Older New Zealanders report the highest level of happiness with their lives of all age groups. They may earn less money than others, but find their satisfaction in family, friends and the time to pursue their interests. Older people in the 2000s have lived longer on average than people at any time in New Zealand’s history.
Older people are defined as those 65 years of age and above. Turning 65 is a milestone – it was the official age of retirement, and is currently the age at which people are eligible for national superannuation. Because the group of older people spans about 35 years, people within it vary widely in terms of age, employment and health. Sometimes people between 65 and 80 are referred to as ‘young-old’ and those above as ‘old-old’. In 2006, 74% of older people were between 65 and 79. Older people have differing life experiences and beliefs which span the 65-plus generation.
Older people in the 2000s had lived through some key events in New Zealand’s history – the 1930s depression, the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake and the Second World War. They experienced technological firsts that people of the 2000s take for granted, like passenger travel on aeroplanes and antibiotics.
Many older people see their 60s and 70s as a time to enjoy life without the worries of work or family. Those who can afford it go on holidays around the world, or tour Australia or New Zealand in a campervan. They may begin new hobbies such as genealogy, and undertake voluntary work. They also spend time with their family and in community and political affairs – some local and national politicians are 65 or over. Some remain in paid work. Life can slow down when people reach their 80s, though some remain active into their 90s.
A 2007 survey found that older people in New Zealand were generally happy and content and had a high level of wellbeing. They had the highest level of satisfaction with life of all age-groups.
In the early 2000s New Zealand’s population was rapidly ageing. This is one of the most significant demographic changes in New Zealand history. In September 2009 there were an estimated 556,100 people aged 65 and over. One in eight (12.5%) New Zealanders was aged over 65. By 2031, it is estimated that there will be over 1 million people aged 65 or over – approximately one in five people. By the late 2020s there will be more people 65 and over than children aged 14 and under.
An ageing population has many social implications. There may be fewer people of working age paying income tax, and more older people needing government-funded superannuation and using public health services than in the past. There will be more economic and political pressure to increase the age of superannuation entitlement. However, it is also likely that older people will work and pay income tax for longer than they did in the past.
There are fewer men than women among older New Zealanders – the 2006 census showed that 45% were men and 55% women. This is because women live longer than men by an average of four years. As men and women age this difference becomes more pronounced. In 2006, 31% of people aged 85 and above were men and 69% were women.
In the 2006 census most older people (89%) identified themselves as European. This was projected to fall to 80% by 2026.
Few Māori are over 65 years – 25,700 in 2006. Although Māori were 15% of the total population, only 5% of all people over 65 were Māori, and only 4% of the Māori population were over 65. The Māori population is increasing rapidly and by 2026 there will be around 72,000 older Māori – 7% of the older population, and 9% of the Māori population. As with non-Māori, there are more women than men over 65.
In 2006, 4% of people 65 and over were Asian (which is projected to increase to 10% by 2026) and 2% were Pacific Islanders (3% by 2026).
The traditional age of retirement from work is 65, though retirement has not been compulsory since 1999. Many older people retire around this age. Common reasons are that they have reached retirement age, want to do other things, have family responsibilities or are in poor health.
Increasing numbers of older people work beyond 65. In 2006, 17% of older New Zealanders were in the paid workforce.
Older people have lower incomes than younger age groups because most are not in paid work. In 2006 the median income for people aged 65 and above was $15,740 (the median for all people aged 15 and over was $24,400). Women’s income was lower than men’s – $14,860 compared to $16,620.
The 2006 census showed that people in the 65–69 age bracket had the highest median income for older people ($17,700). People over 80 had a higher median income ($15,400) than those aged 70–79 ($14,850). Those in the 70–74 bracket had the second-lowest median income over all, behind 15–19 year olds. Older people may worry about having enough money to live on.
In the early 2000s most New Zealanders qualified for the old-age pension (superannuation) from the age of 65. To qualify people had to be resident in New Zealand at the time of application, have been resident for periods totalling no less than 10 years since the age of 20, and no less than 5 years since the age of 50. It was paid every two weeks, and it was taxed for those who had other income. The amount paid depended on marital status and living arrangements. The rate was indexed to increases in prices and net wages.
An old-age pension was first introduced in 1898, for those over 60 and below a certain income. Prior to this older people were expected to keep working and save money, while families and charitable organisations supported older people who could not support themselves. However, by the 1890s New Zealand had been experiencing a long economic depression and older single workers (mainly men) were more likely to be unemployed or underemployed than younger workers. Predictions were that the proportion of older people in the population would increase. Traditional support mechanisms were not enough.
New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to provide a pension for older people. Eligibility criteria and amounts have changed many times. Significant milestones included the introduction of universal superannuation in 1938, and a national superannuation scheme in 1977.
