Resources
Download reports, fact sheets, brochures, toolkits and frameworks for use in your community or organisation.
Resource filters
Our resources
-
This document includes information around the initial indicators for Better Later Life - He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034 in relation to enhancing opportunities for social connection
PDF, 578 KB • Published July 2020 -
This document includes information around the initial indicators for Better Later Life - He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034 in relation to Financial security and economic participation
PDF, 556 KB • Published July 2020 -
This document includes information around the initial indicators for Better Later Life - He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034 in relation to promoting healthy ageing and improving access to services
PDF, 422 KB • Published December 2020 -
This report examines the role of cognitive assessment in medical fitness to drive evaluations for older adults in New Zealand.
It was prepared by Professor Ngaire Kerse and Dr Ruth Teh from the University of Auckland and commissioned by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and the Office for Seniors. The report was developed to support general practitioners, nurse practitioners and other health professionals involved in assessing fitness to drive.
As New Zealand's population ages, the number of older drivers and the prevalence of cognitive impairment are increasing. The report reviews current evidence on whether office-based cognitive tests can accurately identify drivers who may be unsafe on the road. It includes a review of recent international research, analysis of New Zealand road crash data, and interviews with experts in geriatrics, rehabilitation, driving assessment, psychology and public health.
The report finds that for older adults who are physically and mentally healthy, current evidence does not support the routine use of cognitive screening as part of fitness to drive assessments. Common global cognitive tests, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (mini-ACE), provide useful information about general cognitive function but do not accurately predict on-road driving performance.
The review identifies some measures, such as the Trail Making Test, reaction time assessments and maze-based tests, as having a stronger association with driving performance. However, it concludes that no single cognitive assessment can reliably predict driving safety. Driving ability is influenced by a combination of factors, including vision, physical function, health conditions, driving history and real-world driving performance.
The report recommends that health professionals use clinical judgement and a holistic assessment approach when considering fitness to drive. Where there is uncertainty, on-road assessments or specialised occupational therapy driving assessments may provide additional evidence to support decision-making. The findings will be of particular interest to health professionals, policymakers, researchers, older people and organisations involved in road safety, healthy ageing and transport planning.
© Crown copyright. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise indicated. You are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, provided you attribute it to the Office for Seniors and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and abide by the licence terms.
PDF, 738 KB • Published -
In this report commissioned by the Office for Seniors, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) uses Centrix mortgage lending data to examine how mortgage pressures are affecting older homeowners. It provides analysis of the experiences of different cohorts within the older population and contributes to our understanding of the evolving social and economic environment faced by older people.
PDF, 921 KB • Published April 2024 -
The Employment of Older NZ Women paper prepared for the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women
PDF, 2763 KB • Published August 2014 -
This report outlines how well New Zealand was progressing towards the positive ageing strategy's goals.
PDF, 4166 KB • Published April 2015 -
PDF, 1304 KB • Published November 2024
-
bibliography for research of Ageing in New Zealand
PDF, 382 KB • Published August 2015 -
This report presents the independent evaluation of the Senior Enterprise Pilot, a programme funded by the Office for Seniors to test how best to support people aged 50 and over to start businesses later in life.
The pilot was developed as part of the Better Later Life | He Oranga Kaumātua 2019–2034 strategy and its Action Plan 2021–2024, which identified financial security and economic participation as key priorities for older New Zealanders.
The evaluation was commissioned by the Office for Seniors and undertaken by Geoff Pearman of Partners in Change. It examines the effectiveness of five pilot programmes delivered in different regions and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand, including programmes designed for Māori, Pacific peoples, urban and rural participants, and those delivered online.
Drawing on surveys, interviews, case studies, provider feedback, and programme data, the evaluation assesses participant outcomes, programme design, delivery approaches, and longer-term opportunities for senior entrepreneurship. The report found strong participant satisfaction, high completion rates, increased confidence, and evidence that many participants had launched, developed, or refined business ideas following programme participation. It highlights the value of age-specific business support, coaching and mentoring, peer networks, culturally responsive approaches, and flexible delivery models, including online learning.
PDF, 2449 KB • Published June 2024The report also identifies 12 better practice guidelines for future programmes and explores options for creating sustainable pathways that help older New Zealanders remain economically active through self-employment and entrepreneurship. It concludes that the pilot successfully demonstrated the need for targeted support and provides insights to inform future policy, programme design, and investment decisions.