# 2026 Party Position Matrix — Elder Abuse and Consumer Protection | Field | Detail | | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Type** | Party position matrix — elder abuse prevention, consumer protection, and legal safeguards | | **Status** | Final (data from party profiles as at June 2026) | | **Date** | June 2026 | | **Classification** | Neutral business/campaign intelligence | --- ## Summary This matrix maps the positions of **all six parties currently represented in Parliament** on key issues relating to **elder abuse prevention, financial abuse, legal protections (PPPR Act), consumer protections, and age discrimination**. The data is extracted from party profiles, issue briefs, and portfolio profiles in this Knowledge Base. **Context:** Elder abuse affects an estimated 1 in 10 older New Zealanders. Financial abuse accounts for ~50% of cases, with EPA misuse the most common form. The PPPR Act 1988 is under Law Commission review. All parties express rhetorical support for elder abuse prevention, but concrete legislative action has been limited. Key ministers: Casey Costello (Seniors — awareness), Paul Goldsmith (Justice — PPPR Act), Cameron Brewer (Commerce — consumer protections). Cross-party consensus on the principle is high; detail on resourcing and regulation varies. --- ## Matrix | Issue | National | Labour | ACT | NZ First | Greens | Te Pāti Māori | Evidence Quality | Notes | | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS) funding** | Current funding maintained through Office for Seniors (within MSD). No specific increase identified. Minister Costello (NZ First) leads awareness. | Would likely increase EARS funding — Labour supportive of elder abuse prevention services. | May support current funding but cautious on new spending; prefers voluntary/community-led support. | **Minister Costello champions EARS** — awareness campaigns and coordination a visible priority. Likely to advocate for increased funding. | Support increased EARS funding as part of elder justice commitment. | Support increased culturally appropriate EARS services for Māori. | 🟡 **NZ First strongest advocate** — Costello is minister; others general | EARS operates 24/7 helpline (0800 32 668 65) via Age Concern NZ | | **EPA monitoring / enforcement** | Current EPA framework; Minister Goldsmith (Justice) responsible. PPPR Act review underway. Incremental improvements. | Shadow Justice (Duncan Webb) supports stronger EPA protections and enforcement. Would prioritise PPPR Act reform. | Support clarification of EPA rules but cautious on new regulatory burden. Nicole McKee (Associate Justice) focused on victims' rights. | Support stronger EPA protections as part of seniors portfolio. Minister Costello promotes EPA uptake. | Support stronger EPA monitoring; independent oversight of EPAs. | Support culturally appropriate EPA frameworks for Māori; whānau involvement in decision-making. | 🟡 **Broad support for EPA reform** — limited specific enforcement proposals | EPA misuse is the most common form of financial elder abuse (Public Trust) | | **PPPR Act reform** | Law Commission review active; government awaiting recommendations. Minister Goldsmith progressing reform cautiously. | Would prioritise PPPR Act reform; stronger protections for older and vulnerable people. Shadow Justice (Webb) has made this a focus. | Support reform that reduces complexity; cautious on new regulatory powers. | Support PPPR Act reform as part of seniors protection. Minister Costello likely to advocate within government. | Support comprehensive PPPR Act reform with stronger safeguards. | Support reform with Māori cultural considerations; Te Tiriti-based approach. | ✅ **Confirmed** — PPPR Act review is active; all parties support reform in principle | Law Commission review is comprehensive; timeline multi-year | | **Financial abuse prevention** | Cross-government approach via Justice, Commerce, and Seniors portfolios. Banking conduct review addressing vulnerable customer treatment. | Would strengthen financial abuse prevention legislation and enforcement. | Support criminal penalties for financial abuse; cautious on new civil regulation. | **Strong advocate** — Minister Costello leads elder abuse awareness; financial abuse is priority area. | Support comprehensive financial abuse prevention; stronger banking safeguards. | Support financial abuse prevention tailored for Māori communities; culturally appropriate responses. | 🟡 **NZ First most visible** — other parties support in principle | ~50% of elder abuse cases involve financial element | | **Family Court capacity** | Family Court reform ongoing; simplification of processes. Minister Goldsmith responsible. | Would increase Family Court resources to handle elder abuse and PPPR Act cases more efficiently. | Support court efficiency reforms; may support specialist elder abuse processes. | Support better court access for seniors as part of elder justice. | Support increased Family Court capacity and specialist elder abuse processes. | Support culturally appropriate court processes for Māori elders. | 🟡 **Limited specific elder abuse court policy** — general court reform positions | Family Court handles EPOA disputes, welfare guardian appointments | | **Banking industry safeguards** | Banking conduct review active; vulnerable customer treatment standards being developed. Minister Brewer (Commerce) leads. | Would strengthen banking obligations to protect older customers. | Market-based; industry should self-regulate with minimal government intervention. | Support stronger banking protections for seniors as part of consumer protection. | Support mandatory banking safeguards for older customers. | Support banking safeguards that are accessible and appropriate for Māori seniors. | 🟡 **General support for stronger banking protections** — degree of regulation is difference | Banking Ombudsman handles older people's complaints; conduct review underway | | **Romance scam prevention** | Scam awareness programme active; government campaign targeting older people. Minister Brewer leads. | Would strengthen scam prevention and enforcement; support victims. | Support law enforcement action; cautious on new regulation of online platforms. | Support scam prevention as part of seniors protection — Minister Costello promotes awareness. | Support stronger platform regulation and scam victim support. | Support scam prevention resources accessible for Māori communities. | 🟡 **General support across all parties** — limited specific policy | Older people disproportionately targeted by scams | | **Retirement village ORA unfair terms** | RV Act reform