Gisborne to mark International Day of Older Persons with morning tea

Former district councillor and deputy mayor Nona Aston will be speaking at a Tairāwhiti Positive Ageing Trust morning tea on International Day of Older Persons on October 1. Photo / Paul Rickard

A morning tea with guest speakers will be part of Tairāwhiti celebrations of the International Day of Older Persons on Wednesday, October 1.

Tairāwhiti Positive Ageing Trust chair Jean Johnston says it is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities of ageing and honouring the contributions older people make to society.

It also highlights the importance of creating a world where they can live with dignity, independence and inclusion.

Since its inception, the International Day of Older Persons has focused on different aspects of ageing through various annual themes.

These themes have explored key issues such as age equality, the impact of pandemics on older people, and promoting digital equity.

Johnston said this year’s focus was the role older persons played in creating resilient, sustainable societies.

As part of this, the trust is hosting a free morning tea event at 10am on October 1 at Kahutia Bowling Club.

All seniors are welcome to attend.

Entertainment will be provided by Sarah and Colin Olsen, Polly Crawford from TaiTech, will talk about the programmes and digital support offered, and Nona Aston will speak about her time as a Gisborne district councillor and deputy mayor.

Johnston said the trust was committed to celebrating the International Day of Older Persons and advocating for the rights and wellbeing of older people across this region.

The goals of the International Day of Older Persons include:

• Raising awareness of the significance of population ageing and its societal impacts, including healthcare, economics and social inclusion.
• Promoting the rights of older persons and encouraging governments and organisations to create policies that ensure older people’s participation in society and protect their rights.
• Fostering intergenerational collaboration by emphasising solidarity between generations and working toward sustainable development goals that benefit all ages.