pension, you're on about $28,000. By the time you take off $8000 of rates and insurance and perhaps another $4000 for electricity, you've still got to get some food and you've still got to do some maintenance on the property and it just doesn't fit very well," he said.

    "We've got one chap here that lives on a boat because he doesn't want to pay the insurance and the rates. And every day you've got to get in your dinghy and paddle ashore. If you're in your 70s that's a bit of a handful." ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/430/Screenshot-2026-04-21-121021.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/592575/stewart-island-trust-raising-money-to-build-suitable-homes-for-elderly-residents?fbclid=IwY2xjawRTnv1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe1DVCUUIjnVPBG26xaigHC-8rmNQI3LWU0aDm9y3pSceJ0Q8H18QzcF 2026-04-21 00:11:48     429 27 about 1 in 3 people over 65 will have a fall each year, and the impact can be serious — from sprains and fractures through to hospital stays and a loss of confidence that makes it harder to stay active.

    What many people don’t realise is that falls aren’t only about slippery paths or weak legs. Medicines (or combinations of medicines) can also increase the chance of falling.

    These medicines are sometimes called FRIDs — Fall-Risk Increasing Drugs. It doesn’t mean the medicine is “bad” or that you should stop taking it. It simply means it can increase falls risk for some people, especially when other factors are also present (like balance changes, low blood pressure, poor sleep, or illness).

    ⚠  Important: Do not stop any medicine suddenly without speaking to a doctor or pharmacist first.]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/429/FRIDS-falls-risk-blog-image.png page https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/blog/medicines-and-falls-what-older-aucklanders-should-know-about-frids/ 2026-04-15 04:40:55     428 1
    Every day, Aucklanders help keep our communities safe, neighbourly and tidy by reporting problems to the council. This has just got easier with the launch of a new, purpose-built virtual assistant called Ask Auckland Council.

    You can use it to report graffiti, illegal dumping, roaming dogs, missed bin collections, and party/people noise, as well as quickly find information for reporting other problems.

    More problem categories will be added over the coming months. Meanwhile, the council is working on speeding up internal processes so that reported problems can get fixed faster.

    Ask Auckland Council is an AI assistant which you can access on your smartphone, computer, tablet or any device via a web browser. Find the link on the main Report a problem page on the Auckland Council website or access the assistant directly. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/428/Screenshot-2026-04-15-150948.png url https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2026/04/new-ai-assistant-for-fast-easy-problem-reporting/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ourakl_edm&utm_content=New%20AI%20assistant%20for%20fast%2C%20easy%20problem%20reporting%20-%20O 2026-04-15 03:13:21     427 1 the situation is rapidly worsening.

    The scale of the problem was laid bare during the launch of the charity's cross-party Doors to Dignity campaign at Parliament on Tuesday night.

    The mission said the housing situation for older New Zealanders had deteriorated significantly over the past five years.

    Its executive director Jilll Hawkey said that, anecdotally, the number of older people rough sleeping was on the rise.

    "We see it from our housing outreach teams, we've in recent weeks found a couple of women in their eighties who have been homeless and two men last week in their sevenites who are homeless," she said. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/427/Screenshot-2026-04-14-152945.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/590530/homelessness-among-older-people-at-crisis-levels-christchurch-methodist-mission-says?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email 2026-04-14 03:31:34     426 1
    The classes are offered by Move, a charitable trust which aims to make dance, acrobatics and circus more accessible.

    Jenny Ritchie, the circus programmer for Move, says she hears a common refrain from people when they first arrive at the class.]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/426/Screenshot-2026-04-13-134811.png url https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/wellbeing/new-circus-skills-class-for-over-60s-like-play-for-adults 2026-04-13 01:48:59     425 1 This from Scoop: Across the world, populations are ageing at an unprecedented rate, both as a result of medical advances and a decrease in birth rates. The forecast is alarming, estimating that by 2080, there will be more individuals aged 65 and over than people under the age of 18. The global population aged 65+ is projected to reach 2.2 billion by 2080, which outnumbers the number of children. 

    As a result, ageing at home is becoming not just a preference, but a necessity. Fewer working-age individuals will be available to support the growing number of seniors, which places pressure on healthcare systems and caregiving networks. How can we make life at home as a senior safe and sustainable without sacrificing independence?  ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/425/Screenshot-2026-04-13-134452.png url https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2604/S00149/what-is-the-tech-helping-seniors-live-independently-at-home-for-longer.htm 2026-04-13 01:46:42     424 1
    Lead researcher Kathy Peri said the tool would aid health providers in identifying whether elderly people show signs of possibly being abused.

    In New Zealand, Elder Abuse Response Services received 2852 reports of abuse from Age Concern in 2022 to 2023, with an average of 11 new cases reported every workday.

    However, Peri, a senior lecturer in nursing, said the figures could be the tip of the iceberg because many elderly people are reluctant to report abuse or neglect by a loved one. ]]>     https://www.ageconcernauckland.org.nz/media/website_posts/424/Screenshot-2026-04-07-123659.png url https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/new-elder-abuse-assessment-tool-to-help-health-workers-spot-warning-signs/J7767SX33NBU5EBUSTSUXJEI7Y/ 2026-04-07 00:38:38