Other income sources for older people are dividends from investments, savings interest, rent, private superannuation or continuing employment. Most older people’s only major asset is their house – few own any other substantial assets.
People 65 and over qualify for the Supergold card, which was introduced in 2007. Cardholders are eligible for subsidised or free public transport, discounts at registered businesses, and concessions on local and central government services.
The majority of older people live independently and in urban areas. In 2001, 91% lived in private homes. The rest lived in non-private dwellings including rest homes, boarding houses and motels. The government’s ‘ageing in place’ policy encourages older people to live in their own homes for as long as they can, by providing community support. This includes Meals on Wheels, household help and small mobility aids. Family members usually help if they live close by.
Some older people move from their own homes into low-maintenance retirement villages where they can remain independent but easily access special services. Others move into ‘granny flats’ on relatives’ property. Many marae have self-contained ‘kaumātua flats’.
Older people assessed as unable to look after themselves live in rest homes. This is funded by government if the person cannot pay.
Elder abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse or neglect of older people by people like spouses, partners, familiy members or institutional caregivers. Most cases referred to the support organisation Age Concern are for emotional, financial and physical abuse, and sons and daughters are the largest category of abusers. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an annual event designed to highlight the problem and make it socially unacceptable.
Older people alive in the 2000s are unique in the length of time they have lived. As a group, they have lived the longest in New Zealand’s history. In 2008 a 65-year-old man could expect to live another 18 years, and a woman 20.5 years. Uncertainty about how long they will live is an ongoing concern for older people.
With increasing age the prevalence of disability becomes higher. Disabilities include mobility, agility, vision, hearing, memory and psychiatric problems. Ageing also brings the possibility of several chronic conditions occurring at the same time, such as a stroke, diabetes, arthritis, spinal disorders, osteoporosis or cancer. Uncertainty about how long elderly people will live can be a concern for them.
Health services provide older people with relatively inexpensive medical care and free hospital care. There is a large network of community-based support services which assist older people physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
A study published in 2009 found that despite their risk of poorer health, the majority of older people were happy with their health status and with their life overall. Health is probably the single most important factor which influences the quality of life of older people.
With the increasing numbers of older people, the cost of providing such assistance is expected to rise significantly. The dependency ratio, which compares the number of people in the dependent age groups (those under 15, and those over 65) to the working-age population, is increasing, but it may be offset by better health for older people and the likelihood of their working into their 70s.
Older people have more time to study so they often enrol as students in community or university courses. Some graduate beside their children or grandchildren. A popular option is the University of the Third Age, an international organisation which provides learning opportunities for older people through lectures, study groups and online courses. In 2009 there were 65 branches in New Zealand.
Family relationships are very important for older people. Those with happy relationships have the highest level of wellbeing. For many, spouses or partners are the most important person in their lives – widowhood can be a difficult experience of older age.
Children are also important and adult children can be a source of friendship, support and care. Grandchildren or mokopuna are often described as a ‘gift’. In some cultures grandparents hand down traditions, rituals and languages to their grandchildren. They value spending time with their grandchildren without the burden of constantly caring for them, though some have a caring role too. This may occur at the same time as older people are caring for elderly parents. Like parents, siblings can provide life-long relationships. Many older people research and publish their family history, often to pass on to younger generations.
Some older people like to gift money and valuables to family and others close to them.
Friendships are also very important to older people, who like to spend time sharing their life experiences with others. Deaths of friends are sad events. As older people age it becomes more difficult to meet and make new friends. Isolation and loneliness are problems for many who live alone or in remote areas.
Social groups and events help older people to maintain contact with others. Examples include the Red Hat Society for older women, and kaumātua and kuia balls for older Māori people. It is not unusual for those over 65 to find another partner (perhaps on the internet), or for weddings to occur between rest home residents.
Encouraging and maintaining the involvement of older people in the community is the aim of the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy. Another of its goals is encouraging positive attitudes towards older people. In the 2000s many younger people and children attended Anzac Day commemorations, acknowledging the contributions older people made in their war service.
Older people spend a lot of time volunteering. A survey published in 2009 found that over one-third volunteered for a group or organisation over a four-week period. The most popular forms of voluntary work were with community service and sports organisations.
Many older people hold leadership positions in the community, particularly in service organisations, religious groups, sports clubs, and women’s and Māori organisations. Older Māori men and women are important leaders and mentors within iwi and hapū.
Participation in leisure and recreation activities creates a high level of wellbeing. A 2008 study found that the 10 most popular sport and recreation activities enjoyed by older people were walking, gardening, swimming, equipment-based exercise, bowls, fishing, golf, dance, callisthenics and cycling – 82% participated in at least one sport or recreational activity every week.
