News

17 Feb

‘Couldn’t afford not to’: With no exit at 65 this is the reality of working in your 70s and 80s

Rotorua truckdriver Warwick Pryce could only afford to retire recently - at the grand age of 84 - and that was only possible after a charity came to his rescue.

“My rent is now half what it was, so I was able to give up work. I was sick of being bounced around on a truck every morning.

Pryce is a mechanic, but has spent the last few years working as a truck driver, getting up before sunrise to transport fertiliser from Rotorua to Kawerau and back, every day.

He’d carried on working because he “couldn’t afford not to”.

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17 Feb

New Zealand emergency rooms: No place for old men (or women)

From the Spinoff: Older people are arriving at hospital emergency departments in greater numbers than ever before, compounding the problems of long wait times and poor health outcomes for those who are frail. Is there a better way? Yes, say two New Zealand hospitals. Is the government listening? 

At Waikato Hospital’s emergency department on a Tuesday afternoon, a woman is curled in a foetal position across two stiff-backed hospital chairs designed to be durable and easy to clean, but that are uncomfortable if you are in pain. She moans quietly, then louder, holding her stomach as the spasm peaks. She looks like a woman in labour but is far too old to be giving birth. And this is not a delivery suite.

A man in flannelette pyjamas and a bathrobe sits hunched over in a wheelchair. The young woman with him, who may be his granddaughter, offers him a paper cup of water.  She tries to bring the flaps of his pyjama pants together to cover his genitals. He doesn’t seem aware of the exposure.

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13 Feb

Exercise can be as effective as medication for depression and anxiety – new study

This story by RNZ: Compared to being inactive, aerobic exercise has an especially powerful impact on the symptoms of depression.
Neil Munro, James Dimmock and Klaire Somoray for12 February 20267 min readCaption:The mental health benefits of exercise are comparable to and in some cases better than those of talk therapy and antidepressants, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.Photo credit:Dulcey Lima / Unsplash

Depression and anxiety affect millions of people worldwide.

While treatments such as medication and psychotherapy (sometimes called talk therapy) can be very effective, they're not always an option. Barriers include cost, stigma, long waiting lists for appointments, and potential drug side effects.

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13 Feb

‘Surviving not living’: Pensioners and beneficiaries hit hardest by inflation in 2025

Shared from Stuff: A pensioner living in rented accommodation in a rural location just south of Auckland told Stuff she is “surviving, not living”.

Paula*, 68, has been retired for three years. She relies entirely on her pension and an accommodation supplement to pay the bills.

Over those three years, keeping up with the cost of living has become noticeably harder, she says.
While New Zealand super rates do keep pace with inflation, any increase to Paula’s pension is counted as extra income by Work and Income. That means every adjustment results in a decrease to her accommodation supplement, she says, so she doesn’t end up with any extra money.

Since Paula retired, inflation has increased by more than 10%. So, in essence, she’s taken a 10% pay cut over that time.

“I feel like [the Government] is giving with one hand and taking away with the other,” she said.

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5 Feb

Time seems to speed up as we age - can it be slowed down?

From RNZ: When you're a kid, the wait between Christmases or birthdays feels like an eternity. Fast forward a few decades, though, and it seems like barely any time has passed between one year to the next.

The feeling that time speeds up as we age is a thing, says Hinze Hogendoorn, a professor in visual time perception at the Queensland University of Technology.

"When you're young, everything is new and exciting. First day of school, first car, first relationship, first job. There are lots of memorable firsts."

When you're young, before routine sets in, there are a lot of "memorable firsts", says Professor Hinze Hogendoorn.

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2 Feb

NZ Post cuts services, raising fears for offline older Kiwis – The Front Page

NZ Post is removing services from 142 partner stores this year.

It follows a long line of postal groups around the world scaling back as we enter a new era dominated by tech.

