A secure home isn’t a luxury – it’s the foundation of dignity, health, and belonging. Yet for too many older New Zealanders, that foundation is crumbling.
The Aotearoa New Zealand National Forum for the Decade of Healthy Ageing/He Oranga Kaumātua, He Oranga Tangata, representing organisations committed to helping people age well in their communities, is calling on local government candidates to commit to protecting and expanding housing for seniors in this year’s local elections.
“Housing is critical infrastructure – as vital to thriving cities as transport and water,” says Denise Cosgrove, CEO of The Selwyn Foundation and Chair of the National Forum. “Right now, too many older New Zealanders are living in cold, unsafe or unaffordable homes. By 2048, the number of older renters will double nationwide. Local government is a powerful force for creating an environment where everyone can age well, and councils must act now to ensure older residents can age well in their own communities.”
“This is an opportunity – investing in safe, warm, affordable homes for seniors pays dividends - healthier ageing reduces pressure on the health system, supports whānau stability, and keeps older New Zealanders contributing socially, culturally and economically.”[1]
To put seniors’ housing firmly on the local election agenda, the Forum has launched a set of pledges for candidates in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - the three largest centres where councils still own or support significant senior housing portfolios.
While community housing providers are supported by councils to deliver homes for older people, demand far exceeds supply[2]. Waiting lists are growing, housing stock is ageing, and far too few homes are designed to support accessibility and ageing in place[3]. There is an opportunity for local councils to address this through support, advocacy, funding services and direct or co-investment to create hyperlocal communities where everyone can thrive.
