# 2026 Issue Brief — Stakeholder Power Map for Seniors Advocacy **Type:** Political & Campaign Intelligence — Integrated Issue Brief **Status:** Final **Date:** June 2026 **Classification:** Neutral business/campaign intelligence **Target audience:** Campaign strategists, policy advisers, advocacy organisations, sector analysts --- ## Executive Summary Effective advocacy for older New Zealanders requires a clear understanding of who holds power in the seniors policy ecosystem — which organisations have influence, who makes submissions, who drives reform, and how the stakeholder landscape is evolving. This brief maps the full stakeholder ecosystem: seniors advocacy organisations, aged care provider bodies, professional and workforce groups, consumer advocates, legal and financial services, research and policy organisations, Māori and Pacific providers, and government agencies. It assesses each stakeholder's influence, policy focus, coalition dynamics, and strategic value for campaigns. The landscape has shifted significantly in 2026: the election context sharpens advocacy priorities, the Māori Health Authority disestablishment changes Māori health advocacy, and the RV Act reform creates new stakeholder alignments. Understanding who drives reform — and who can block it — is essential for campaign strategy. --- ## Stakeholder Ecosystem Overview | Category | Number of Major Stakeholders | Overall Influence | Key Trend | | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Seniors advocacy / peak bodies** | 3–4 (Grey Power, Age Concern, RVA, NASCA) | 🟠 High — direct member base, media presence | Age Concern broadening elder abuse focus; Grey Power membership ageing | | **Aged care provider bodies** | 2 (Aged Care Association, Retirement Villages Association) | 🔴 Very High — industry lobby power, funding influence | ACA focused on funding sustainability; RVA on RV reform | | **Professional / workforce unions** | 3 (NZNO, E tū, NZ Medical Association) | 🟠 High — workforce advocacy, industrial power | NZNO campaigning on staffing ratios; E tū on care worker pay | | **Consumer advocates** | 3 (Consumer NZ, Community Law, Disabled Persons Assembly) | 🟠 High — public trust, media credibility | Consumer NZ leading RV reform campaign; DPA on disability-aging interface | | **Legal / financial services** | 2 (Public Trust, NZ Law Society) | 🟡 Medium — sector expertise, government advisory | Public Trust advocating EPA reform | | **Research / policy** | 3 (Retirement Commission, University Research Centres, NZIER) | 🟡 Medium — evidence base, independent credibility | Retirement Commission influential on retirement income policy | | **Māori providers / advocacy** | 5+ (Te Waipareira, Whānau Ora agencies, Iwi health providers) | 🟠 High — Māori health equity, kaumātua services | Māori Health Authority disestablishment shifting advocacy focus | | **Pacific providers / advocacy** | 4+ (The Fono, Vaka Tautua, Le Va, Pacific Church networks) | 🟡 Medium — growing influence, community trust | Pacific aged care remains under-represented in policy debate | | **Government agencies** | 8+ (Office for Seniors, MSD, Health NZ, Whaikaha, etc.) | 🔴 Very High — policy control, funding decisions | Agency influence varies with portfolio alignment and budget | | **Select committees** | 4–5 active | 🟠 High — legislative gatekeepers, inquiry powers | Social Services and Health committees are key | --- ## Detailed Stakeholder Profiles ### 1. Seniors Advocacy / Peak Bodies | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Grey Power** | 🔴 High — 30,000+ members; strong media presence; grassroots network | NZ Super; cost of living; health; housing; transport | Frequent — on most seniors-related bills and inquiries | NZ First, National (historical) | Electoral influence — seniors voter turnout; member mobilisation | | **Age Concern NZ** | 🔴 High — 23 local councils; elder abuse flagship service | Elder abuse prevention; aged care quality; social connection | Regular — elder abuse, health, housing | Consumer NZ, Community Law, Police | Elder abuse expertise; frontline service delivery | | **Retirement Village Residents Association (RVA)** | 🟠 High — resident voice in RV reform | Retirement village rights; ORA repayment; dispute resolution | Active — RV Act reform is signature issue | Consumer NZ, Grey Power | RV Act reform is critical moment; resident perspective essential | | **NASCA** | 🟡 Medium — NASC organisations | Needs assessment; aged care access; disability interface | Occasional — aged care funding, disability | Health NZ, Ministry of Health | Gateway organisation — controls aged care access | ### 2. Aged Care Provider Bodies | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Aged Care Association (ACA)** | 🔴 Very High — 450+ facilities; major sector voice | Funding sustainability; workforce; regulation | Frequent — Budget, health, workforce | NZNO (adversarial on staffing), E tū | Central to aged care funding debate; industry intelligence | | **Retirement Villages Association (RVA)** | 🔴 Very High — 350+ villages; significant economic weight | RV Act reform; ORA regulation; code of practice | Frequent — RV Act, Commerce Commission | MinterEllison (legal), sector consultants | Driving RV reform engagement; significant political lobbying | ### 3. Professional / Workforce Unions | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | **NZNO** | 🔴 High — nurses in aged care | Staffing ratios; pay parity; workplace safety | Frequent — health, employment, aged care | E tū, Labour Party | Workforce data; industrial power; campaign capability | | **E tū** | 🟠 High — care and support workers | Care worker pay; conditions; training | Active — employment, health | NZNO, Labour Party | Lower-paid care worker voice; growing political engagement | | **NZ Medical Association** | 🟡 Medium — GP voice | Rural health; GP workforce; primary care | Occasional | Health NZ, Ministry of Health | Clinical authority on health impacts | ### 4. Consumer Advocates | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | **Consumer NZ** | 🔴 High — trusted brand; campaign capability | RV Act reform; consumer protection; scams | Active — RV Act, Fair Trading, Commerce | RVA, Age Concern, Grey Power | Leading RV reform campaign; strong media and public trust | | **Community Law Centres** | 🟠 High — legal aid; frontline elder abuse | EPA; PPPR Act; elder financial abuse | Occasional — justice, legal aid | Age Concern, Public Trust | Grassroots legal support; elder abuse case data | | **Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA)** | 🟠 Medium — disability rights voice | Disability-aging interface; EGL; aged care accessibility | Active — Disability Support Services Bill | Whaikaha, Human Rights Commission | Key on disability-aging boundary; rights-based advocacy | ### 5. Legal / Financial Services | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | ------------------ | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | **Public Trust** | 🟠 High — 100,000+ EPA appointments | EPA reform; estate planning; trustee services | Active — justice, EPA, PPPR Act | Law Society, Ministry of Justice | EPA market leader; reform advocate; operational expertise | | **NZ Law Society** | 🟡 Medium — legal profession voice | EPA law; PPPR Act; elder law | Regular — justice, family law | Public Trust, Ministry of Justice | Professional standards; law reform submissions | ### 6. Research / Policy Organisations | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Retirement Commission** | 🔴 High — statutory independence | Retirement income; NZ Super; KiwiSaver; financial capability | Active — retirement income, tax, housing | Treasury, MSD, MBIE | Independent expert voice; high credibility; statutory mandate | | **University Research Centres** (e.g., NZ Institute for Research on Ageing, Health Services Research Centre) | 🟡 Medium — academic evidence | Ageing research; health services; dementia | Occasional — health, housing, population | Health NZ, MSD, Ministry of Health | Evidence base for advocacy; longitudinal data | | **NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER)** | 🟡 Low-Medium | Economic impact of ageing; fiscal modelling | Occasional — Budget, tax | Treasury, Ministry of Health | Fiscal credibility; used by government | ### 7. Māori Providers / Advocacy | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Te Waipareira Trust** | 🟠 High — major urban Māori provider | Kaumātuatanga; Māori health; Whānau Ora | Occasional — Māori health, housing | Whānau Ora agencies, TPK | Influential kaumātua reports; kaumātua service delivery | | **Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency** | 🟠 High — commissioning body | Whānau-centred services; kaumātua within whānau | Occasional — health, social development | TPK, Ministry of Health | Whānau Ora is flagship Māori policy model | | **Iwi Health Providers** (e.g., Ngāti Porou Hauora, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu) | 🟠 High — local service delivery | Kaumātua health; culturally appropriate care | Variable — health, housing | Health NZ, TPK | Grassroots kaumātua service delivery; local political influence | | **National Urban Māori Authority (NUMA)** | 🟡 Medium | Urban Māori kaumātua; housing | Occasional | TPK, HUD | Urban Māori representation | ### 8. Pacific Providers / Advocacy | Organisation | Influence | Policy Focus | Submissions | Coalition Partners | Strategic Value | | --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | **The Fono** | 🟠 Medium — major Pacific health provider | Pacific health; aged care; primary care | Occasional — health, Pacific | Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Health