2025 Ka Mākona report highlights seniors’ income inadequacy

The 2025 Ka Mākona report on income inadequacy in Aotearoa New Zealand, released last week by Kore Hiakai Zero Hunger Collective, looks at the income and expenses of low-income households to understand the root causes of food insecurity currently being experienced by 25% of our population. With research funding from The Selwyn Foundation, this year’s report has added older persons to the household scenarios, spotlighting the issues as experienced by older people and particularly older women – with lack of access to affordable, suitable housing and over-dependence on NZ Super key challenges for seniors who are not homeowners. As a consequence, frontline foodbanks are consistently reporting that more and more older people are seeking food assistance. Ka Mākona notes levers for change to address the systemic issues and encourages us all into conversation and action for change so that everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand has enough to thrive.