Tauranga National Council of Women (NCW) Tangata Whenua and collaborating Health, Local Government and community agencies recognize that the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is a relevant opportunity to bring a local focus on action to improve healthy ageing and healthy longevity.

A collaborative platform of partnership with Tangata Whenua, Te WhatuOra Hauora a Toi, Bay of Plenty, the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation, Age Concern, Sustainable BOP and Local Government has been established to inspire community initiatives that will enhance sustainable community well-being and improve the lives of our Elders their families and whanau.

WE HAD A HIGHLY ENTHUSIASTIC DECADE LAUNCH ON 28TH JUNE 2023.

Here is Pauline Bennett President of NCW Tauranga speaking after the karakia and mihi by Ngati Ranginui Kaumatua Tamati Tata. Sarah Mitchell, Lindsey Webber, Carole Gordon and Sarah Davey and participants contributed to a successful event. Responses to some ‘sticky’ questions have provided an amazing snapshot of local challenges the Decade can address to achieve social cohesion, healthy ageing and longevity wellbeing.

Longer lives are one of humanities greatest achievements

Healthy ageing spans the life course, however, we need to think about how we plan and live a longer happy and fulfilling life. It is important to challenge our ideas about ageing, becoming and being, older well for living a longer, and a possible 100-year life.

This is now urgently a time to actively reshape policies and systems to redesign homes, mobility, health services, the workplace and urban neighbourhood environments.

Society needs to understand what today’s generation of Elders desire to enable them to stay healthy, independent, purposeful and connected.

HEALTHY AGEING HE ORANGA KAUMATUA HEALTHY LONGEVITY

“The impact of an ageing population is expected to be profound and persistent.”
Long Term Insights Briefing HUD 2023.

The Decade is a vital platform for achieving sustainable environments, age-friendly cities, communities and social cohesion. An age-friendly city with hyperlocal communities is accessible and designed for an age-diverse population, inclusion, cohesion and care. Building age-friendly community ecosystems enables people to stay active; keep connected while contributing their Elder wisdom and knowledge to economic, social, and cultural life. add link. The WHO has just published an updated 2023 version Age-Friendly City Guide to assist Local Governments and communities progress change.

NCW Tauranga aims to collaborate with key agencies and community organizations to initiate projects that foster the purpose of the four key themes of the Decade:

• Changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing.

• Developing communities in ways that foster the abilities of older people.

• Delivering person-centred care and primary health service that are responsive to older people.

• Providing older people access to long-term care when they need it.

The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) is a global collaboration with the WHO, and is aligned with the last ten years of the Sustainable Development Goals. It seeks to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.

Tauranga City is the highest ageing major city in Aotearoa New Zealand

The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is highly relevant to Bay of Plenty

Tauranga is a growth City that is part of a wider sub-region of the Western Bay of Plenty that has a rapidly growing ageing population along with youthful Maori and Pacific communities. There are many high ageing communities in the wider Bay of Plenty, including Katikati, Waihi Beach, Omokoroa, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opoitiki. In 2023, median ages were: Bay of Plenty, 39.9 years; Tauranga City, 39.7 years; Western Bay of Plenty District Council, 45.1 years.

In 2022 it is estimated that 21.7% of the City population of 158,300, are people 65 and over 100 years, with numbers reaching 30% by 2030. The number of Maori Elders 65-100+ are expected to double from 2021 to 2038. The number of Elders over 85 years is expected to increase rapidly by over 400% in the coming decades. Western Bay of Plenty District Council is home to 13,800 people 65 to over 100 years. Similar to other regions, The District is facing rapid population-ageing , taupori kaumatuatanga.

Aotearoa New Zealand is living longer, with one million people 65-100+ by 2028.

In Tauranga today 8,500 people are 80 and over 90 years of age.

The UN Decade signals a vital time for planners, policymakers and community agencies to include Elders in co-design of community amenities, mobility options and healthcare services.

Participation in housing, transport, health and social service planning ensures that they are valued and able to contribute their wisdom and knowledge to the appropriate use of resources and functional outcomes. The National Office of NCW supports the project’s contribution to overcoming discrimination and improving social cohesion through a grant allocation.

NCW Tauranga seeks to encourage a breadth of Elder engagement and community initiatives that focus on the four Decade themes.

The Tauranga National Council of Women is providing a platform for the Decade project. It will be enriched through the awhi, wisdom, expertise, experience, and passion generously offered by dedicated leaders.

The NCW collaborative approach to Decade will provide a platform for community initiatives. impact systems and create social change.

A Decade Leadership Forum (DLF) including Elder representatives, Tangata Whenua, Te Whatu Ora - Hauora a Toi, Bay of Plenty, Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Age Concern, Sustainable BOP will provide support, resources and foster community initiatives. It is expected that Local Governments, community organisations, and a breadth of businesses and schools will actively seize the opportunity to initiate projects that engage and work with Elders to support the four Decade theme outcomes.

THE UN DECADE OF HEALTHY AGEING WEBSITE IS A TREASURE TROVE OF INFORMATION

www.undecadeofhealthyageging.org