A time-use survey in 1998–99 found that older people and younger people (12 to 24 years) had many interests in common. More than any other age groups, the old and young spent a lot of their time watching television or videos, as well as listening to music or the radio. But older people spent much more time than younger people reading, participating in cultural and religious events, visiting art galleries or museums, or undertaking craft work.
Older people also spend time eating out, going to arts events or taking educational classes. Rest homes often have a bus which takes the residents for day outings to special events or to an interesting location. Some rest homes have activity days which non-residents can attend.
Some older people have the time and money to visit family overseas. Many have overseas connections – in 2001, a quarter of those over 65 were born overseas, over half in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
People also communicate by telephone or internet. Many have learned computer skills at work, while others attended classes for older people.
Many older people continue to drive. Driver licences must be renewed (accompanied by a special medical certificate) at ages 75 and 80, and every two years after that. Increasing numbers of those living in urban areas drive a mobility scooter.
International Older Persons’ Day is celebrated on 1 October every year. Every two years the Masters’ Games are held, which attract many athletes over 65.
Wedding anniversaries are important events and a cause for celebration with family and friends. Older people are honoured at their 100th birthday with a congratulatory letter from Queen Elizabeth II (New Zealand’s formal head of state). In 2006 there were 534 people in New Zealand over 100 years old. Twice a year, New Zealanders are awarded honours for their contribution to the nation or their local community. A large number are older people.
Though older people have much the same political concerns as other age groups, some issues affect them more than others. Older people have been particularly active around superannuation. In the early 2000s they were a prominent voice in a campaign to reform the local government rating system, because older people on fixed incomes struggled with regular rates increases. Health services are another major political focus for older people.
Unlike in other countries, there have been no political parties specifically founded to address the issues of older people in New Zealand, but some parties have courted the ‘grey vote’. During the 1975 general election campaign one of the National Party’s policies was to offer universal superannuation, which it implemented after becoming government.
New Zealand First has been the party most associated with older voters. It gained a large proportion of older people’s votes throughout the 1990s and early 2000s through policies such as removing the tax surcharges paid by retired people, removing means and asset testing for long-term geriatric hospital stays, and introducing the Supergold card.
The leader of New Zealand First, Winston Peters, was very popular with older voters. There was often a hint of celebrity-worship by supporters at political meetings and rallies. They came to see Peters first and New Zealand First second. At a meeting at Ōrewa in 2005 one elderly supporter said, ‘I’m here for Winston, and I just hope I live long enough to see him get in there and do something for us.’1 However, his support among older voters declined during the 2008 general election campaign within a context of alleged financial irregularities. New Zealand First did not get enough votes to return to Parliament.
As New Zealand’s population ages, it is likely that older voters will become more powerful simply because there will be more of them. Though people 65 and over have a diversity of beliefs and allegiances, they form a visible political bloc which will become increasingly attractive to politicians in the future.
At the level of government, there are a number of entities which concentrate on older people, including the Office for Senior Citizens (part of the Ministry of Social Development), Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand (part of the New Zealand Defence Force) and the Retirement Commission. Work and Income New Zealand manages superannuation payments.
Grey Power is the most prominent older people’s advocacy group. It was established in Auckland in 1985 after government placed a tax surcharge on the income retired people had in addition to superannuation. Grey Power has a specific focus on superannuation and health issues, while lobbying on any topical matter affecting older people. Other advocacy groups include Age Concern (founded in 1948) and the New Zealand Association of Gerontology (1982). They tackle matters such as elder neglect and abuse, age discrimination, access to services, isolation problems, transport availability, and research on ageing and its implications.
Boston, Jonathan and Judith A. Davey, eds. Implications of population ageing opportunities and risks. Wellington: Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University, 2006.
Breheny, Mary and Christine Stephens. Older adults’ experience of family life – linked lives and independent living. Wellington: Families Commission, 2007.
Koopman-Boyden, Peggy Gwendoline, ed. New Zealand’s ageing society: the implications. Wellington: Daphne Brasell Associates Press, 1993.
Pool, Ian., Arunachalam Dharmalingam and Janet Sceats. The New Zealand family from 1840 – a demographic history. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2007.
Preston, David. Retirement income in New Zealand: the historical context. Wellington: Office of the Retirement Commissioner, 2008.
Age Concern provides services and resources for older people.
http://www.nzfamilies.govt.nz/sites/default/files/downloads/FC-changing-roles.pdf
A Families Commission report on grandparents, published in February 2010 (PDF, 1.23 MB).
http://www.eldernet.co.nz/Home
This site provides comprehensive information about services available to older New Zealanders.
http://www.ewas.net.nz/Publications/index.html
Research papers on an ageing society.
Grey Power supports older New Zealanders.
The Office for Senior Citizens promotes the rights and interests of older New Zealanders.
The commission helps New Zealanders make financial plans for their retirement.