News

23 Oct

Still on the clock: No stepping off the treadmill for the over 65s

Read The Post: 

Turning 65 used to mean both a gold watch and a portal to the euphemistically-monikered “golden years” of a comfortable retirement.

Yet as life expectancy grows and living costs soar the idea of stepping off the working treadmill in your mid 60s has become increasingly unrealistic for many.

At 24% we have one of the highest rates of people aged over 65 who are still working, compared with other countries such as Australia (12%) and the UK (10%).

According to StatsNZ there are almost 200,000 working New Zealanders aged 65 or older. Almost 90,000 are aged over 70.

Certainly there’s any number of politicians, chief executives and property developers still on the tools into their 60s and 70s - and 2023 census data shows 42,000 people earning over $100,000 while collecting superannuation.

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23 Oct

Age Concern New Zealand Supports New Report On Age-Proofing Aotearoa

This from Scoop: 

Age Concern New Zealand welcomes the findings and recommendations in the latest report from WSP and The Helen Clark Foundation, titled Age-proofing Aotearoa: Rethinking our infrastructure for an ageing population.

“We are pleased to see so many of our own priority areas addressed in this report, backed by robust data analysis. As a charity with a proud heritage leading, advocating, connecting, and collaborating to see the delivery of local services, we do not have the resources to develop such an in-depth data analysis ourselves. We see this as an extremely valuable contribution for decision-makers,” says Karen Billings-Jensen, Chief Executive, Age Concern New Zealand.

At today’s report release at Parliament, Kali Mercier, WSP Fellow and Deputy Director of the Helen Clark Foundation, asked guests to consider their age in 2048, when some regions will be experiencing ‘hyper-ageing’, with 30% of residents expected to be aged 65. “It was a valuable reflection of the future, with some decision-makers present aged over 65 around that time. Their decisions now will be personal for them in 23 years” says Mrs Billings-Jensen.

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21 Oct

Who said women over 50 had to be invisible?

I’ve long felt uncomfortable with the idea that women become invisible with age; that now I’m in my 50s, I should be prepared to fade from view. Is that really how it is?

When I asked other women in my Gen X cohort about their experiences, they shared more than one tale of apparent physical invisibility with me: “I had my first experience of invisibility last week – I was standing at a counter ready to purchase, and two other people (who were standing behind me) got served first”, said one woman. Another shared something similar, adding “It surprised me as I am tall and very hard to overlook!”

Some women have experienced it showing up in working life: “I’m definitely feeling invisible in the job market at the moment,” one woman told me. “I have applied for over 30 jobs in the last three months, and not a nibble back. I’m not sure if it’s just the job market, gender, age, seniority…. or all of the above.”

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21 Oct

Innovative Māori aged care model set to bring aroha, manaakitanga to kaumātua

Aged care in Aotearoa New Zealand is in crisis. Reports of staff being underpaid and over worked are common as are the reports of elderly residents not getting the care they should. Kaitiaki is exploring what’s happening in this space. We talk with a granddaughter who is on a mission to transform aged care for Māori, starting with kaumātua from her own tribe.

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21 Oct

Air New Zealand pilot wins age discrimination case

A pilot who claimed Air New Zealand discriminated against him because of his age has succeeded in a personal grievance claim against the airline.

Captain Garth McGearty took the claim against Air New Zealand to the Employment Court, after he was turned down by the Employment Relations Authority, alleging unjustified disadvantage and unlawful discrimination because of age.

The NZ Airline Pilots Association (NZALPA) was also involved because the issues for determination involved interpretation of the union's collective agreement.

McGearty had reached the most senior rank, as captain of the Boeing 777.

He turned 65 in July 2017.

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15 Oct

How to maintain good cognitive health at any age

Is it an achievable goal to remain mentally sharp while aging, or is it a pipe dream?

It’s entirely possible if you cultivate habits throughout your life that are beneficial to brain function.

As a researcher in cognitive neuroscience and the neuropsychology of aging processes, I aim to shed light on the ways we can maintain good cognitive health while aging in light of recent scientific advances.

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10 Oct

What's Your Self-Talk About Aging?

