Community

There are many who think that the traditional 20th century approach to retirement will just not work in the future. Working until you’re 65 then exiting the workforce seems to be both unaffordable and unrealistic if the average life expectancy is going to be over 90. Retirement as we know …

Elder Abuse Awareness Week from 15-22 June 2017 begins on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2017. During the week of 15-22 June 2017 local Age Concerns around New Zealand will be holding events and speaking through the media to raise awareness of elder abuse and neglect. Unfortunately …

It is the New Zealand dream – home ownership. But for many this is getting more and more out of reach. Rising housing prices, strict mortgage criteria and daunting deposits coupled with rising rent prices has meant that the average kiwi searching for that quarter-acre dream is now fresh outta-luck! …

In the wake of the historical care worker pay settlement, I want to take minute to reflect on how this impacts women and men all over New Zealand. This settlement was based around how we value ‘women’s work’. Women’s work is a term used particularly in the West to indicate …

What is New Zealand Sign Language? New Zealand Sign Language is the natural language of Deaf New Zealanders and is used daily by more than 20,000 Kiwis.  It became an official language in April 2006, with the passing of the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. NZSL is a combination …

It is widely acknowledged that moving house is among the most stressful experiences in life. When we are older, this already daunting life event can simply become too much to contemplate and it becomes overwhelming to the point this becomes a reason to delay or defer a move. Moving home …

A person’s daily possessions form a kind of exoskeleton, and the act of disposing of them is another stage of mourning and letting go. Never does this become more apparent than when dealing with the lifetime of possessions accrued by a loved one, which their nearest and dearest must somehow …

Do your children, grandchildren and friends know the defining moments of your life? Do they know the day you laughed so hard you cried? Do they know your proudest achievement or your favourite teacher? Do they know who taught you to ride a bike, swim or drive a car? The …

With the World Masters Games being held in Auckland from the 21st to the 30th of April, I thought it would be a good chance to focus on health related topics on the gazette this month. For those who do not know the World Masters Games is the world’s largest …

Recently, the world fell in love with a story involving Norma, an 89 year old woman who had been battling cancer for the past 10 years and her neighbour Chris, a 31 year old budding actor. Chris moved into an apartment across the hall from Norma four years ago. Chris …