Last week saw the first in what organisers hope will be a succession of events aimed at highlighting the contribution older members of Tauranga's community can contribute by inspiring innovation.
More than 120 people attended the forum, sponsored by Priority One, Tauranga City Council and the Elders' Forum, with science innovator and philanthropist Sir Ray Avery providing the keynote address.
"The focus of the event was on making sure the retired have an important place to play in the continued economic viability of our community," said panelist Graeme Elvin, a partner in law firm McKenzie Elvin.
"The strange thing about our society and ecosystem is that, if you were starting a business, you'd have an exit strategy, but we don't do that with our own lives in terms of retirement," said Sir Ray in an interview after the event.
"The vibe in the room in Tauranga is that there were a lot of people who'd got to the stage where, like the Rolling Stones, they were 70, but they still felt about 29 and were ready to rock and roll, which is tremendous.