Elder Abuse & Safeguarding
Understand how to report elder abuse and protect seniors. MSD screening tools, Age Concern EARS, financial abuse, HRC reports, HQSC Kaumātua guide, elder abuse topic map, and reporting pathways.
Browse all 15 documentsAll Documents (15)
Showing 1–15 of 15 matching documents. Undated publications appear last.
First television advertising — Age Concern NZ has historically used digital, print, and community-based awareness methods.
Empower older people to recognise elder abuse and feel confident seeking help from a trusted source.
The 2026 Identity Verification Code specifies two distinct SuperGold document combinations and staged commencement of certified-copy provisions, replacing the 2013 Code.
Topic guide outlining the indicators of elder abuse—focusing on psychological coercion, property transfer fraud, and unauthorized bank withdrawals—and mapping direct referral pathways to the Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS).
- VP David Marshall: universal super provides certainty, fairness, dignity, and independence for older NZers
Official overview of the Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS) funded by MSD, detailing the freephone 0800 32 668 65 helpline, specialist community caseworkers, and inter-agency safeguarding protocols.
Pressuring or coercing an older person to change their Will to benefit the abuser.
Many New Zealanders find themselves managing finances for an ageing parent or relative, often unexpectedly and without guidance.
- WHO (2017): 1 in 6 people over 60 experiences abuse or neglect annually.
- ~10% of New Zealanders aged 65+ experience some form of abuse
Joint 2024–2025 human-rights annual report, with age/disability complaint-ground data, mediation and legal-assistance activity, and unresolved internal reporting discrepancies.
Full local annual report and financial performance report for 2023–2024, with elder-abuse prevention outputs and explicit audit/date limitations.
Review of screening and assessment tools for abuse of older people Review of screening and assessment tools for abuse of older people An intertwining graphic motif has been developed for this report to represent the gathering of information and its dissemination into the public...
Eight-page 2021 Productivity Commission inquiry submission on older people’s persistent disadvantage, later archived by Treasury.
Age Concern guidance helps older people and whānau recognise abuse and neglect and find local support, including financial pressure, isolation and harmful treatment.
Featured Resources
Age Concern New Zealand — A fair chance for all: initial inquiry submission, 27 August 2021
Eight-page 2021 Productivity Commission inquiry submission on older people’s persistent disadvantage, later archived by Treasury.
Age Concern Wairarapa — Annual Report 2023–2024, including elder-abuse prevention and performance report
Full local annual report and financial performance report for 2023–2024, with elder-abuse prevention outputs and explicit audit/date limitations.
MSD - Review of Screening Tools for Abuse of Older People
Review of screening and assessment tools for abuse of older people Review of screening and assessment tools for abuse of older people An intertwining graphic motif has been developed for this report to represent the gathering of information and its dissemination into the public...
Human Rights Commission and Office of Human Rights Proceedings — Annual Report, year ended 30 June 2025
Joint 2024–2025 human-rights annual report, with age/disability complaint-ground data, mediation and legal-assistance activity, and unresolved internal reporting discrepancies.
AML Code - SuperGold Card Secondary ID
The 2026 Identity Verification Code specifies two distinct SuperGold document combinations and staged commencement of certified-copy provisions, replacing the 2013 Code.
Age Concern NZ - First TV Campaign Always Respected Never Abused
First television advertising — Age Concern NZ has historically used digital, print, and community-based awareness methods.
Elder abuse
Elder abuse is the mistreatment, neglect, exploitation, or manipulation of old people. This definition has been adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) from a definition put forward by Hourglass in the UK. Laws protecting the elderly from abuse are similar to and related to laws protecting dependent adults from abuse.
Open Intelligence Use
- Use Wikipedia as a baseline definition, then test it against the NZ-specific documents below.
- Prioritise recent official PDFs, parliamentary papers, and sector reports where the baseline is dated or generic.
- Turn repeated evidence into source briefs, watchlists, and strategy actions.
Source Monitoring Queue
Elder abuse response services in Aotearoa New Zealand
Ministry of Social Development
Official programme source for MSD-funded Elder Abuse Response Services, service direction, and prevention/support infrastructure.
Next: Use doc-0157 and this source page for safeguarding pathways, helpline visibility, and elder-abuse intelligence updates.
Netsafe scams and online safety guidance
Netsafe
Online scams, impersonation, coercion, and digital exclusion create linked safeguarding and banking risks for older people.
Next: Capture new scam patterns and keep urgent reporting routes current.
Banking Ombudsman financial abuse guidance
Banking Ombudsman Scheme
Bank processes, third-party access, suspicious transactions, and complaint remedies are central to financial elder-abuse prevention.
Next: Integrate verified banking steps into the safeguarding and EPA workflows.