Ian McKelvie: Vision of an age friendly NZ

IN THE next 20 years, one in four New Zealanders will be aged over 65 years, compared with one in seven today. What's more, a significant number of our senior population will be living in rural and provincial New Zealand.

It's clear that all around New Zealand, our regions need to plan now for a future where there is a significantly larger older population and fewer young people.

Being 65 is certainly not what it used to be. We are living longer than previous generations -- more seniors are in good health and continue to make a valuable contribution to our economy and society. The fact we are living longer is something we should celebrate because our ageing society is, in fact, one of our greatest achievements.

By 2051 it is predicted that almost one in three over-65s will still be working full or part-time. This means older people will contribute $17 billion in taxes compared with $3.6 billion currently, while their contribution in unpaid and voluntary work is expected to rise from about $8.5 billion to $35 billion. Their spending power is expected to increase from $14 billion in 2011 to $65 billion in the next 25 years.

However, social isolation is a serious issue for about 10 per cent of older New Zealanders who experience some level of loneliness and are particularly vulnerable due to the loss of friends and family, mobility or income. Minister Maggie Barry and the Office for Seniors is front-footing this concern by rolling out a Community Connects project.

Community Connects represents a stepping stone to age-friendly communities and aims to establish links between groups to enable them to develop joint initiatives for seniors. I believe it is a great plan that puts seniors at the centre of how communities plan for the future; and, in particular, how they will address social isolation and help older New Zealanders live more meaningful and happy lives.

Our seniors make our communities and our families stronger. They are leaders, volunteers, mentors and caregivers, parents, grandparents, friends and colleagues. They deserve to be happy, healthy and secure as they age. That's why this Government is committed to providing high-quality public services to meet their needs.

We're focused on positive ageing and quality of life for older New Zealanders who have worked hard and deserve our respect and support. Working towards the vision of an age-friendly New Zealand results in a better quality of life for us all.

I believe rural and provincial New Zealand -- places just like Whanganui, Taihape, Feilding and Marton -- should seize the opportunity to develop a plan that encourages older New Zealanders to live, work and play in our regions.

Our over-65s have so much to give and a desire to stay engaged and be a part of the communities in which they live. Let's be proactive and make it happen.