Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie – Chief Executive, Diversity Works NZ (formerly the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust) “We can talk about age here today, or we can talk about inclusion. How are you including older people in your workplace? That’s really at the crux of what we’re trying to deal with here.”

Blair McCarthy – Acting Director, Office for Seniors, Ministry of Social Development (MSD) “Myths influence how we think, so to really tackle this, I think we need to address the negative stereotypes head on…. Seniors are already making a hugely positive contribution to our economy – that’s only going to grow into the future”.

Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley – Pro Vice Chancellor, Massey University “we’re tracking very fast to that 1 million + over 65’s…. They are breaking the mold – they are acting quite differently to any previous 60+ generations and we’ve got to re think that. How good are our paradigms? How good are our policies? How good are our organisations at reacting to that?”

Lisa Ford – General Manager, Business Mentors NZ “Send me these people who still want to be active, because boy have I got a deal for them! 30% of my volunteers are retired or semi-retired…we are very fortunate to be able to transfer their skills, knowledge and experience to business owners and start up entrepreneurs”.

Shamubeel Eaqub - Independent Economist & Commentator “The deep divides really worry me around skills, around ethnicity, around regions. I think that is where we have to look hardest, because it’s in identifying these most vulnerable groups is where we make the investments, where we take the first steps…”

Greg McAllister – GM New Zealand, Chandler McLeod, OCG Consulting Ltd & Luminary “Older workers want life/work balance, not work/life, they want life/work balance. They want to be able to enjoy life with their families and their grandkids but equally contribute to society… they wanna keep their mind alive”

Vaughan Biggs – GM Human Resources, Spotless Facility Services (NZ) Ltd “What we would like to see as an employer is NZ and government agencies focusing on best fit retirement options, changing cultures…”

Dr Debra Whitman – Chief Public Policy Officer, AARP visited NZ for the Ageing Workforce Forum and shared some insights and ideas for New Zealand’s future. “I actually believe that given that we have the longest lifespans in human history, we need to really rethink our whole definition of what we do across the life course.” The videos referenced in her talk here are available to view at this link: http://www.cffc.org.nz/reviewretirementincomepolicy/june/notes-from-our-ageing-workforce-forum

Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley – Pro Vice Chancellor, Massey University “We’re tracking very fast to that 1 million + over 65’s…. They are breaking the mold – they are acting quite differently to any previous 60+ generations and we’ve got to re think that. How good are our paradigms? How good are our policies? How good are our organisations at reacting to that?”

Diane Maxwell, Retirement Commissioner welcomes the Ageing Workforce Forum’s speakers and outlines the terrain in terms of the challenges and also opportunities for New Zealand. “If I think back to my grandparents’ generation 65 was considered old. But today people are fitter, healthier, feel younger and are living much longer. The challenge is getting the rest of us to recognise that and appreciate what older New Zealanders contribute to society.”

When we visited Tauranga with Tales from the Tent, we also spoke off camera with the members of the Body and Soul fitness group in the town. As you’ll discover through this conversation, they exemplify that old saying that age is merely a number.

‘We are trying to encourage people to plan ahead and invest productively’. Rob Everett, chief executive at the FMA, spoke at the decumulation forum and highlighted the need for agencies, providers and advisors to work together to lift New Zealander’s capability.

“We’ve wound it back a little bit, but we’ve certainly created some pretty strong incentives for people to put their savings into Super, particularly when they can both draw it out and enjoy income on it completely tax free in retirement.” Jeremy Cooper, Chairman, Retirement Income, Challenger