A bumper autumn issue covering life, death and a deep dive into social housing!
BUT FIRST A subscription reminder.
Membership remains at $15 for a single person or $30 for two people living at the same address. We are sending out invoices via email (for those with email addresses) and post (for those without); please don’t pay until you receive one, as you may have paid already and refunding double payments is a pain.
Bank payment – Kiwibank account number 38-9008-0407615 and account name Wellington Central Grey Power Incorporated. Please identify your payment by name and Grey Power Number in reference box. Once again, please wait for the invoice!
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If you are receiving this newsletter by post and have an email address please share that with us so we can communicate with you by email. It is faster and you will receive all our correspondence.
Committee update
Last year Peter Hooper joined the committee and his article on social housing is a major part of this issue.
Meanwhile your committee is looking at how we might ensure our members’ concerns are front and centre at this year’s local body election. We will be contacting Mayor Tory Whanau, with a view to finally connecting her with our constituency, and also her budding rivals and those thinking about standing for both City and Regional councils.
Financially our branch is in a good position with $20,000 in the bank.
Wanted column: Can you lend a hand?
The Wellington Central Association is currently looking for a member to give us a hand with our financials. “Suitably qualified” is the brief which means a bit of experience and energy. Please contact the acting treasurer Bruce McLachlan (mclachlan.b@xtra.co.nz)
A letter to the editor. A brickbat and a bouquet!
The summer issue prompted one member to write counselling the branch to “avoid getting involved with things like the Golden Mile, Airport share sale and ferries. Stick to the knitting (things that specifically involve the elder generation and put our efforts into improving things for older folk, and let everyone else get caught up in those political issues that fall outside our main objectives. Love the new logo- brings things up to date in a professional way.”
Our Treasurer, who received the letter, replied connecting the issues with the cost implications for seniors and updating the member on some of the work done last year by the committee to promote spaces and places for members to relax without having to pay to sit in coffee shops.
For those keen to better understand the scope of Grey Power’s national “knitting” it is worth noting the language used on the Grey Power website that “Grey Power is an advocacy group with a vision for New Zealand to be a country where seniors live in dignity enjoying a rewarding, safe and sustainable quality of life.”
Members keen to contribute to the newsletter are welcome to send their thoughts, articles, opinions and more. Drop a line to email address greypowerwellington@gmail.com or postal address 26/43 Mulgrave Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011.
Quick alerts from President Colleen
David Cuthbert, Alastair Duncan and I attended the Zone 4 meeting on 27 February at which I reported on issues from the Federation Board meeting.
The Board has adopted a strategic plan with five priorities. Further detail next newsletter.
- Organisational Structure Review – the proposed new Board structure is discussed later in this newsletter.
- Leadership
- Financial stability
- Marketing
- Communication
Advocacy – Your committee contributes to the advocacy work of the Federation.
Grey Power magazine – Starting with the June issue, members wanting to receive a magazine by post will have to pay $10 a year to cover postage. Payment will be made directly to the Federation. More information later about how the payment will work.
Grey Power logo Following a survey of members the Federation Board has adopted a new logo, to be used by the Federation and all Associations.
2025 Annual General Meeting – To be held at the Brentwood Hotel, Kilbirnie, 17-19 June. Observers are welcome. If you would like to attend as an observer please contact me on president@greypowerwellington.org.nz, mobile 021 200 0066.
Time to submit!?
Members who receive the Office for Seniors TE Tari Kaumatua newsletter may have spotted the invitation to submit on a range of issues.
Submissions on the Disability Support Services Consultation close on the 24 March, consultation on media reform closes 23 March and the Covid Inquiry closes 27 April.
Link to Media Reform https://www.research.net/r/MCH_Media_Reform_Survey
Link to Covid https://haveyoursay.covid19lessons.royalcommission.nz/
If you do get the newsletter and have five minutes to spare then do share your voice.
Magnificent Seven or pot luck? Grey Power constitutional review raises concern
With the possibility of a national referendum on a four-year Parliamentary term next year the Grey Power Federation Board is also reviewing some key constitutional matters.
Grey Power board members other than the elected at large officers – President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer – are currently drawn from seven geographical ‘zones’ that cover the country. Wellington Central is part of Zone 4, which stetches from Taranaki and Wairoa/Hawkes Bay to Wellington. Wellington Central President Colleen Singleton was recently re-elected by a wide margin to continue in the role of Zone 4 Board Representative.
