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| Grey Power New Zealand | |
|---|---|
| Name | Grey Power New Zealand |
| Formation | 1960s |
| Type | Lobby group |
| Headquarters | New Zealand |
| Region served | New Zealand |
| Membership | Seniors |
| Leader title | President |
Grey Power New Zealand is a New Zealand advocacy organization representing older people and retirees. The organisation engages with national and local bodies to influence social policy, welfare, and health services for seniors and works alongside community groups and advocacy networks.
Founded in the 1960s, the organisation emerged during a period of social change involving figures and events such as Keith Holyoake, Walter Nash, Social Security Act 1938, New Zealand Labour Party, and New Zealand National Party. Its formative years coincided with debates around the Superannuation Act 1974, Muldoon Ministry, Tomorrows Schools reforms, Royal Commission on Social Policy, and demographic shifts noted by censuses from Stats NZ and analyses by scholars linked to University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington. Expansion in the 1980s and 1990s saw interactions with institutions like Auckland City Council, Wellington City Council, Accident Compensation Corporation, Ministry of Health (New Zealand), and advocacy counterparts such as Age Concern New Zealand and SeniorNet New Zealand.
The structure includes local branches, regional committees, and a national executive that liaises with entities such as Parliament of New Zealand, the New Zealand Electoral Commission, and municipal bodies including Christchurch City Council and Hamilton City Council. Membership comprises retirees and pensioners who engage via meetings, newsletters, and events often held in venues like RSA (Returned Services' Association), Probus Club, and community centres associated with Red Cross New Zealand and St John New Zealand. Leadership roles interact with statutory agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development and advisory groups like the Health and Disability Commissioner.
Policy priorities have focused on pensions, healthcare access, housing, and public transport, bringing the organisation into policy debates involving the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, ACC Scheme, the Public Health and Disability Act 2000, and local urban projects like those by Auckland Council and Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority. It has campaigned on issues resonant with stakeholders including the Treasury (New Zealand), Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Office for Seniors (New Zealand), and policy think tanks such as New Zealand Institute and Families Commission. The organisation has submitted on bills and participated in select committee hearings at the House of Representatives (New Zealand) and engaged with Ministers such as those from portfolios for Seniors, Health (New Zealand), and Social Development (New Zealand government).
Campaigns have included advocacy for fair indexing of pensions, pharmaceutical access through Pharmac (New Zealand), aged residential care standards linked to the Aged Care Strategy and inspections by the Ministry of Health (New Zealand), and transport concessions associated with regional authorities like Auckland Transport and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Activities have ranged from petitions delivered to MPs including leaders from New Zealand Labour Party, New Zealand National Party, ACT New Zealand, and Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, to participation in conferences alongside organisations such as The Salvation Army New Zealand, Hospice New Zealand, and Citizens Advice Bureau (New Zealand). Local campaigns have addressed housing issues coordinating with groups like Habitat for Humanity New Zealand and municipal housing trusts.
The organisation engages with officials in ministries including Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Health (New Zealand), and statutory entities like Health Quality & Safety Commission (New Zealand), while collaborating or competing with NGOs such as Age Concern New Zealand, Grey Power Australia, and advocacy coalitions that include representatives from New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and community collectives. It has relationships with media outlets including The New Zealand Herald, Stuff (company), Radio New Zealand, and parliamentary caucuses from parties such as New Zealand First when addressing policy matters.
The organisation has faced criticism over political endorsements and perceived partisanship in the context of elections involving leaders like Bill English, Jacinda Ardern, Winston Peters, and policy stances contested by groups like Age Concern New Zealand and academic commentators from Massey University and University of Otago. Controversies have included disputes over fundraising transparency, governance standards assessed against codes promoted by the Charities Services (New Zealand), and public statements that sparked responses from health advocates, legal commentators linked to the New Zealand Law Society, and media outlets such as TVNZ and Three (TV channel).
The organisation has influenced amendments and public discussion on retirement income policy referenced in analyses by the Treasury (New Zealand), contributed to reviews of aged care policy involving the Ministry of Health (New Zealand), and secured concessions in transport and municipal services implemented by councils including Auckland Council and Wellington City Council. Its submissions to select committees and participation in public consultations have intersected with work by NGOs like Age Concern New Zealand and policy institutes such as the New Zealand Institute, shaping aspects of legislation debated in the New Zealand House of Representatives and informing public debate in media outlets including The Dominion Post and Otago Daily Times.
Category:Non-profit organisations based in New Zealand Category:Senior citizens' organisations