Who are New Zealand's older people?
Older New Zealanders are those aged 65 and over.
What are population statistics about older people used for?
Statistics about older people are used to count, estimate and project the population of New Zealanders aged 65 and over, and the dwellings, locations and environments that they live in.
They are also used to describe the characteristics of older New Zealanders (eg sex, ethnicity, family and community participation, health and disability status, participation in the labour market and economic wellbeing) and to compare older people with the total New Zealand population, and with other age groups of New Zealanders.
Resources
Survey of Older People
Data from the New Zealand Survey of Older People in 2000, conducted by Statistics New Zealand between February and April 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Social Policy.
Demographic Aspects of New Zealand's Ageing Population
Paper by Kim Dunstan and Nicholas Thomson on various aspects of New Zealand's older population which also includes some discussion of population ageing. Published by Statistics new Zealand March 2006.
Older New Zealanders - 65 and Beyond
This report presents a statistical picture of the population aged 65 and over and how it is changing. Published by Statistics New Zealand, 2004.
Seminar - Population Ageing in New Zealand
A powerpoint seminar presented in 2002 by Mansoor Khawaja from Statistics New Zealand.
Population Ageing in New Zealand
This article presents some reflections on population ageing in New Zealand and its likely implications for social and economic planning. It also encourages greater understanding of evolving demographic changes in this area. Published by Statistics New Zealand, 2000.
The Ministry of Social Development's website contains information on older people and contains links to the Office for Senior Citizens, the Older People's Policy Team and the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy.
2001 Status of Older People Report
Office for Senior Citizens report includes summary demographic information about older people.
References
Binstock R, Leighton C and von Mering O (1996). The Future of Long-term Care, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Davey J (2003). Two Decades of Change in New Zealand: From Birth to Death, Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.
Jackson N (2001). The policy-maker’s guide to population ageing: key concepts and issues, Department of Family and Community Services Policy Research paper No. 13.
Murdock S and Hamm T (1993). "A demographic analysis of the market for a long-term care facility: a case study in applied demography", in Kintner H, Merrick T, Morrisson P and Voss P (1993). Demographics: A Case Book for Business and Government, Westview Press, Boulder.
Experts
For further information email the Demography Division of Statistics New Zealand or write to:
Robert Didham
Demography Division
Statistics New Zealand
Dollan House
401 Madras Street
Private Bag 4741
Christchurch.
For further information on issues related to ageing, contact Office for Senior Citizens.