# 2026 Issue Brief — Elder Abuse and Financial Protection **Type:** Political & Campaign Intelligence — Issue Brief **Status:** Final **Date:** June 2026 **Classification:** Neutral business/campaign intelligence **Target audience:** Campaign strategists, policy advisers, legal and financial sector analysts --- ## Executive Summary Elder abuse remains a persistent and under-addressed issue in New Zealand. The Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS) provides a 24/7 national helpline and local coordination, but resourcing and awareness gaps remain. Financial abuse accounts for approximately 50% of all elder abuse cases, with Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) misuse the most common form. The Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 (PPPR Act) is under review by the Law Commission, but reform is progressing slowly. All political parties express rhetorical support for elder abuse prevention, but concrete legislative and funding action has been limited. Key ministers include Casey Costello (Seniors — leads awareness), Paul Goldsmith (Justice — PPPR Act, prosecution), and Cameron Brewer (Commerce — consumer protections). Key NGO stakeholders include Age Concern, Public Trust, and Community Law Centres. --- ## Why This Matters Elder abuse affects an estimated 1 in 10 older New Zealanders, with significantly under-reported prevalence. Key consequences: - **Financial devastation:** Tens of millions of dollars lost annually; often family-perpetrated - **Health impacts:** Physical and psychological abuse accelerate decline, increase hospitalisation - **Legal system burden:** PPPR Act matters, Family Court applications, police investigations - **Trust erosion:** Undermines confidence in EPAs, retirement villages, financial institutions - **Systemic gaps:** Fragmented response across police, courts, health, social services, and banking The ageing population means the number of at-risk older people is growing rapidly (65+ projected to reach 1.5 million by 2051). --- ## Current Evidence from KB | Evidence | Source | KB Location | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ~50% of all elder abuse cases involve a financial element | Age Concern NZ; Public Trust | `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Age Concern NZ - Web Capture - Elder Abuse Information.md`; `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Public Trust - Web Capture - Financial Elder Abuse.md` | | EPA misuse is the most common form of financial elder abuse | Public Trust | Same as above | | EARS: 0800 32 668 65, 24/7, national helpline + local coordinators | Office for Seniors | `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Office for Seniors - Web Capture - Elder Abuse Response Service.md` | | PPPR Act 1988 is the primary legal framework — under Law Commission review | Justice Portfolio Profile | `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Justice.md` | | Elder abuse prosecution guidelines under development | Justice Portfolio Profile | Same as above | | Family Court handles EPOA disputes, welfare guardians, property managers | Community Law — Protection for Older People | `06_Legal_and_Financial_Planning/2026 - Community Law - Web Capture - Protection for Older People Against Abuse.md` | | Cross-party consensus on elder abuse prevention (high consensus potential) | Campaign Relevance Map | `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/00_CAMPAIGN_RELEVANCE_MAP.md` | | Six types: psychological, financial, physical, neglect, sexual, institutional | Elder Abuse Topic Map | `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Elder Abuse Topic Map - Warning Signs Financial Abuse and Help Pathways.md` | --- ## Current Government Position - **Hon Casey Costello (Minister for Seniors, NZ First):** Leads elder abuse awareness campaigns and coordination. EARS funded through Office for Seniors within MSD. Active public awareness campaigns ongoing (see Seniors Portfolio Profile). - **Hon Paul Goldsmith (Minister of Justice, National):** Responsible for PPPR Act, criminal justice response to elder abuse, Family Court processes. PPPR Act review underway via Law Commission. Elder abuse prosecution guidelines under development (see Justice Portfolio Profile). - **Hon Cameron Brewer (Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, National):** Consumer protection framework — Fair Trading Act, scams prevention. Banking conduct review addressing treatment of vulnerable customers (see Commerce Portfolio