proceeding cautiously under Minister Brewer. Light-touch regulation preferred. | Support stronger ORA protections as part of retirement village reform. | Cautious — oppose new regulatory burdens on RV operators. | **Strongest advocate** — RV property title reform is signature policy; ORA unfair terms a key concern. | Support stronger consumer protections for ORA residents. | Focus on kaumātua housing rather than commercial RVs; supports fair treatment. | ✅ **NZ First confirmed** on title reform; others general | Consumer NZ campaign highlights ORA unfair terms | | **Fair Trading Act application to ORAs** | FTA currently applies; no major changes planned. Minister Brewer portfolio. | Support stronger FTA enforcement specific to retirement villages. | Oppose new FTA-specific RV provisions. | Support explicit RV protections under FTA as part of reform. | Support strongest consumer law protections for RV residents. | Support Māori consumer protections in FTA. | 🟡 **NZ First and Greens supportive** — others cautious or opposed | Consumer NZ argues current FTA insufficient for RV protections | | **Commerce Commission enforcement in RV sector** | Current Commerce Commission role; no expansion planned. | Support stronger Commerce Commission enforcement role in RV sector. | Oppose increased enforcement; reduce bureaucracy. | Support stronger enforcement as part of consumer protection. | Support dedicated consumer enforcement body for RVs. | Support enforcement mechanisms accessible for Māori residents. | 🟡 **Limited specific policy** — general positions on enforcement | Commerce Commission currently has limited RV-specific enforcement | | **Age discrimination law** | Human Rights Act 1993 provides protections; no major reform planned. Minister Goldsmith (Justice). | Would strengthen age discrimination protections and enforcement. | Oppose new anti-discrimination regulation; individual responsibility. | Support stronger age discrimination protections for seniors. | Support strengthened age discrimination law and enforcement. | Support age discrimination protections with Māori cultural lens. | 🟡 **General support across most parties** — limited specific reform proposals | Human Rights Commission handles age discrimination complaints | | **Legal aid for older people** | Current legal aid system; access for older people. Legal aid reform active. Minister Goldsmith. | Would improve legal aid access for older people as part of justice reform. | Support legal aid for genuine need but cautious on overall spending. | Support legal aid access for seniors facing elder abuse or legal issues. | Support expanded legal aid for older people; access to justice focus. | Support legal aid accessible for Māori seniors; culturally appropriate services. | 🟡 **Limited specific policy** — general support for legal aid access | Legal aid reform may affect older people's access; Community Law Centres provide free advice | --- ## Key Insights | Insight | Detail | | ------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Strongest elder abuse advocate in government** | NZ First — Minister Costello leads awareness campaigns and coordination; high visibility | | **Highest cross-party consensus** | Elder abuse prevention is universally supported — low-risk advocacy territory | | **PPPR Act reform** | All parties support reform in principle; Law Commission review is the vehicle | | **Limited concrete action** | Despite rhetorical consensus, detailed legislative and funding commitments are sparse | | **Banking safeguards** | Conduct review underway; parties differ on mandatory vs voluntary industry standards | | **RV consumer protection** | NZ First strongest reform advocate; ACT most cautious | | **Legal aid concern** | No party has detailed legal aid expansion plan for older people | | **Age discrimination** | General support for stronger protections; no specific legislative proposal | --- ## Cross-Party Consensus Analysis | Issue | Consensus Level | Notes | | -------------------------------- | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | Elder abuse prevention (general) | **High** | All parties rhetorically support; low-risk advocacy | | EARS funding continuation | **High** | All parties support helpline continuation | | PPPR Act reform | **High** | All agree reform needed; Law Commission process | | EPA improvement | **High** | Broad support for stronger EPA protections | | Scam prevention | **High** | All parties support awareness campaigns | | Legal aid for older people | **High** | General support but resourcing differs | | Banking safeguards | **Medium** | Mandatory vs voluntary disagreement | | Commerce Commission enforcement | **Medium** | Scope and resourcing differ | | RV ORA unfair terms | **Medium** | NZ First/left support strong action; ACT/National cautious | | Age discrimination law reform | **Medium** | Support for strengthening but no specific proposals | --- ## Evidence Quality Scale | Symbol | Meaning | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ✅ **Confirmed** | Official party policy, manifesto commitment, coalition agreement text, or direct statement | | 🟡 **Inferred** | Clear from party platform, stated positions, or consistent with ideology | | ⚠️ **Unverified** | Not in current party profile — position inferred from general approach | --- ## Sources | Source | Location | | -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | National Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - National.md` | | Labour Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Labour.md` | | ACT Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - ACT.md` | | NZ First Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - NZ First.md` | | Green Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Green Party.md` | | Te Pāti Māori profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Te Pati Maori.md` | | Issue Brief — Elder Abuse and Financial Protection | `11_Issue_Briefs_for_Campaigning/2026 Issue Brief - Elder Abuse and Financial Protection.md` | | Justice Portfolio Profile | `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Justice.md` | | Commerce and Consumer Affairs Portfolio Profile | `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Commerce and Consumer Affairs.md` | | Seniors Portfolio Profile | `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Seniors.md` | | Social Development Portfolio Profile | `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Social Development and Employment.md` | | Campaign Relevance Map | `00_CAMPAIGN_RELEVANCE_MAP.md` | --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Last updated: June 2026_