Czech Post closed 300 post office branches, the Greek postal service shut more than 200 last year, UK networks have gone through rolling waves of reductions, and Denmark has ended traditional letter delivery entirely – an end to a 400-year-old service.

Of the 142 stores closing, 29 are in Auckland and 22 are in Christchurch.

“The remaining network of 567 stores will still be significantly larger than any New Zealand supermarket or bank branch network,” NZ Post general manager consumer Sarah Sandoval said.

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14 Jan

Older people are more vulnerable in heatwaves. Here’s why – and how to stay safe

With the mercury rising across many parts of the country, older people are particularly vulnerable as heat is not only uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous.


For vulnerable people, particularly the elderly, heat is not only uncomfortable but dangerous. High temperatures can worsen existing health problems and in some cases even prove fatal.

So as the mercury climbs, it’s important to understand why some people are more at risk.

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8 Jan

Are New Zealanders getting lonelier?

From the Spinoff: The ‘loneliness epidemic’ is apparently spreading around the world, but what does it look like here in New Zealand? Rachel Judkins reports.

Summer read – originally published February 12 2025.

It’s a beautiful summer evening in Cornwall Park, with families scattered on the grass and a live band playing a backing track to their laughter. Sprawled on a picnic blanket with her young son, 46-year-old Florence* is trying to soak up the good vibes, but she can’t help feeling a heaviness. She loves doing these fun activities with her boy, but raising him alone is hard work and she craves adult company and longs to be part of a family unit again. Despite being surrounded by people, Florence is feeling lonely. 

Ironically, she isn’t alone in her loneliness. 

In 2023, a survey by global analytics firm Gallup revealed that 1 in 5 people worldwide said they felt lonely “a lot” during the previous day. In this study, Aotearoa was doing better than our allies Canada, US and the UK; on par with our neighbours Australia; but feeling lonelier than countries like Japan, Finland and Kazakhstan. But no matter where you go on this planet, loneliness is an issue.

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8 Jan

SummerSeries: The Growing Challenge of Dementia — A Māori Lens on a National Health Issue

This from Waatea News.com: 

Dementia is no longer a distant concern for future generations – it is here, growing, and already affecting whānau across Aotearoa. Known in te reo Māori as mate wareware, this condition involves progressive decline in memory and cognition. It affects not just the person living with it, but their whanau, community, and cultural wellbeing.

In New Zealand, recent research shows that dementia is under-recognised, with up to half of those who live with memory problems unaware they have the condition.

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17 Dec '25

Transport subsidies for elderly and disabled people reduced

The government is cutting transport subsidies for elderly and disabled people for elderly and disabled people from 75 percent to 65 percent.

The Total Mobility scheme provides discounted taxis and public transport fares for those with long-term impairments.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop and Disability Minister Louise Upston said when the previous Labour government boosted the scheme from a 50 percent subsidy in 2022, it did not account for increased demand.

The number of registered users had increased from 108,000 to 120,000 between 2022 and 2024/25, and the number of trips increased from 1.8 million in 2018 to 3 million in 2024/25.

Bishop said the increased demand now meant the scheme was close to exceeding the funding provided by $236m sometime over the five years to 2030.

"The subsidy is split between the government and public transport authorities - local councils and the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) - and provides an important service for the people who use the scheme," he said.

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10 Dec '25

No, pensioners aren't getting a Christmas bonus

Superannuitants are being warned not to fall for a scam that claims they're in for a pre-Christmas bonus.

A hoax circulating online claims that people who are on NZ Super are to receive a "one-off December bonus" a few weeks before Christmas.

The payment is alleged to be $350 for single people and $560 for couples, as well as an extra $50 for people in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and $40 for people with disabilities.

The websites seem to be intended to funnel advertising and possibly collect identity details.

The Ministry of Social Development confirmed that the offer was not real.

"We are aware of fake information being targeted at MSD clients and older people about December bonuses, benefit increases, or changes to NZ Super," group general manager of client service delivery Graham Allpress said.

