Better Later Life strategy – key indicators
The Better Later Life indicators help us understand whether outcomes for older New Zealanders are changing over time.
They track progress towards the long-term outcomes in the Better Later Life Strategy – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019–2034.
The latest update reports against the original indicator framework introduced in 2019. It covers 60 measures across the Strategy’s five key action areas.
Explore the indicators
Achieving financial security and economic participation
These indicators examine retirement savings, income adequacy, material hardship, employment, training and workforce participation.
Latest report
Previous reports
Promoting healthy ageing and improving access to services
These indicators examine health, healthy behaviours, wellbeing, access to care and the availability of services and support.
Latest report
Previous reports
Creating diverse housing choices and options
These indicators examine housing affordability, housing quality, social housing access, home ownership and housing security.
Latest report
Previous reports
Enhancing opportunities for participation and social connection
These indicators examine social connection, loneliness, volunteering, digital inclusion, elder abuse, safety, discrimination and decision-making.
Latest report
Previous reports
Making environments accessible
These indicators examine access to transport, facilities, services and community infrastructure.
Latest report
Previous reports
Transition to a new framework
The Better Later Life indicators were first developed in 2019 and updated in 2022 and 2026. The 2026 update is the final report against the original framework of around 60 indicators.
From 2027, the Office for Seniors will report against a revised framework with a smaller set of key indicators. This reflects changes in available data and the need for a more focused approach to monitoring outcomes for older New Zealanders.
The revised framework will not change the goals of the Better Later Life Strategy. It changes how progress towards those goals is measured and reported.
The new framework is below.
Achieving financial security and economic participation
- Percentage of people aged 45-64 contributing to KiwiSaver
- Percentage of people aged 65 and over who feel satisfied or very satisfied with their job
Promoting healthy ageing and improving access to services
- Percentage of people in age cohorts over 55 who report their general health as good, very good or excellent
- Percentage of people aged 65 and over who visited GP in the past 12 months
Creating diverse housing choices and options
- Percentage of people aged 65 and over who are satisfied with the housing options available to them
Enhancing opportunities for participation and social connection
- Percentage of people aged 65 and over who have the right amount of contact with family and friends
- Percentage of non-volunteers aged 65 and over who report there are no barriers to volunteering for an organisation
Making environments accessible
- Percentage of people aged 65 and over who report being able to easily get to all or most facilities they want or need to go to (such as shops, post shops, libraries and medical services)
We intend to report on these indicators in 2027.