Profile). - **Current approach:** Incremental — awareness campaigns continue, PPPR Act review is a multi-year process, prosecution guidelines are being developed. No major legislative reform is imminent. --- ## Opposition Party Positions | Party | Position | Source | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | **Labour** | Shadow Justice (Duncan Webb) supports stronger elder abuse prevention and legal protections. Would likely prioritise PPPR Act reform. | Labour Party Profile | | **Green Party** | Supports stronger elder justice, human rights approach. Teanau Tuiono (Justice spokesperson) focuses on access to justice. | Green Party Profile | | **Te Pāti Māori** | Focus on Māori elder justice; culturally appropriate legal responses. Supports stronger protections. | Te Pāti Māori Party Profile | | **ACT** | Generally supports law and order; Nicole McKee (Associate Justice) focused on victims' rights. | ACT Party Profile | _Note: There is high cross-party consensus on the principle of elder abuse prevention; differences are on resourcing and regulatory approach._ --- ## Relevant Ministers + MPs | Name | Role | Party | Relevance | | ------------------ | -------------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | Hon Casey Costello | Minister for Seniors | NZ First | EARS funding, awareness campaigns, coordination | | Hon Paul Goldsmith | Minister of Justice | National | PPPR Act, elder abuse prosecution, Family Court | | Hon Cameron Brewer | Minister of Commerce | National | Consumer protections, scams, banking conduct | | Hon Nicole McKee | Associate Justice (Courts) | ACT | Court processes for elder abuse | | Hon Duncan Webb | Shadow Justice | Labour | Opposition justice spokesperson | _Source: Decision-Maker Map (`00_DECISION_MAKER_MAP.md`)_ --- ## Relevant Select Committees + Cabinet Committees | Committee | Relevance | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Justice Select Committee** (Chair: Hon Andrew Bayly, National) | PPPR Act reform, elder abuse legislation, Family Court reform | | **Social Services and Community Committee** (Chair: Joseph Mooney, National) | EARS funding, MSD oversight, Office for Seniors | | **Cabinet Social Policy Committee** | Elder abuse prevention policy | --- ## Relevant Agencies | Agency | Role | | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Office for Seniors (within MSD) | EARS funding and oversight; awareness campaigns | | Ministry of Justice | PPPR Act administration, court services, policy | | Law Commission | PPPR Act review; elder abuse law reform | | Family Court | EPOA disputes, welfare guardian appointments, property manager oversight | | New Zealand Police | Elder abuse investigation, Family Violence teams | | Public Trust | EPOA services, estate administration, financial abuse detection | | Age Concern NZ | EARS delivery partner; local advocacy and support | | Community Law Centres | Free legal advice for older people | | Human Rights Commission | Age discrimination complaints | | Banking Ombudsman | Banking complaints from older people; vulnerable customer treatment | --- ## Relevant Stakeholder Groups - Age Concern NZ — elder abuse advocacy and EARS delivery - Public Trust — EPOA services, financial abuse awareness - Community Law Centres — free legal advice - Grey Power — seniors advocacy - Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS) — national helpline (operated by Age Concern) - NZ Bankers Association — banking industry response to financial abuse - Financial Services Council — financial adviser conduct - Citizens Advice Bureau — consumer advice for older people --- ## Current Bills/Reviews/Consultations | Item | Status | Next Milestone | | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | PPPR Act review (Law Commission) | Active — comprehensive review | Report and recommendations | | Elder abuse prosecution guidelines | Under development | Police and Crown guidance | | EPOA awareness campaign | Ongoing | Office for Seniors / Public Trust | | Family Court reform | Ongoing | Simplification of processes | | Banking conduct review | Active | Vulnerable customer treatment standards | | Scam awareness programme | Active | Government campaign targeting older people | | Law Commission elder abuse reference | Underway | Specific law reform recommendations | --- ## Business Implications | Factor | Implication | | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | EPA misuse litigation | Increased demand for legal services; reputational risk for trustee organisations | | Banking conduct standards | Compliance costs for banks; better protection for older customers | | Insurance discrimination reform | May limit age-based pricing in insurance products | | EARS funding pressure | Growing demand for service; potential for increased government contracts | | PPPR Act reform | New compliance requirements for property managers, welfare guardians | | Consumer protection enforcement | Commerce Commission may increase scrutiny of financial products for seniors | | Scam prevention | Opportunities for fintech and security services; liability risks for platforms | --- ## Campaign Relevance - **High cross-party consensus:** Elder abuse prevention is universally supported — low-risk advocacy territory - **Limited concrete action:** All parties rhetorically support but legislative progress is slow — opportunity for campaign differentiation - **EARS visibility:** The 24/7 helpline is a tangible government service that can be highlighted - **Financial abuse focus:** Banking sector response and EPA misuse are media-generating topics - **Justice Committee pathway:** PPPR Act reform will go through Justice Committee — key engagement point - **Electoral sensitivity:** Elder abuse resonates with seniors voters and their adult children - **NZ First ownership:** Minister Costello has made elder abuse awareness a visible priority --- ## Evidence Gaps - No comprehensive national prevalence study on elder abuse in NZ - Limited data on EARS call volumes, outcomes, and regional coverage - No systematic data on EPA misuse prosecutions or court outcomes - No evaluation of effectiveness of current awareness campaigns - Limited data on financial abuse losses by type and perpetrator relationship - No analysis of elder abuse in residential care settings vs. community settings --- ## Recommended Monitoring | Source | Why | | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | | beehive.govt.nz — Minister Costello | Elder abuse awareness announcements; EARS funding | | beehive.govt.nz — Minister Goldsmith | PPPR Act reform; justice policy | | lawcom.govt.nz | PPPR Act review progress and recommendations | | ageconcern.org.nz | Elder abuse data and advocacy positions | | publictrust.co.nz | Financial abuse awareness and reports | | officeforseniors.govt.nz | EARS statistics and campaign materials | | justice.govt.nz | Family Court reform; prosecution guidelines | | police.govt.nz | Elder abuse crime statistics | --- ## Source List 1. NZ Seniors KB — Office for Seniors — Elder Abuse Response Service. KB: `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Office for Seniors - Web Capture - Elder Abuse Response Service.md` 2. NZ Seniors KB — Age Concern NZ — Elder Abuse Information. KB: `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Age Concern NZ - Web Capture - Elder Abuse Information.md` 3. NZ Seniors KB — Public Trust — Financial Elder Abuse. KB: `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Public Trust - Web Capture - Financial Elder Abuse.md` 4. NZ Seniors KB — Elder Abuse Topic Map. KB: `08_Elder_Abuse_and_Advocacy/2026 - Elder Abuse Topic Map - Warning Signs Financial Abuse and Help Pathways.md` 5. NZ Seniors KB — Justice Portfolio Profile. KB: `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Justice.md` 6. NZ Seniors KB — Seniors Portfolio Profile. KB: `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Seniors.md` 7. NZ Seniors KB — Commerce and Consumer Affairs Portfolio Profile. KB: `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Commerce and Consumer Affairs.md` 8. NZ Seniors KB — Community Law — Protection for Older People. KB: `06_Legal_and_Financial_Planning/2026 - Community Law - Web Capture - Protection for Older People Against Abuse.md` 9. NZ Seniors KB — Decision-Maker Map. KB: `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/00_DECISION_MAKER_MAP.md` 10. NZ Seniors KB — Campaign Relevance Map. KB: `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/00_CAMPAIGN_RELEVANCE_MAP.md` 11. NZ Seniors KB — Justice Select Committee Profile. KB: `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/05_Select_Committees/2026 Select Committee Profile - Justice.md` 12. NZ Seniors KB — Social Services and Community Select Committee Profile. KB: `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/05_Select_Committees/2026 Select Committee Profile - Social Services and Community.md` --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Next review: September 2026 or after significant policy announcement_