"We want to assure people these claims are not true. If you want up-to-date information on your benefit or NZ Super, check the Work and Income website or MyMSD.

"These posts and websites are created by dishonest actors for dishonest reasons, and are always best avoided."

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9 Dec '25

Japan is facing a dementia crisis – can technology help?

This from BBC news: 

Last year, more than 18,000 older people living with dementia left their homes and went missing in Japan. Almost 500 were later found dead.

Police say such cases have doubled since 2012.

Elderly people aged 65 and over now make up nearly 30% of Japan's population - the second-highest proportion in the world after Monaco, according to the World Bank.

The crisis is further compounded by a shrinking workforce and tight limits on foreign workers coming in to provide care.

Japan's government has identified dementia as one of its most urgent policy challenges, with the Health Ministry estimating that dementia-related health and social care costs will reach 14 trillion yen ($90bn; £67bn) by 2030 - up from nine trillion yen in 2025.

In its most recent strategy, the government has signalled a stronger pivot toward technology to ease the pressure.

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5 Dec '25

'Just come and be in it' - 87-year-old community theatre director

June Renwick from Auckland's Selwyn Community Arts Theatre still gets "really excited" about seeing people discover their hidden performance talents.

Culture 10128 September 20254 min readCaption:June Renwick (left) with cast members of Selwyn Community Arts Theatre's 2024 production of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.Photo credit:Supplied

When she retired from teaching at Auckland's Selwyn College, June Renwick was determined to "get a community theatre happening". Now she directs and produces shows at the Selwyn Community Arts Theatre (SCAT).

Not only is community theatre a lot of fun, it also encourages diverse connections, Renwick says, not just in nationality, but in age.

"People make lasting friendships, like we're all going for a curry night soon up to Orewa", she tells Culture 101.

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5 Dec '25

Govt’s retirement village reforms risk two-tier system, residents say

The Government’s promise of fairer rules for retirement villages could backfire if reforms only apply to future contracts and not to those who’ve fought so hard to secure them, residents warn.

Their comments follow today’s announcement by Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka and Seniors Minister Casey Costello regarding the Retirement Villages Act reform.

Key improvements included a process for former residents to apply for early access to funds in situations of specific need; interest must be paid after six months if a unit remains unlicensed or unsold; repayment of funds no later than 12 months after a unit is vacated, and weekly fees and deductions stopping immediately when a resident vacates.

A Northland retirement village resident said after a long career in community advocacy, the last thing she expected when moving into her unit about five years ago was more battling.

But issues in her village – especially an ongoing wait for a promised specialist care facility – changed that.

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3 Dec '25

The cost of being: A retired ‘old lady’ learning to live for the moment

As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a pensioner with a lifetime of ‘squirrel habits’ explains where they spend and how they save.

Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.

Gender: Old lady.

Age: 67.

Ethnicity: Pākehā.

Role: Retired, domestic husband wrangler.

Salary/income/assets: Pension, small investment return.


My living location is: Suburban.

Rent/mortgage per week: Mortgage repaid a few years ago.

Student loan or other debt payments per week: None.

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28 Nov '25

10-year-old business owner goes viral for free lawn mowing services to kaumātua

From Te Ao Maori News: 

A 10 year-old living in Raahui Pookeka that has gone viral for giving free lawn mowing services to kaumaatua in Huntly.

Harry Muru-Kete is the business owner of his lawn mowing service called, “Second 2 None”.

In an Instagram post, hundreds of people praised Muru-Kete for his free service to kaumātua within his community. Muru-Kete said within the next 24-hours his social media following skyrocketed, all for kaumaatua who are the most valued treasure in their community.

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27 Nov '25

Scientists discover four major turning points for human brain

From RNZ: The five brain phases were split into: childhood brain, adolescent brain, adult brain, early ageing brain and late ageing brain. 

Scientists have discovered the human brain goes through five different phases of life, with key turning points at four different ages.