A few years ago, as a travel journalist in Asia, I had an appointment with a spiritual leader in his office, and I was told that he was 94 years old.

I arrived at his office door, rang the bell, and a vigorous man with a booming voice answered and beckoned me to come in. The first thing he said was, “There will be no mention of age during our meeting. You will not use words like ‘older’ or ‘90s’ or ask me any questions that in any way refer to the amount of time I have been alive. Now let’s begin. I am a very busy man because I run six different companies.”

I was surprised, of course, but during our interview, I understood where he was coming from. He referred several times to his belief that accepting labels and holding stereotypical views about what happens when we have spent many years on planet earth can be limiting, self-defeating, and depressing.

Recently, in Santa 

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6 Oct

Aileen Kars, New Zealand’s oldest person, celebrates 112th birthday with high tea

Coffee fudge, walnut slice and pikelets were just some of the delectable delights served at a high tea honouring our oldest Kiwi.

Aileen Emily Kars turns 112 today and is celebrating the milestone at her rest home in Palmerston North with dancing and singing to the guitar.

Born in nearby Tokomaru on September 12, 1913, she is New Zealand’s oldest living person.

There are only 50 people older than her worldwide, according to the US Gerontology Research Group.

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1 Oct

Age Concern New Zealand Huia Award 2025, Celebrating Outstanding Contributions

Age Concern New Zealand is pleased to announce the recipients of the Age Concern New Zealand Huia Awards 2025, honouring three extraordinary individuals whose dedication has uplifted the wellbeing, dignity, and visibility of older people across Aotearoa.

“These awards shine a light on the remarkable individuals who are driving change and helping make Aotearoa New Zealand a better place to grow older. It’s a meaningful occasion for Age Concern New Zealand and forms part of our recognition of the International Day of Older Persons, promoting respect, inclusion, and the value of our older generations,” says Karen Billings-Jensen, Chief Executive of Age Concern New Zealand.

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1 Oct

Super-spry seniors help launch book on ageing better

The Devonport Flagstaff reports: Inspirational… author Leigh Elder (82) with former national tennis champ Margaret Borland (99) and former top running coach Arch Jelley (103)

Eighty-two-year-old Devonport resident Leigh Elder is an exemplar of active living, but says he is “only a kid” compared with some of the inspiring seniors at his book launch.
Among them was Arch Jelley, 103, master running coach to Olympic gold medallists Peter Snell and John Walker. The story of the Auckland “super ager” who still walks kilometres a day is one of several Elder tells in his latest book Don’t Act Your Age – Living younger can be age defying.
Another who attended was former national tennis champion Margaret Borland, aged 99, who came from Dunedin for the launch held at the William Sanders Retirement Village last Friday.

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1 Oct

Government rolls out new home care model for older people

This from RNZ: The government will begin rolling out a more flexible new system for delivering home care services to older people in the South Island on Wednesday.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said it was one of a series of improvements being made to the current aged care system, backed by a significant increase in funding.

The aged residential care sector has received a 4 percent funding uplift and would see a total increase of $96 million this year, while funding for home and community support services would increase by $44m.

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29 Sep

Aucklanders urged to get emergency ready this daylight saving weekend

From Our Auckland: 

Emergencies don’t RSVP; they show up uninvited. Investing a little time in emergency preparedness now can make a big difference in keeping you safer and less stressed when an emergency happens.

So this spring, Auckland Council and its Auckland Emergency Management department have launched a compelling new public awareness campaign encouraging Aucklanders to use daylight saving weekend to get emergency ready.

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26 Sep

Older Aucklanders Driving Change: Age Concern Marks UN Day of Older Persons 2025

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26 Sep

Any level of alcohol consumption increases risk of dementia

University of Oxford reveals findings: Any amount of alcohol consumption may increase risk of dementia, according to the most comprehensive study of alcohol consumption and dementia risk to date.

Led by the University of Oxford, Yale University, and the University of Cambridge, the research challenges previous suggestions that light-to-moderate drinking may have a protective effect against dementia. The study is published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Alcohol consumption is widespread and is linked with an increased risk of many diseases. Heavy drinking has previously been linked to higher risk of dementia. The connection between moderate levels of drinking and higher risk of dementia was uncertain with some studies suggesting that moderate drinking may even reduce dementia risk. However, recent studies involving brain scans have shown that drinking alcohol even at low levels may increase the risk of dementia.