Now some within the board are promoting a change whereby the seven zone representatives will be replaced by five members elected at large across the whole country. Wellingtonians will be all too familiar with cutbacks and while the intent may be to deliver a leaner board the Wellington Central committee are not so sure.
Alastair Duncan and David Cuthbert accompanied Colleen to the recent March Zone 4 meeting and expressed concern that under the new proposal the local and regional voices of Associations and members could be reduced.
“Colleen does a great job and connects well with the zone. And, if she erred, she would be accountable to the zone,” says Alastair. “Under the current proposal it is just not clear who the ‘at large’ members would accountable to, nor how they would connect with Associations, let alone members.
Colleen told the recent zone meeting in Palmerston North that some on the board were missing the point about the changes needed. Colleen likens the operation of the Grey Power generally to baking a cake that doesn’t rise. “Instead of examining the real issues they are simply changing the cake from having vanilla to chocolate icing”, says Colleen.
The debate is timely. Recently economist Brian Easton in his new book, In Open Seas, noted how tensions between ‘regionalism’ and national’ focus was among the many contributing factors to the downfall of the Ardern Hipkins government. Easton cites “three waters”, Te Whatu Ora as examples of how a loss of perceived local voice contributed to a political backlash and Labours’ defeat. Beware, an ineffective Board could be voted out!
Wellington Grey Power is keen to hear member’s thoughts on this possible loss of voice as the changes will be voted on at the June AGM, conveniently held here in Wellington.
Water, water everywhere…but who controls the taps?
Supposedly a basic human right, the debate about who controls our water is underway in Wellington.
Last year a number of concerned citizens gathered together to debate the pros and cons of water meters. Now the debate has widened with decisions due about just who will control our water services (fresh, storm and sewerage).
Beyond the immediate frustrations of another leaky pipe or the repair cost passed on to owners and renters the issue won’t go away. In 2014, 15% of Wellington’s water was lost in leaks. In 2023 it was 44%. Over that time the average cost of fixing leaks trebled to $6,000.
Last year Wellington water issued a tender for water meters with a projected cost of $300 million and expected to reduce water usage by 15 litres per person. Yet in 2024 just $5.5 million spent on fixing extra leaks saved twice that amount.
Just who controls our water infrastructure is also a concern. As the UK experience showed privatising a human right saw profits put first over people.
Keep you eye open for any further consultation by the Wellington City Council about water meters.
There’s no escape
If you are to live a long life, even a healthy long life, there will be challenges. Nothing prepares you for the relentless advance of changes in your mind, body and spirit. Nobody warns you about the continuous need to make small adjustments, to invent solutions for endless problems great and small. What’s more, nobody gives you credit for the creativity you show in managing your daily life. And in extreme old age, older mentors are of course extremely rare. I have found one in the amazing Doris Carnevali, who blogged about daily life in her nineties. She understands! She provides pragmatic, doable tricks and tools.
In recent episodes on my podcast, I’m reading excerpts from my book-of-the-blog, The Sturdy Centenarian. One is about losing autonomy, and the other gives you a taste of her approach to very old age.
Rachel McAlpine’s podcast is Learning How To Be Old. Listen if you might be old one day!
End of life. Is there really a choice?
Our newsletter editor Alastair Duncan poses a question.
The palliative nurse thought my mother, Elisabeth, would die over the weekend. She didn’t and for another ten days I sat feeling helpless as they struggled to deliver pain relief. She’d fallen, again, some weeks before and the body was never going to heal itself.
Elisabeth hadn’t wanted to go this way. She’d made it clear to her GPs and those around her that she wanted to end her own life. Her repeated applications for end-of-life choice were declined. At 97 she didn’t have a condition as a result of which she was “likely to die within six months”. The year before she had tried suicide, but didn’t get the drug combination correct, hence the application to get professional help to achieve what she wanted.
Now the End of Life Choice Act is under review but for an organisation focused on elder rights it’s unlikely Grey Power will make a submission. In discussion with other members, they have observed that it’s a matter of individual choice. True. But if our legislation doesn’t enable a real choice then isn’t it time for us to have the discussion within Grey Power?
Let’s talk about our health system …. but someone forgot the sound system!
Lester Levy and the CEO are gone and the new Health Minister wants big changes, so it’s natural that a recent public health meeting at the Loaves and Fishes on 2 March, attracted interest from Grey Power.
