# Media Capture: Grey Power — "Aged Care: All about us but without us!"

**Source:** Grey Power Magazine, Issue 66: June 2026
**Author:** Alastair Duncan (Grey Power Wellington member)
**URL:** https://greypowermag.co.nz/aged-care/aged-care-all-about-us-but-without-us/
**Date accessed:** 9 June 2026
**Relevance:** 🟠 High — Critical stakeholder critique of the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group composition and exclusions

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## Summary

Grey Power questions the makeup of the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group and calls out the exclusion of frontline carers, nurses, and seniors' advocacy groups from the process. The article argues the aged care industry is being allowed to "write the rules about its own funding."

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## Key Findings from OIA Request

| Item                | Detail                                                                      |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **OIA submitted**   | 17 April 2026                                                               |
| **OIA replied**     | 15 May 2026                                                                 |
| **Nominees**        | 12 people nominated; names **not disclosed**                                |
| **Budget**          | Financed within existing budgets (no separate line item)                    |
| **Remuneration**    | **$800/day** for members, **$1,200/day** for chair                          |
| **Excluded groups** | Grey Power, NZ Nurses Organisation, E tū (carers' union), residents' groups |

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## Key Quotes

> _"As illustrated by the current publicity about challenges seniors and families face in recovering their investment in retirement village housing, the aged care industry is big business. The 'care' side of the residential aged care industry is corporate business reliant on public funding."_

> _"Some might see the industry as being asked to write the rules about its own funding!"_

> _"Though the terms of reference appear hopeful they ignore the elephant in the room. Last year's 'bomb shell' overnight cancelling of pay equity claims for tens of thousands of nurses and carers rocked the sector."_

> _"Like Grey Power, the voice of the carer, those closest to residents, was silenced."_

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## Composition Concerns

Membership drawn from businesses already financially involved in the current care/funding model:

- Senior executives from **Radius** and **Oceania** (both stock exchange–listed corporate providers)
- The **Christian Council of Social Services** is the only potential alternative voice, but its members also benefit from the current funding model

**Explicit exclusions in Terms of Reference:**

- The group **cannot** offer advice on workforce requirements
- "Budget advice" is **specifically excluded**
- Ministry explanation: workforce matters will be considered at a "later stage" after the Advisory Group's recommendations

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## Timeline

- Original report deadline: **31 May 2026**
- Updated expectation per Grey Power: **July 2026**

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## Related Issue

Pay equity cancellation (overnight cancellation of pay equity claims for nurses and carers in 2025) is the "elephant in the room" not addressed by the Advisory Group.

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## KB Cross-References

- `05_Funding_and_Subsidies/2025-12 - MoH - Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group Terms of Reference.pdf`
- `17_Automated_Research/02_FINDINGS/2026-06-09_2130_Prompt07B2_AgedCareMinisterialAdvisoryGroup.md`
- `02_Aged_Residential_Care/2025 - Health Committee - Source Brief - Aged Care Inquiry 14 Recommendations.md`