These "major turning points" occur around the ages of 9, 32, 66 and 83, a media release from the University of Cambridge said.

The neuroscientists from Cambridge University found the brain structure changes over the course of a human life, as the brain rewires to "support different ways of thinking while we grow, mature, and ultimately decline".

The study that was led by the university's MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit compared brains of more than 3800 people aged between 0 and 90.

According to scientist and research lead Dr Alexa Mousley, it is the first study to "identify major phases of brain wiring across a human lifespan".

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25 Nov '25

ANZ warns of social media investment scams using its branding, and targeting older Kiwis

ANZ is warning New Zealanders to remain on high alert after a new wave of investment scams emerged, targeting users on social media with fake ads that misuse the bank's branding.

The latest scam, identified this week, involves an advertisement promoting a stock market education programme featuring the ANZ's logo. The ad directed people to join group chats for investment advice — a tactic ANZ says is designed to pressure individuals into fraudulent schemes.

"The ads are the latest in a long line of investment scams. Sadly, they won’t be the last," said Alan Thomsen, Head of Customer Protection at ANZ.

ANZ has reported the ads to the platform and is monitoring for similar content alongside the financial markets authority. The bank emphasised it does not offer stock trading education programmes and that official posts would only come from its verified account.

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24 Nov '25

As people live longer and healthier, nurse training needs to respond to avoid ageist attitudes

From the Hearald: Opinion by Samantha Heath
THE FACTS

• Life expectancy has significantly increased, leading to more years with chronic conditions and disabilities.
• Ageism in healthcare results in missed diagnoses and under-treatment of older adults.

Life expectancy in New Zealand has increased dramatically over the past five decades. In 1970, men lived on average to 68. Today, it’s over 80.

These gains reflect major advances in public health and medical technology. But living longer can mean more years with multiple chronic conditions and disabilities, because age is a significant risk factor for most disease.

This demographic shift will reshape healthcare. Future health professionals will need to be aware of the increasingly complex social, technological and ethical challenges of caring for older people.

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17 Nov '25

How this man found himself homeless at 80

Stuff reports: As the number of people retiring owning their own home plummets, and many seniors are being priced out of retirement villages, more and more people over 65 are being left with nowhere to live. Phoebe Utteridge reports.

When Nick Carswell found out his rural Canterbury rental was going to be deemed unfit for tenancy in 2023, it was “a moment of sheer horror”.

“I thought I had nowhere to go,” he said.

The then-80-year-old had lived in a cottage on Miners Rd in Yaldhurst for 16 years. . Conditions in the house deteriorated impacting his health to the point he ended up in hospital.

His family attempted to restore the property so Carswell could continue to live in the countryside, but the property was declared unfit for tenancy.

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17 Nov '25

Age Concern Whanganui seeks donations to Secret Santa gift initiative

Age Concern Whanganui is on a mission to give older people gifts this Christmas.

It is the seventh year the organisation has run its Secret Santa programme which aims to ease the loneliness of older Whanganui residents over the holidays.

Age Concern is asking for gift items or monetary donations to be dropped off at its office at 164 St Hill St – or a volunteer can arrange to collect donations if they are unable to be dropped off – until December 4.

“We were aware that the Christmas time can be very hard for older people in our community and so we collect gifts,” Age Concern Whanganui manager Michelle Malcolm said.

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7 Nov '25

Beneficiaries, pensioners don't have enough money for basics - report

In news from RNZ: Households living on JobSeeker Support or NZ Super alone have to spend more each week than they have coming in to cover the basics, on average, a new report says.

Kore Hiakai, the Zero Hunger Collective, has issued its latest annual report - Ka Makona - which notes 27 percent of children are living in food-insecure households.

This year, older people have been added to the household scenarios, modelling weekly income and basic housing, food, transport and utilities expenses for an older person living alone and an older couple.

Single adults, sole parents with two children and two-parent households with two children were also considered.

