# 2026 Tracker — Elder Abuse Justice and Consumer Protection | Field | Detail | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Type** | Tracker — elder abuse prevention, justice responses, consumer protection for seniors | | **Status** | Live tracking | | **Date** | June 2026 | | **Classification** | Neutral business/campaign intelligence | --- ## Purpose Track **legislative, policy, and regulatory developments** relating to elder abuse prevention, justice system responses, and consumer protection for older New Zealanders. This includes family violence law reforms, Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) reform, consumer scam prevention, and financial abuse protections. --- ## Search Terms ``` "elder abuse" site:beehive.govt.nz "elder abuse" site:parliament.nz "enduring power of attorney" site:parliament.nz "family violence" seniors site:justice.govt.nz "consumer protection" seniors site:comcom.govt.nz "scams" seniors site:consumer.org.nz "financial abuse" older people New Zealand "adult protection" New Zealand ``` --- ## Key Sources | Source | URL | What It Provides | | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------- | | Office for Seniors — Elder Abuse | https://www.officeforseniors.govt.nz | Elder abuse awareness, EPA resources | | Ministry of Justice — Family Violence | https://www.justice.govt.nz | Family violence legislation reform | | Age Concern NZ | https://www.ageconcern.org.nz | Elder abuse advocacy, prevention services | | NZ Law Society | https://www.lawsociety.org.nz | EPA reform, elder law | | Consumer NZ | https://www.consumer.org.nz | Consumer protection for seniors, scam alerts | | Commerce Commission | https://comcom.govt.nz | Consumer law enforcement, scams | | Community Law | https://communitylaw.org.nz | Elder abuse legal resources | --- ## Tracker Table | Date | Source Type | Item | MP/Minister/Party | Issue | Position/Action | Evidence URL | Relevance | Follow-up | | ---------- | ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 2026-06 | Current | Age Concern NZ — First-ever TV campaign "Always Respected, Never Abused" for WEAAD 2026 | Age Concern NZ / First Star agency | WEAAD 2026 first-ever TV ad for elder abuse awareness; 2 people/hour abused; 1,600+ referrals/year | Campaign by First Star agency; first TV advertising for Age Concern; purple-themed local events | https://stoppress.co.nz/news/age-concern-sticks-oldies-elder-abuse-awareness-campaign/ | 🟠 High — strategic escalation to mass-media awareness | Track campaign outcomes; check for donation impact | | 2026-06-04 | Current | AML Identity Verification Code — SuperGold Card accepted as secondary ID | Hon Brooke van Velden (ACT), Hon Nicole McKee (ACT) | SuperGold Cards and Total Mobility Cards now valid secondary ID under AML rules from 1 July 2026 | Part of wider AML regime overhaul; first Code update since 2013; reduces barriers for older people accessing financial services independently | https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-aml-code-delivers-practical-changes-new-zealanders | 🟠 High — reduces financial abuse vulnerability by enabling independent ID verification | Track implementation from 1 July 2026; monitor banking sector uptake | | 2026-06 | Current | World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2026 — EPA awareness campaign | Hon Casey Costello (NZ First) — Minister for Seniors | WEAAD 2026 (15 June); Office for Seniors urging older New Zealanders to establish EPAs to prevent financial abuse | Government promoting EPA creation as key elder abuse prevention tool; free resources available | https://www.officeforseniors.govt.nz/latest-news/budget-2026-supergold-card-upgrade-to-provide-new-id-option-for-older-new-zealanders | 🔴 Critical — EPA reform is Law Commission priority; elder abuse increasing | Track uptake of EPA awareness campaign | | 2026-05 | Current | Better Later Life Action Plan — elder abuse provisions | Hon Casey Costello (NZ First) — Minister for Seniors | Better Later Life Action Plan (Nov 2025) includes elder abuse prevention actions; implementation ongoing | Action Plan commits to strengthening elder abuse responses, EPA reform, and financial abuse protections | https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/action-plan-supports-kiwis-live-better-longer | 🔴 Critical — Action Plan sets government policy framework for elder abuse | Track implementation milestones | | 2026-03 | Current | Fair Trading Amendment Bill — scam protections for seniors | Hon