Updates

Update - 11 October 2019

Now that the Waimakairiri Age Friendly Plan has been adopted by Council we are looking for people to join our Advisory Group. This is a voluntary position and if you are:

  • Involved in older people’s issues or organisations representing older people
  • Have skills to help monitor the Age-friendly Plan
  • Participate in community organisations
  • Willing to share information with your networks.

Please send your EOI to madeleine.burdon@wmk.govt.nz by Monday 28 October, or call her on 0880965 468.

In your EOI we would like you to tell us about:

  • Your interest in age-friendly communities
  • Your community involvement
  • Your relevant experience and achievements
  • Your personal attributes and interests

We would also like contact names and details of two referees.

Here are the Terms of Reference for the group that provide more detailed information.

Update - 19 September 2019

Waimakariri – He Hoa Ahakoa Ōu Tau the Waimakariri Age–friendly Plan 2019-2021 was adopted by the Community & Recreation Committee of Council on Tuesday 17 September. The plan provides a means for residents, community groups, businesses, Council and Government agencies to build a more age-friendly District. You can read the plan here:

Waimakariri – He Hoa Ahakoa Ōu Tau the Waimakariri Age–friendly Plan 2019-2021

Also adopted by the Community & Recreation Committee of Council is the Terms of Reference to establish an Age-friendly Advisory Group to Council.  This group will oversee the implementation of the plan and provide a mechanism for age-friendly opportunities and concerns to be reported to Council.

Terms of Reference

Update - 18 April 2019

The initial results of the survey are now available here.

Age Friendly Survey Report (pdf, 3.1 MB)

Update - 28 March 2019

The final age-friendly consultation took place at the Rangiora RSA on 28th February, the same day we launched a district wide survey. We are very pleased to report that 373 surveys were returned - 119 online and the rest in hardcopy.  We are indebted to steering group members, other community agencies, rest homes and council staff for distributing and promoting the survey.  A big thank you from the steering group and myself, for giving your time to help with this.

We have also had great community support to host the consultations, most recently at the Urban Revival Café at Silverstream and the Rangiora RSA. Thank you to the staff there who went out of their way to ensure we had everything we needed, and also provided catering.

Where are we up to?

The survey information will be collated and provide a report, along with all the material gathered from the 5 consultation workshops.  That data will be considered to develop priorities for a 3 year action plan to assist Waimakariri to become a more age-friendly District.   We will be comparing what people told us is important to act on, with what is already underway or being planned (for example new accessible toilets).  This plan will go to Council for consideration in early May, then to the Office for Seniors.

Some of the key priorities identified by participants at the workshops were:


Transport (strongly linked with accessibility, inclusion, health)

  • Better and more options, more affordable and public options, linking across the District and to the city options

Accessibility (also strongly linked with inclusion)

  • Streets, building and spaces; having needs of not just the elderly, recognised and included; not just physical access but also to information

Communication and information (strongly linked with connection, safety, inclusion)

  • How information is communicated, language and method used; where to find information. Need to improve Broadband access with an increasing reliance on on-line

Housing

  • Need more appropriate and age-friendly including more variety and affordable options, closer to facilities, services and transport

Health (strong link with transport options)

  • Having a local “after hours” service and more specialist services available at the Health Hub in Rangiora

Connection and inclusion

  • Also strongly linked with accessibility, communication, transport and information

If you are interested in supporting the Age-friendly plan, please give me a call!

Thanks Madeleine