Older kiwis struggle with basic living expenses: 'We are living in a very bad time'

Grey Power, a New Zealand advocacy group, is urging the government to address the financial struggles of an increasing number of older Kiwis who are finding it difficult to meet basic living expenses. At a recent meeting in West Auckland, members of Grey Power shared their own experiences of struggling to afford private rental accommodation with only superannuation to rely on.

Member Gayleen Maurice, known as "Auntie G," said that while older people may not have assets like a mortgage, they are still "not as well off" as those who still have a home to live in. Auckland-based charity Commnicare reported running 16 friendship centres for seniors in Auckland and another six on the North Shore, with a particular focus on combating loneliness and isolation among older people.

Commnicare's Mike Matthews said that the situation for many older people was dire and that the government's policies were not doing enough to help. He noted that Auckland's network for seniors was not as well coordinated as it needed to be, and that the number of older people in the region was set to grow significantly in the coming years.

Grey Power president Vincent Naidu emphasized the need for the government to care for its elderly citizens, while Auntie G stressed the importance of finding suitable housing for older people who are no longer able to care for themselves.