Age friendly Network
About the Network
Aim
The Network aims to strengthen the support available for local organisations that are leading the development of plans to improve the wellbeing of older people. It provides a forum for discussion, information sharing, learning and mutual support with similar groups
Who the Network is for
The Network was set up in 2021 to bring together people from organisations leading or actively involved in coordinating age friendly strategies and plans. In most cases, this will be local councils but could include community organisations, hapū or iwi.
Membership of the Network is held by an organisation rather than by an individual. Member organisations will nominate up to two contacts to attend Network meetings and discussions.
Additional attendees may be invited to join Network sessions if there is a wider interest in a specific topic.
What the Network does
The Network aims to bring together people leading age friendly work around New Zealand to support sharing and learning through a community of practice. Online meetings are held every quarter.
Benefits of membership
Benefits include:
- access to mutual support and encouragement from others leading age friendly work
- opportunities to present and showcase your work and learn what has worked well in other locations
- providing an opportunity to share and discuss age friendly research and innovation so that it can be applied in different communities
- access to resources such as Age friendly branding collateral developed by the Office for Seniors
- support from the Age friendly Programme Lead, Office for Seniors
- receiving the Stakeholders Newsletter from the Office for Seniors.
As a member of the Network, you will also be helping to promote and grow support for other communities across New Zealand to become age friendly.
Joining the Network
Read the Network Terms of Reference before applying. Get in touch if you have any questions about whether your organisation is eligible.
As part of the application process you will need to provide information about your organisation, your age friendly community, and age friendly work.
Join the Network by filling out this form
and sending it to agefriendlyfund@msd.govt.nz
The Network is just one of the ways the Office for Seniors supports age friendly work. If your group isn’t eligible to join, email agefriendlyfund@msd.govt.nz to discuss how else we could help
Network Members
At present there are 35 districts and cities, mainly represented by local councils, that have joined the Network. Below are the members with links to what they are doing to become more age friendly.
North Island/Te Ika-a-Maui Age friendly Network members with Age friendly plans
South Island/Te Waipounamu Age friendly Network members with Age friendly plans
Network resources
Resources are available for Network members to support their age friendly work here.
Joining the World Health Organization Global Network
Once you have started your Age friendly journey, you may like to consider joining the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities.
Currently 1705 communities in 60 countries are members. These include Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Napier, Wairarapa, Nelson and Gore.
Each community has a webpage on the WHO website and includes links to key documents, such as their age friendly plan. It is free to join, but every member is expected to upload at least one age friendly project a year to contribute to the library of age friendly resources.
For more information see Membership to the Global Network - Age-Friendly World.