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26 Sep

Outward Bound pushes the age boundary with 60-plus course

RNZ investigates: Outward Bound is pushing the age boundary, with a new course aimed at those 60-plus.

The not-for-profit specialises in personal and professional development, and building resilience by challenging people mentally and physically in the great outdoors of the Marlborough Sounds.

It has been going since 1962, but it is the first time it has had an eight-day course for people who are 60 and beyond.

The inaugural Beyond 60 Outward Bound course just wrapped recently.

One of the participants, 65-year-old Sally Anderson told Checkpoint going on an Outward Bound course was a bit of a dream for her.

"My children have done Outward Boun

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26 Sep

Volly Call: Abbeyfield housing project

From The Post: Marie Riordan is the manager of Volunteering New Plymouth. She writes a regular column about volunteering opportunities in Taranaki.

Abbeyfield was established in New Zealand/Aotearoa in 1992.

It is a housing model that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1950s to address the issues of isolation and loneliness among older people.

It aims to provide a comfortable home for older people to enjoy the companionship of others.

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25 Sep

What is 'Retro Walking'? The newest trend experts say can prevent dementia

Daily Mail story: Leading doctors are highlighting how an unusual walking technique could help boost memory and stave off dementia. 

Walking backwards, or 'retro walking', may improve cognition and boost activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for decision-making, problem-solving and working memory. 

Dr Eve Glazier and Dr Elizabeth Ko, who are based at UCLA in California, said: 'In one particularly intriguing study, participants who simply visualized the act of walking backward, but were actually sitting still, improved their scores on a memory test.'

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19 Sep

Fostering connection to beat loneliness

Otago Daily Times shares: Imagine walking up and not speaking to another person all day ... Or going a week, or even longer, without hearing your name spoken.



No-one to check in.

No-one to laugh with.

For too many older New Zealanders, this is their reality.

At Age Concern New Zealand, we believe that ageing should be filled with connection, purpose and dignity.

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19 Sep

Families missing early dementia signs as projections soar

RNZ reports: With New Zealand marking World Alzheimer's Day on Sunday, health experts are warning that the stigma surrounding dementia is keeping many families from seeking help.

An estimated 83,000 New Zealanders are currently living with dementia, according to the latest figures from Alzheimers New Zealand, although experts believe the actual number is higher.

At the same time, rapid population ageing among Māori, Pacific and Asian communities is expected to accelerate the rise in dementia cases nationwide.

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18 Sep

81-year-old fitness instructor cannot be stopped

From The Press: Through five pregnancies, breast cancer and now into her 80s, Paula Barrett says it's never too late to start looking after your mind and body.

Christchurch fitness instructor Paula Barrett's limbs may now be a bit too "old and creaky" to enjoy her Irish dancing hobby, but it's no barrier for her.

The 81-year-old still lifts wheelbarrows and chainsaws to help with local tree logging in bush near where she lives and leads fitness classes four times a week.

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12 Sep

KiwiSaver employer contributions for over-65s: Finance Minister rejects calls to mandate matching

The Hearald reports: The Minister of Finance is dismissing calls to mandate employers to contribute to the KiwiSaver accounts of their over-65 workers.

It follows Westpac saying last week the Government should make it compulsory, and more employers should be doing it voluntarily in the meantime.

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28 Aug

Departing Aged Care Commissioner says govt has no plan for ageing population

Carolyn Cooper finishes the job this Friday - three and a half years into a five year term, in which she has been outspoken about the need for better aged care beds for older people, particularly in rural and provincial New Zealand. 

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28 Aug

Retirement at risk: The major savings gap emerging between self-employed and employees

Newstalk ZB reports: A concerning gap is emerging in retirement savings between self-employed individuals and employees. 

A joint report from the Retirement Commission and accounting firm Hnry called Improving the retirement savings of the self-employed, found self-employed workers contribute to KiwiSaver at less than half the rate of employees, with many missing out on Government contributions

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