Housing costs are based on rents for a single adult living in a shared flat, an older person in a one-room unit and an older couple in a two-bedroom house. Family households are based on three-bedroom rentals.

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6 Nov '25

NZ’s Fastest Growing Opportunity: New Pledges Show Ways To Boost The Wellbeing, Productivity And Resilience

Five priorities for investment in longer, better, more sustainable lives

Urgent cross-sector action to support older New Zealanders to live longer, healthier and more connected lives has been called for by the Aotearoa New Zealand National Forum for the Decade of Healthy Ageing He Oranga Kaumātua, He Oranga Tangata at Parliament this morning.

Policy and decision-makers are being urged to back five transformative, yet cost-effective pledges that will support a New Zealand where everyone can thrive and age well in communities, thereby lifting wellbeing, boosting productivity and building national resilience.

The pledges are evidence-based, drawing on research by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER), and offer practical solutions to significant issues that are currently undermining the potential and long term opportunities arising from an ageing population: ageism, unsuitable and unaffordable housing, a lack of “whole-of-life” planning, loneliness and social isolation, and poor health outcomes.

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29 Oct '25

Being awarded 'little old lady status'

Waikato times piece: 

Denise Irvine is a Hamilton freelance journalist and food writer, and a regular Waikato Times contributor.

OPINION: I had a medical appointment recently with a nurse who used relentlessly first-person plural pronouns as she stepped me through a list of questions:

“Do we know our height? What is our date of birth? Are we on any medications? Do we have any existing medical conditions? Who is our next of kin? I’ll just check our weight, can we please pop onto the scales.” And so on.

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29 Oct '25

Ministerial advisory group to look at changes to aged care funding model

This from RNZ: Changes to the aged care funding model are on the cards, with a ministerial advisory group being established to make recommendations to a system the government says is out of date.

The government currently spends $2.5 billion a year on aged care, which is provided privately.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said there were "major political considerations" attached to any changes, and so an independent group was needed to make recommendations, as well as long-term thinking and a bipartisan approach.

She said the announcement was about better health outcomes for the 900,000 New Zealanders who were over 65, and a better, fit-for-purpose aged care system.

The number of New Zealanders aged 65 or older is expected to increase to 1.3 million by 2040.

"We know that New Zealand has very good aged care, provided by dedicated people. However, the way that these services are funded is outdated and does not recognise the connection between the various parts of the system or the future investment required," said Costello, who is also Minister for Seniors.

"Essentially, our aged care model is out of date and piecemeal change isn't the solution."

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23 Oct '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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

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26 Sep '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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 '25

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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22 Aug '25

A New Zealander lives here: Bob ‘sleeps’ sitting upright in his single-cab ute. He’s 64

Stuff news shares this investigative story: As winter bites, Mildred Armah seeks out the human faces behind New Zealand’s rising homelessness crisis. In the first of a three-part series, Bob and Andrew represent the daily realities, impossible choices and quiet resilience of those living without a place to call their own.

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12 Aug '25

Pioneer shearer, 93, suffered fatal burns after clothing caught fire while cooking

NewstalkZB shares this story: The life of a trailblazing New Zealand female shearer ended tragically before Christmas last year when her clothing caught fire as she cooked over a favoured coal range.

Margaret Gould suffered fatal burns to her entire body as she prepared a meal in the home where she lived alone.

The 93-year-old was found by her neighbour slumped over the range and in great distress, Coroner Mark Wilton said in his findings released today.

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11 Aug '25

Rising Costs Squeeze Seniors' Ability To Make Ends Meet

Auckland, 6 August 2025 – The quality of life for many older New Zealanders is being significantly impacted by rising living costs according to new research by New Zealand Seniors.

The Quality of Life Report 2025 commissioned by New Zealand Seniors in partnership with consumer research group, MYMAVINS, surveyed more than 500 New Zealanders over 50 about how healthcare, aged care and retirement impact their quality of life, financial stability, and overall wellbeing.

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