Nicola Willis (National) / Hon Cameron Brewer (National) | Bill increases penalties for misleading pricing; creates safe harbour for online platforms disrupting scams; seniors disproportionately affected by scams | Bill at select committee; submissions close 16 Jul 2026; Consumer NZ supporting stronger scam protections | https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-currently-before-parliament/ | 🟠 High — strengthens consumer protections for seniors vulnerable to scams | Consider submission on seniors scam protection | | 2026-02 | Current | Te Aorerekura Action Plan 2025–2030 — elder abuse in family violence framework | Hon Erica Stanford (National) — Minister for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence | Family Violence Action Plan (Te Aorerekura) second plan covers 2025–2030; includes elder abuse as priority | Government aims to reduce violent crime and victims by 20,000 by 2030; elder abuse recognised within family violence framework | https://preventfvsv.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Second-Te-Aorerekura-Action-Plan.pdf | 🟠 High — elder abuse included in national family violence prevention | Monitor action plan implementation for elder-specific measures | | 2026-01 | Current | Better Later Life (EPOA Reform) Bill — in development | Hon Casey Costello (NZ First) — Minister for Seniors | Law Commission recommendations on EPA reform; legislation expected possible 2027 | Bill would reform Enduring Powers of Attorney to strengthen safeguards against financial abuse of older people | https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news/publications/lawtalk/lawtalk-issue-961/elder-law-in-a-changing-new-zealand/ | 🔴 Critical — EPA reform directly prevents elder financial abuse | Track Law Commission recommendations and bill development | | 2025-12 | Historical | Office for Seniors — elder abuse awareness resources | Office for Seniors | Free resources for community organisations to promote elder abuse awareness and prevention | Resources available online; distributed ahead of WEAAD each year | https://www.officeforseniors.govt.nz | 🟡 Medium — awareness resources support community prevention | Order resources for Seniors KB outreach | | 2025-06 | Historical | Help Prevent Elder Abuse — MP awareness day | Hon Casey Costello (NZ First) | World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025; Minister urged seniors to establish EPAs | Ministerial statement on WEAAD; EPA promotion as abuse prevention tool | https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/help-prevent-elder-abuse | 🟠 High — ministerial leadership on elder abuse | Track ongoing EPA awareness initiatives | | 2025-03 | Historical | Redress System for Abuse in Care Bill — introduced | Hon Erica Stanford (National) — Minister for Abuse in Care | Establishes redress system for survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care; many older survivors eligible | "Charlotte's Change" amendment extends redress scope; affects older people who experienced abuse in psychiatric and aged care settings | https://www.parliament.nz | 🔴 Critical — redress for older abuse survivors | Track select committee process | --- ## Current Status Summary **Elder abuse prevention and consumer protection for seniors under active development.** Key developments: 1. **Age Concern NZ first-ever TV campaign** "Always Respected, Never Abused" — WEAAD 2026 strategic escalation to mass media. 2. **AML Code change** — SuperGold Card accepted as secondary ID from 1 July 2026; reduces financial abuse vulnerability. 3. **WEAAD 2026** (15 June) — Minister Costello promoting EPA creation; free resources available. 4. **Better Later Life Action Plan** — includes elder abuse prevention actions; implementation underway. 5. **Fair Trading Amendment Bill** — stronger scam protections for seniors; at select committee. 6. **Te Aorerekura Action Plan** — elder abuse in national family violence framework. 7. **EPOA Reform Bill** — in development for potential 2027 introduction. 8. **Redress System for Abuse in Care** — critical for older abuse survivors. --- ## Tracking Conventions | Symbol | Meaning | | ----------------------- | -------------------------- | | 🟢 **No action needed** | Monitor only | | 🟡 **Monitor** | Track progress | | 🟠 **High relevance** | Consider engagement | | 🔴 **Critical** | Active engagement required | | ✅ **Complete** | Action taken | --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Last updated: June 2026_