| Positive ageing needs local support |
DATE: 21 January 2005 |
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Senior Citizens Minister Ruth Dyson today called on all local authorities to follow the example of South Taranaki, Taupo and New Plymouth District Councils and Christchurch City Council and sign up to the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy.
Senior Citizens Minister Ruth Dyson today called on all local authorities to follow the example of South Taranaki, Taupo and New Plymouth District Councils and Christchurch City Council and sign up to the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy.
Releasing the strategyís 2003/2004 annual report and 2004/05 action plan, Ruth Dyson said local body issues such as housing, transport and access to services have a huge impact on the ability of older people to participate in society.
ìI want to congratulate the South Taranaki, Taupo and New Plymouth District Councils who have formally endorsed the strategyís goals by developing positive ageing plans for their communities. I am also delighted to see that Christchurch City Council is included in the 2004/2005 national action plan for the first time.
ìI hope that over the coming year, other local councils will work in partnership with the Office for Senior Citizens and older people in their communities to promote positive ageing and make New Zealand a better place for everyone.î
Ruth Dyson said government agencies were making good progress in implementing the 10 goals of the positive ageing strategy, with 152 actions completed in 2003/2004 and a similar number identified for the following year.
Highlights for 2003/2004 included:
ï legislation to progressively remove asset testing for older people in residential care;
ï legislation to improve protection for people buying into and living in retirement villages, including a Residentsí Code of Rights and Industry Code of Practice;
ï development of guidelines for multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, integrated assessment processes for older people and their carers;
ï research funding of $4m over five years to Waikato University and the Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit to study well-being and ageing.
Copies of the New Zealand Positive Ageing Annual Report, 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, and New Zealand Positive Ageing Action Plan, 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 are available from the Office for Senior Citizens, PO Box 12 136, Bowen St, Wellington. Phone (04) 916 3758. Fax (04) 916 3778. Or on the website: www.osc.govt.nz
Contact details for local councils that have signed up to the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy are attached.
Contact Pip Desmond, press secretary, phone (04) 471 9258, 0274 575 894
Contacts for local district and city councils that have signed up to the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy
New Plymouth District Council
Simon Cayley,
Community Development Advisor
Email Cayleys@npdc.govt.nz
Cellphone 025 278 2718
Taupo District Council
Dee Wilson
Communications Officer
Email dwilson@taupo.govt.nz
Phone 07 376 0805
South Taranaki District Council
Gerard Langford
Communications Manager
Email gerard.langford@stdc.govt.nz
Phone 0800 111 323
Christchurch City Council
Bryn Somerville
Media Officer
Email bryn.somerville@ccc.govt.nz
DDI 941 8949
Cellphone 027 201 1003
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