Our priorities
Ā Mātau Whakaarotau
On this page:
Employment
Te Ao Mahi
Our financial security depends on our ability to work, our income, and our savings. More than a third of New Zealand workers are over 50 years old, and a quarter of people stay working after they turn 65. Much of our saving for later life happens after age 50. But this is also the period when job loss can have the biggest impact. A displaced worker aged over 50 is 11 percent less likely to find work within 5 years. Those who do get new jobs will see their earnings drop on average by a quarter. Many people have not been able to work during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdowns, and older workers have been advised to stay home even during lower alert levels. Some sectors could not supply services and many people in the service sector lost their jobs, disproportionately affecting Māori, Pacific people, and women.
Benefits of a multigenerational workforce
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Housing
Te Noho Kāinga
For a small but growing number of older people, accessing secure, safe and affordable long-term housing can present a challenge. This affects the wider financial wellbeing of people for whom NZ Super is their primary source of income. Since the start of the pandemic, the number of people aged 65+ who receive the accommodation supplement increased by approximately 12,000 – totalling 127,522 in March 2021. At its worst, severe housing deprivation has significant consequences for older people. They may lack access to housing altogether or may only have access to sub-standard accommodation. Older people and kaumātua should be able to continue to live in their communities or move closer to family and whānau. They need to have access to a broader range of housing options, including intergenerational living and smaller affordable housing, including rentals.
Digital inclusion
Te Ao Matihiko
In an increasingly digital world, digital inclusion has become essential for participation in our modern society and economy. Around a quarter of people aged 65+ do not have internet access, and more than 35% of people aged 75+ are not online. As services move online we must make sure those who do not have online access are not left behind. Government and businesses have put more focus on online services since March 2020. Fewer locations have banks or postal services. The ongoing pandemic has also increased use of the internet to stay in touch with friends and family. Digital inclusion is an end state where everyone has equitable opportunities to take part in society using digital technologies. It requires that individuals have access to the right devices and internet connections, have the skills to use them, are motivated to do so and trust that they will be safe in the online environment.