NZ | Pacific health service delivery; community trust | | **Vaka Tautua** | 🟡 Medium | Pacific health and disability | Occasional — health, disability | Ministry for Pacific Peoples | Pacific disability expertise | | **Le Va** | 🟡 Medium | Pacific mental health; dementia | Occasional — mental health | Ministry of Health | Dementia and mental health in Pacific communities | | **Pacific Church Networks** | 🟠 High — community influence | Informal aged care; social support | Rarely formal submissions | MPP, local MPs | Hard to reach but highly influential in Pacific community | ### 9. Government Agencies | Agency | Influence | Policy Focus | Role in Advocacy Ecosystem | | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Office for Seniors** | 🟡 Medium | Seniors policy coordination; ageing strategy | Receives and considers submissions; policy advice to Minister for Seniors | | **Ministry of Social Development** | 🔴 Very High | NZ Super; benefits; SuperGold | Major funder; responds to submissions on welfare policy | | **Health NZ — Te Whatu Ora** | 🔴 Very High | Aged care commissioning; health services | Implements policy; contracts aged care; conducts funding reviews | | **Ministry of Health** | 🔴 High | Health policy; regulation; standards | Policy development; Ngā Paerewa; certification framework | | **Whaikaha — Ministry of Disabled People** | 🟠 Medium | Disability support for older people | Disability Support Services Bill implementation | | **Te Puni Kōkiri** | 🟠 Medium | Māori development; kaumātua programmes | Kaumātua policy; Whānau Ora monitoring | | **Ministry for Pacific Peoples** | 🟡 Low-Medium | Pacific wellbeing; language and culture | Limited direct service delivery; policy coordination | | **Treasury** | 🔴 Very High (budget influence) | Fiscal policy; NZ Super Fund; long-term projections | Sets fiscal parameters — major constraint on aged care spending | | **ACC** | 🟡 Medium | Injury prevention; rehabilitation for older people | Falls prevention funding; injury data | | **Ombudsman** | 🟠 High (independent oversight) | OPCAT aged care monitoring; complaints | Independent reports on aged care conditions; systemic recommendations | | **HDC** | 🟠 Medium | Health complaints; systemic recommendations | Complaints data; systemic advocacy for quality improvement | --- ## Stakeholder Influence Heat Map | Issue Area | Most Influential Stakeholder(s) | Key Government Decision-Maker | | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | **NZ Super age and settings** | Grey Power, Retirement Commission, NZ First (Minister Costello) | Hon Louise Upston (Social Development) | | **Aged care funding** | Aged Care Association, NZNO, E tū, Health NZ | Hon Dr Simeon Brown (Health) | | **Retirement village reform** | Consumer NZ, RVA (residents), RVA (providers), Grey Power | Hon Cameron Brewer (Commerce) / Hon Casey Costello (Seniors) | | **Elder abuse and EPA** | Age Concern, Community Law, Public Trust | Hon Paul Goldsmith (Justice) | | **Māori kaumātua services** | Te Waipareira, Whānau Ora, Iwi providers, Te Pāti Māori | Hon Tama Potaka (Māori Development) | | **Pacific seniors health** | The Fono, Vaka Tautua, Pacific churches | Hon Paul Goldsmith (Pacific Peoples) | | **Disability-aging interface** | DPA, NASCA, Whaikaha | Hon Louise Upston (Disability Issues) | | **Rural ageing** | Rural Health Alliance, Federated Farmers, Grey Power | Hon Mark Patterson (Rural Communities) | | **Housing for seniors** | Grey Power, Age Concern, Community Housing Aotearoa | Hon Chris Bishop (Housing) | | **Dementia care** | Alzheimers NZ, NZNO, Dementia NZ | Hon Dr Simeon Brown (Health) / Hon Matt Doocey (Mental Health) | --- ## Submission Patterns | Stakeholder | Submissions Made (Approx. per year) | Most Active on | Effectiveness | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | Grey Power | 15–20 | NZ Super, health, housing, RV Act | High — member backing; media coverage | | Age Concern NZ | 10–15 | Elder abuse, health, housing, disability | High — frontline credibility | | Aged Care Association | 10–15 | Health, aged care funding, workforce | High — industry data; direct impact on policy | | NZNO | 10–15 | Health, employment, aged care | High — workforce expertise; political connections | | Consumer NZ | 8–12 | RV Act, Fair Trading, consumer protection | High — public trust; campaign capability | | Public Trust | 5–8 | Justice, EPA, PPPR Act, estates | Medium — technical expertise | | Retirement Commission | 5–8 | Retirement income, NZ Super, KiwiSaver | Very High — statutory authority | | Alzheimers NZ | 5–8 | Health, dementia, disability | Medium — specialist expertise | | Disabled Persons Assembly | 5–8 | Disability, health, housing | Medium — rights-based voice | | Te Waipareira | 3–5 | Māori health, housing, kaumātua | Medium — kaumātua expertise | --- ## Who Drives