(Question 18)

What are your party’s top three priorities for improving the wellbeing and quality of life of older New Zealanders over the next parliamentary term?

National

Continue to grow the economy and manage inflation to make sure that prices remain stable and we can invest more in Health, Education and Police. Continue to cut red tape and make houses cheaper and easier to build, through Fast Track and our RMA replacement legislation. This will keep house prices and rents affordable for older New Zealanders. Continue to improve the healthcare system so that older New Zealanders can get the care that they need, when they need it.

Greens

• Implementing a dedicated long-term strategy for the needs of an ageing population that covers holistic wellbeing, elder abuse prevention, income equity and accessible living spaces.
• Increasing funding for community spaces, facilities, programmes, education and volunteering opportunities that are accessible to seniors.
• Requiring residential services, rest homes and retirement villages to meet set standards for staff ratio to seniors, accessibility, affordability and wellbeing of Seniors.

Labour

At a time when the cost of living is biting hard, older New Zealanders should not be left wondering how they will make ends meet. Seniors have spent decades contributing to our country. They deserve security, stability, and dignity in retirement. Labour’s number one priority is a more affordable New Zealand; that’s why our policies are focused on making it cheaper and easier to access healthcare, why we have capped public transport fares to $20, and why we are bringing down the cost of installing solar – so that your and your families’ bills are lower. Labour is also standing up for seniors as consumers too. Retirement village residents must be listened to, not side-lined in favour of operators. If elected, a Labour Government will ensure you or your family get your money back within three months of leaving a retirement village.

We’re stepping in where National has been missing and taking real action on the cost of living.

N Z First

New Zealand First will prioritise the delivery of the actions in the Better Later Life Action Plan. This looks at a range of enhancements including housing, social connection, technology, mobility, legal protections and health. Most importantly providing certainty regarding superannuation entitlement and asset protection will continue to be a New Zealand First priority.

It is New Zealand First that continues to hold the strongest position on the value of our Seniors. An aging population is a reality but so is the benefit we gain. NZIER’s Business of Aging report values just the unpaid and voluntary contribution of seniors at over $20 billion per annum.

Opportunity Party

• Rebuilding primary and community care, so that older people can see a clinician when something changes rather than waiting until it becomes an emergency.
• Making ageing in place real — it has been stated government policy since the 2001 Positive Ageing Strategy without the funded architecture behind it.
• Funding the health system on a ten-year cross-party plan that tracks demographic change and real cost pressure, so services stop being built and dismantled every three years.
  
  

(Question 19) If elected, what actions will your party take in its first year to improve outcomes for seniors?

National

If re-elected, National will continue to manage the economy sensibly, keep taxes low and repair the economic damage done since Covid. We have delivered tax relief for hard working Kiwis, provided families up to $120 per week off their childcare costs through FamilyBoost, and cut wasteful spending to lower inflation and interest rates. A re-elected National government will continue to fix the basics and build the future for all New Zealanders.

Greens

Our recently announced Power and Tax policies will directly address the price of living crisis for all of New Zealand, allowing Seniors to support themselves in the short term while longer form projects mentioned above are implemented. Alongside the increased funding and support to the health care system to ensure appropriate levels of treatment and dignity, which would include upscaling the home and community care workforce. We will also work with the sector to implement any changes or recommendations on aged residential care.

Labour

As above.

N Z First

No specific response.

Opportunity Party

Begin the shift of health funding towards primary and preventative care, and establish the mechanism that keeps it tracking real cost pressure rather than being renegotiated each Budget.

Establish a ten year cross-party Health Plan, with the Dementia Action Plan refreshed and costed within it. Start building senior clinical capacity in community and aged care, and fix carer support settings so that respite is a funded entitlement rather than a rationed allocation.