By 2038, 30 per cent of Hurunui’s population will be 65 plus. An aging population is in-step with many parts of New Zealand and the world, presenting both opportunities and challenges for communities. Older people have many skills and experience to draw on while an aging population will intensify the Council’s challenges to provide services and facilities for a small rating base in a large district.
To find out what older people are feeling about aging in Hurunui – both the good and the bad, a research project titled Hurunui Age-Friendly Communities was completed in 2019 to provide Council and other organisations with a direct link to the lived experience of older people in the district. The findings may assist Council in its planning and policy development and advocacy role to further enhance the Hurunui district being age-friendly.
The report made several recommendations to increase our district’s age-friendliness, from improved communications to greater social inclusion and the return of adult education. The report concludes that it’s essential that older people are actively involved in all stages of developing a successful age-friendly environment, and that there is a workable balance between council requirements and the needs and aspirations of local communities.
Contact:
Vanessa Nelmes
Community Partnerships Coordinator
Phone: 027 500 2562