Reform? | Reform Area | Primary Drivers | Secondary Drivers | Blockers | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | **RV Act amendment** | Consumer NZ, RVA (residents), Grey Power | NZ First (Costello), HUD | Some RVA provider members (cost concerns) | | **NZ Super age 67** | National (pro), Treasury, ACT | NZ First (anti), Labour (anti), Grey Power (anti) | Coalition agreement; public opinion; NZ First veto | | **Mandated staffing ratios** | NZNO, Labour, Green Party | Aged Care Association (ambivalent), E tū | National, ACT, cost constraint | | **EPA reform** | Law Commission, Public Trust, Law Society, Age Concern | Minister Costello (possible champion) | No current government priority; Justice Ministry capacity | | **Disability-aging integration** | DPA, Whaikaha, NASCA | Minister Upston (dual portfolio) | Funding silos; institutional inertia | | **Aged care funding reform** | Aged Care Association, Health NZ (review) | Treasury, Minister Brown | Fiscal constraint; competing health priorities | | **Kaumātua services investment** | Te Waipareira, Whānau Ora, Te Pāti Māori | Minister Potaka | Māori Health Authority disestablishment distraction | | **Pacific aged care** | Pacific health providers, MPP | Pacific churches | Limited political priority; small demographic | --- ## Coalition Dynamics (2026 Election Context) | Coalition | Seniors Policy Impact | | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **National + NZ First + ACT (incumbent)** | NZ First ensures seniors portfolio prominence; RV Act reform proceeding; NZ Super 65 protected (current term) | | **Labour + Green + Te Pāti Māori (possible)** | Stronger aged care regulation; Māori health equity focus; EPA reform; higher health spending | | **National + ACT (without NZ First)** | Risk of Super age 67 acceleration; weaker seniors portfolio; light regulation | | **National + NZ First (without ACT)** | Similar to current; seniors portfolio retained; moderate reform pace | --- ## Emerging Stakeholder Trends | Trend | Implication | | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Consumer NZ becoming a major seniors advocate** | Consumer NZ's RV campaign is building seniors advocacy muscle — likely to expand into aged care, financial abuse | | **Grey Power membership declining** | Ageing membership base needs renewal — digital engagement and younger retiree outreach critical | | **Māori health advocacy restructuring** | MHA disestablishment forces Māori providers to engage differently with mainstream agencies | | **Pacific aged care advocacy emerging** | Growing Pacific 65+ population will drive demand for Pacific advocacy organisations | | **Workforce unions gaining political influence** | NZNO and E tū are becoming more politically active — staffing ratios is a 2026 election issue | | **Research-policy gap closing** | Retirement Commission and university centres providing more policy-ready research | | **Digital advocacy growing** | Online petitions, social media campaigns (Consumer NZ model) — supplementing traditional submission-based advocacy | --- ## Evidence Gaps - No systematic mapping of stakeholder financial resources and lobbying expenditure - Limited data on stakeholder submission effectiveness (which submissions influence policy) - No comprehensive register of stakeholder coalition memberships and alliances - Limited understanding of Pacific and Asian community stakeholder landscape - No tracking of stakeholder engagement with select committees (appearance frequency) - No analysis of stakeholder influence on Budget decisions --- ## Recommended Monitoring | Source | Why | | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | stakeholder websites (grey power, age concern, etc.) | Policy positions; campaign launches; submissions | | parliament.nz — submissions register | Who is submitting on seniors-related bills | | beehive.govt.nz | Ministerial announcements responding to stakeholder advocacy | | nzherald.co.nz / rnz.co.nz | Media coverage of stakeholder campaigns | | select committee hearings (parliament.nz) | Which stakeholders appear as witnesses | --- ## Source List 1. NZ Seniors KB — Stakeholder Profiles (15 organisations). KB: `09_Stakeholder_and_Specialist_Groups/` 2. NZ Seniors KB — Government Agency Profiles (14 agencies). KB: `08_Government_Agencies_and_Regulators/` 3. NZ Seniors KB — Party Position Matrices. KB: `10_Party_Position_Matrices/` 4. NZ Seniors KB — Campaign Relevance Map. KB: `00_CAMPAIGN_RELEVANCE_MAP.md` 5. NZ Seniors KB — Decision-Maker Map. KB: `00_DECISION_MAKER_MAP.md` 6. NZ Seniors KB — Select Committee Profiles. KB: `05_Select_Committees/` 7. Parliament NZ — Submissions register 8. Stakeholder organisation websites and annual reports --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Next review: September 2026 or after 2026 election outcome confirmed_