Affordable housing, employment high on agenda of new Senior Citizens Minister

Tracey Martin says employers and developers need to prepare now for a huge increase of over-65s in the next few years

Housing and employment are high on the agenda for the new Minister of Senior Citizens as she looks at how to tackle the problems of our ageing population. 

Tracey Martin says employers and developers need to act now to prepare for a huge increase of over-65s.

Currently there are 747,900 people over 65 in New Zealand, 15 per cent of the total population. But that number is expected to rocket. By 2038 there will be over 1.3 million, making up 23 per cent the population.

And that picture is set to look different between urban and rural areas. Less than 17 per cent of Aucklanders will be over 65, whereas in places like Tasman, a third of the population will be senior citizens.

Caroline Budge of Age Concern Nelson Tasman says more and more people are going to be over 65, "so we want employers to be thinking about that - that's your workforce right there".

Ms Martin yesterday announced a fresh approach, revising the dated Positive Ageing Strategy.

"I need to hear the voice of seniors in the first instance," Ms Martin said. 

We see people living in really poor substandard accommodation

—  Caroline Budge of Age Concern Nelson Tasman |

"But I also want to talk to Business New Zealand and some of those other organisations about how can we work together to make sure they get that skill base and we get a flexible working environment which seniors want to participate in."  

Affordable housing is another key area of concern.

Ms Budge says Age Concern Nelson Tasman sees people every week "in crisis mode", sometimes having had to move out of a property they're still renting. 

"We see people in their eighties. And their options are not great. So we see people living in really poor substandard accommodation as a result," she said. 

Ms Martin wants retirement home developers to be part of the solution.

"There's conversations to be had with retirement home developers, I think, about where are the affordable units or housing options inside those villages? How can they help contribute to part of the housing needs of our seniors communities?"    

The minister hopes to have some firm plans in place by the end of the year.

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