Association President Collleen Singleton attended the meeting hosted by a range of clinicians, the Nurses Organisation, politicians and the Rural Health Network with contributions from doctors, patients and specialists. Sadly, a very poor sound system left audience members straining to hear the contributors but fortunately Colleen was able to use her recent experience at the emergency department to share the ‘consumer’ view.
“People I know, including myself, who had been admitted could not fault the care we received from staff working under very difficult circumstances,” says Colleen, noting that many in the audience were seniors.
Accessing housing in New Zealand on superannuation in 2025
As the author of this article, it may help to give some background as an aid to context.
My living space is Wellington, renting as a tenant in what is framed as social housing, and it has been observed elsewhere more and more of our Greypower members are renters.
My opening observation is for many of us our real-life experience 2025 is not the one a person might have had in mind thirty years ago as the future life for a pensioner in God’s own.
Placing on the table what this looks like may seem cold, however a disciplined gaze at the housing topic for seniors is a challenge that deserves straight talk.
For retirees in New Zealand, securing housing while relying on Superannuation can be a challenge, particularly as housing costs remain high. In 2025, a person receiving New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) has several options, but affordability and availability continue to be key concerns.
Grey Power can set as an objective two targets here: first is to speak to the readers who are renters, not because they are more important; rather, because they make up an increasing number of who make up our group/audience.
The second target is to offer the reader a way of navigating that path from what sits inside a reader’s head, often grounded in a past one holds in high regard, and develop an increased confidence that the present is known and taken just as seriously.
Understanding New Zealand Superannuation
NZ Super is a universal pension available to eligible residents aged 65 and over. As of 2025, the weekly payment rates (after tax at the M tax code) are approximately:
- Single (living alone):Around $1,043.24 per fortnight
- Married or in a civil union (each):Around $963.32 per fortnight (Both figures were confirmed by the Newtown MSD Office. It does pay to confirm figures with the Ministry of Social Development when considering your situation/eligibility.)
While these payments provide financial support, they may not be enough to cover high housing costs, especially for those without additional savings or assets. KiwiSaver is one place which is unlocked for those on NZ Super at age 65, however recent discussions of the average savings NZ seniors have in 2025 is thought to be around $54,000, and this can be even lower given cost of living dynamics.
Grey Power’s target here is to allow the reader to understand what determines eligibility of NZ Super.
Housing Options for NZ Superannuitants
- Renting in the Private Market
Renting can be challenging due to high rental prices, especially in major cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. As of early 2025, the median weekly rent across New Zealand is approximately $600, making it difficult for a superannuitant to afford rent without additional income or government support.
However, retirees may qualify for the Accommodation Supplement (AS), which can provide up to $165 per week (depending on location and personal circumstances). Eligibility to access this support via MSD has an asset limit of around $8,200. Many could fail to meet that limit setting and moves to raise that limit have to date failed, despite calls for policy change.
Grey Power has had things to say on a need to look at policy NZ has in place to assist renters, including seniors. Vice-President David Marshall was interviewed by Radio NZ. Nothing has been commented on so far during 2025, however prior to this some worthwhile messages have been sent.
David pointed out the need for policy change regarding financial support offered to seniors via MSD. Creation of the Accommodation Supplement goes back a significant period, increased settings are being looked for to address the changes in rent levels.
As part of drafting this article a message of thanks was sent to David for his past reasoned call for a policy review.
Some may also consider flatting or house-sharing as a way to reduce costs.
Grey Power’s target here is to speak clearly to what defines a private sector as a source of housing, and linked to that is Government assistance offered to renters, the Accommodation Supplement being a significant topic. Here Grey Power would want to keep that discussion of adjusting funds to speak to client need and market options using the earlier point where it is being grounded in the present 2025 which is needed.
- Social Housing (Kainga Ora and Community Housing Providers)
For those struggling with affordability, Kainga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) and community housing providers (CHP) offer subsidized rental options. Rent is usually capped at 25% of a tenant’s income.
It is worth noting Te Toi Mahana, a CHP setup by the Wellington City Council, does have tenants with this 25% of income setting, they are about 10% of a tenant population of approximately 3,000.
The remaining block, tenants who were tenants for the Housing arm of the City Council in the past (gaining access to this new CHP as part of how the project was launched) are ineligible to this 25% of one’s income rent setting, they still pay rent based on 70% of market rate.
Financial assistance for this group is what has been spoken of as a ‘gnarly problem’. It is worth unpacking this two-tier structure since Christchurch City Council, now followed by Wellington City Council, are forming pointers as to where social housing offered by City Councils is moving toward. In these projects new tenants may gain a path that seems affordable; not so for their existing clients.
