Needs of ageing Maori are diverse

19 April 2011

There is no one size fits all model of care when it comes to supporting older Maori, according to the Director of Massey University's Research Centre for Maori Health and Development, Chris Cunningham.

Speaking at Age Concern’s recent conference, Professor Cunningham says the needs of ageing Maori are diverse and will affect the level of care they will need when they reach retirement age.

“The changing nature of older Maori needs to be considered by organisations which provide care for the elderly.”

A minority of Māori men live long enough to reach the age of eligibility for superannuation. He says “Many Maori have planned on the continued government provision of Superannuation, which means they may be financially less well off in retirement and less able to afford quality health care, for example. Professor Cunningham’s research has shown there is a high degree of social financial support made by older Māori to whanau, churches and maraes.

“Questions remain as to whether government superannuation and health services will be enough to provide for older Maori and how this will be reflected in the level of state-funded services that older Maori will require.

“Some Maori sub-groups will be better positioned than others to fend for themselves.”

ENDS

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