“Toitū te whenua, whatungarongaro te tangata”
The land remains, while man disappears
(this whakatauaki/proverb accompanies our application photo of Pania of the Reef)

In just a few years, Napier’s/Ahuriri’s population of adults aged 65 years of age and older will outnumber children for the first time ever. By 2038, almost a third of our population (31%) will be 65+, compared to 23% nationally. This will become a ‘new normal’ not only for Napier/Ahuriri, but for many regions around Aotearoa/New Zealand.

To recognize this changing demographic profile, a Positive Ageing Strategy was adopted by Napier City Council in late 2020. It promotes an age friendly approach for our city with the vision of ‘living well and ageing well’.

Seven priority areas are identified in the Strategy, based on discussion with and feedback from the Napier/Ahuriri community:
o Te wairua hapori – Community spirit
o Kia mōhio, kia mahi – Being informed and involved
o Kia haumaru – Being safe
o Hāereere – Getting around
o Hauora & oranga – Health & wellbeing
o Ngā whare – Housing
o Hei mahi – Things to do.

The priority areas closely align with both the domains of the WHO’s Age Friendly Cities and Communities model and Aotearoa/New Zealand’s government strategy Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 – 2034 https://officeforseniors.govt.nz/better-later-life-strategy/

The Strategy also has close linkages with Napier City Council’s Disability Strategy: https://www.napier.govt.nz/napier/community-development/about-our-community/disability-strategy/

An action plan is currently being finalised which identifies specific activities for each priority area, phased over the five-year period of the Strategy. The action plan identifies opportunities for supporting both current programmes and services available to older people as well as new initiatives that will further develop Napier/Ahuriri as an age friendly community.

Ongoing achievements are also highlighted in the plan. These include the city’s annual celebration of the International Day of Older People (IDOP), a review of mobility car parking, promotion of the ‘Look out for your neighbour’ campaign, and advocacy through submissions to Council and central government about community housing in particular.