The diversity and number of older Aucklanders is growing. In the next twenty years or so, the number of people over 65 years of age is set to double to roughly 19 per cent of our population.
This creates challenges and opportunities for improving how everyone can take part in all areas of life as we age.
Auckland Council has worked with local communities and organisations to create a draft action plan, the Tāmaki Tauawhi Kaumātua, Age-friendly Auckland Action Plan. This plan will support older Aucklanders to participate fully in their communities and improve their quality of life.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says, “We want to make a real impact on the lives of older people by taking an age-friendly view of Auckland’s services and infrastructure. Our Action Plan provides different measures to respond to older Aucklanders’ needs, including keeping connected to others, getting information, using technology, accessing public space, buildings, transport, and housing.”
Throughout 2019 and 2020 Auckland Council has gathered feedback from a range of Aucklanders, asking them what an age-friendly Auckland would look like, and what actions would bring that vision to life.
What the community has told us:
- Older people want a friendly and inclusive Auckland where all people are valued and have opportunities to connect with people of different ages, cultures and backgrounds.
- Older people and their whānau want to participate in everything Auckland has to offer and need barrier-free access to affordable transport, events and outdoor spaces.
- It is important that services and facilities are accessible and available where they need them, when they need them.
Councillor Cathy Casey, Chief Liaison Councillor for the six demographic advisory panels, says the Age Friendly Action Plan will benefit all.
“It’s also important to remember that this isn’t just a plan for our older population. By creating an age-friendly Auckland we will create a more welcoming and inclusive region for everyone."
The Tāmaki Tauawhi Kaumātua, Age-friendly Auckland Action Plan is Auckland Council’s response to the feedback received from the community, and now it’s time to hear what Aucklanders think of this plan.
Alongside the plan Auckland Council has created an Age Friendly Framework that reflects the bi-cultural foundations of Tāmaki Makaurau, by drawing from Te Whare Tapa Whā; a Māori wellbeing model, and te ao Māori values, as well as the World Health Organisation’s age-friendly framework. Tauawhi Kaumātua
We would like your feedback
We would like to know what you think about the Tāmaki Tauawhi Kaumātua, Age-friendly Auckland Action Plan and the Age-friendly Tāmaki Makaurau framework and whether the actions outlined will make a difference for older Aucklanders.
You can have your say click here.
The survey is open until Monday 4 October 2021.
Next steps:
Your views will be summarised and will feed into the final Action Plan, which will be reported to Auckland Council’s Parks, Arts Community and Events Committee for adoption in November 2021.
We will then seek membership of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities (the Network)
