The Aotearoa New Zealand National Forum for the Decade of Healthy Ageing | He Oranga Kaumātua, He Oranga Tangata (the National Forum) was founded to action an Aotearoa-informed response to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing’s four key themes:
combating ageism
age-friendly environments
integrated primary care
long-term care
The face of Aotearoa New Zealand is changing. We are becoming a more diverse population that is living longer. Aotearoa New Zealand is currently unprepared to support the healthy longevity, opportunities and challenges of an ageing population. Stats NZ projects the New Zealand population aged 65+ will reach 1.2 million by 2034. The fastest growing age group is 85 years and older. This will profoundly transform our economy, workforces and social systems.
Supported by The Selwyn Foundation, a registered charity that champions initiatives that enable vulnerable older people to age with dignity and respect in their own communities, the National Forum is a collaboration of like-minded organisations and individuals dedicated to the wellbeing of our kaumātua | older people.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.
The Aotearoa New Zealand National Forum for the Decade of Healthy Ageing is governed by a collaboration of sector leaders, each of whom brings vast experience in the service of older New Zealanders, especially our most vulnerable.
Te Kaihautū me te Rōpū Tohutohu| Leadership & Advisory Team
The Aotearoa New Zealand National Forum for the Decade of Healthy Ageing (the National Forum) was founded in 2023 as a national response to theUN Decade of Healthy Ageing (the Decade).
The National Forum’s Leadership Group, and the Forum’s members will guide a strategic approach to actioning an Aotearoa-informed response to the Decade’s four key themes:
combating ageism
age-friendly environments
integrated primary care
long-term care.
Stats NZ projects the New Zealand population aged65+ will reach 1.2 million by 2034, profoundly transforming our economy, workforces, and social systems. While longer life expectancy is a welcome reality, current systems are insufficient to support healthy ageing and wellbeing in a rapidly ageing population.
The time to act is now. The focus and intentions of the Leadership and Advisory Team revolve around shapingpolicy and practiceto ensure generational certainty by:
driving a uniquelyall-of-sector approach supporting collaboration across government, public and private sector, iwi, Māori and wider communities
promotingactive engagement in society so people live longer and healthier lives
inspiring aplatform for optimistic collaborative action, innovation and meaningful changethat enables a longevity dividend
implementing te Tiriti o Waitangi aligned with our scope and roles.
