Older People's Policy team
The Older People’s Policy team was established in November 2004 to contribute to ‘whole-of-government’ policy development in a number of areas that contribute to positive ageing and the wellbeing of older New Zealanders. These areas include retirement income, employment, housing, transport, ageing in place, disability support, community and voluntary sector involvement, and the protection of older peoples’ rights and interests.
We are currently involved in policy work in a range of areas of interest and importance to older people, including providing policy advice to government on:
- New Zealand Superannuation
- the future delivery of services to older people by government (including exploring the possibility of an internet portal for older New Zealanders)
- elder abuse and neglect prevention (in conjunction with Family and Community Services)
- New Zealand’s international social security agreements and superannuation portability arrangements
- strengthening the ageing research sector
- ways to reduce barriers to employment amongst older people.
A major part of our work will involve developing ‘future-oriented’ policies to respond to New Zealand’s ageing population. This involves thinking about how we might adjust, socially and economically, to the increasing numbers and diversity of older people in the population in the years ahead. While this increase is likely to pose some challenges, it also offers a great many opportunities. Our work in this regard therefore includes thinking about how older New Zealanders’ skills, knowledge and experience might be better utilised, not only for the benefit of the individual but also for society as a whole.
We also work closely with the Office for Senior Citizens in promoting the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy, the overall framework within which all policy with implications for older people is commonly understood and developed.