Currently about 90% of the tenant population for Te Toi Mahana, these ‘long term tenants’ who lived in City Council flats in the past, can easily fail to meet the asset settings for AS. That is no insignificant problem.
A second block to funding support is they are blocked from gaining financial help from Te Toi Mahana via an ARL payment. It needs to be stressed that help from the CHP often does not bring the tenant to parity with those who enter Te Toi Mahana vis the MSD housing registry. Help for this group is only for some, asset limits are set low, and it can be assumed many seniors are facing high housing cost despite being tenants living in social housing.
As an example of the rent setting for this group of tenants a one-bedroom unit in a city apartment complex in Newtown would likely be $308 each week. Given the limited funds offered currently to a person on NZ Super this is a high rent.
For those who are not in social housing a truth needs stating. When seeking access to social housing the waiting list for public housing remains long, with demand outpacing supply. As of 2025, a person on NZ Super may face a wait time of several months to years, depending on their location and circumstances.
To apply, retirees must register through the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and meet specific criteria related to income, assets, and housing need. This pathway is not only for access to State Housing, it now is how one seeks access to these new CHPs.
Grey Power can here focus on two parts of a single market we are labelling renters, first a group navigating house availability in a private market; the second group being renters where house availability involves the Government/State as a significant owner/agent shaping how the housing asset is made available.
- Retirement Villages and Independent Living Units
Retirement villages offer an appealing lifestyle option, but they often require a significant upfront investment, usually through an Occupation Right Agreement (ORA). This model allows retirees to live in a unit but does not provide ownership. Most retirement villages require an initial capital investment of $400,000 to $800,000, making it inaccessible for many superannuitants without existing assets.
Some non-profit and church-based retirement communities offer more affordable independent living units, but availability is limited, and waiting lists can be long.
[Grey Power’s target here is to continue the conversation about living spaces, however these villages are business projects where Grey Power is not in the business of offering any recommendation to any one business model or any one voice inside that market. The target here is to help a reader understand these villages are crafted spaces with features that often involve higher costs and are likely to meet some people’s needs better than others.]
- Buying a Home with NZ Superannuation
Buying a home on NZ Super alone is difficult, as banks typically require steady employment income to approve home loans. However, those with savings, KiwiSaver funds, or who are downsizing from a more expensive home may still be able to buy a modest property in smaller towns where house prices are lower.
In 2025, the median house price in New Zealand is around $800,000, but in smaller towns like Invercargill, Whanganui, or Timaru, prices can be significantly lower, sometimes under $500,000.
Additional Support and Considerations
- Work and Income Assistance: In addition to the Accommodation Supplement, retirees may qualify for extra financial help through Temporary Additional Support or Disability Allowances if they have medical expenses.
- Council Housing: Some local councils, like Wellington City Council and Auckland Council, offer low-cost rental housing for seniors, but availability is limited. As discussed above the creation of CHPs by City Councils is increasing.
- Home-Sharing Programmes: Some organizations match older individuals with younger tenants or caregivers in exchange for lower rent and companionship.
Grey Power’s targets include the issue of a discussion about the significance of saving for retirement, however NZ society seeks to offer housing options both via local government and cooperative models of various kinds. Grey Power’s objective is to invite a reader to consider how the politics that is more local as offered by City Councils is as significant as Central Government actions offered via portals such as the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
Conclusion
A person on NZ Superannuation in 2025 has multiple housing options, but affordability remains a challenge. Public and community housing offer the most cost-effective solutions, but waiting lists are long. Renting in the private market is possible with additional support like the Accommodation Supplement, while buying a home may be feasible in lower-cost regions. (As stated above, do check with Government agencies when forming an understanding of your situation.)
Planning ahead, considering shared housing arrangements, and seeking government assistance can help retirees find stable and affordable housing in New Zealand.
Where this piece offered by Grey Power seeks to end this contribution to a discussion of housing for seniors is to stress the reality of challenges and the centrality of the person at the centre of this discussion, the person seeking a home.
One notes, they are often linked to and rely on a network of people, sometimes family, sometimes family redefined, Grey Power’s role as a lobby group is ultimately about real people and not merely discussion which is ungrounded.
Peter Hooper email: peterhoo@fastmail.fm
The editor would appreciate any comments you may have on the above article or any topic.