Longer, better, more sustainable lives — Five priority areas for investment in 2025
New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER)
Publisher: NZIER; commissioned by The Selwyn Foundation
Sector evidence
Market research
2026-10-09
Next review not yet scheduled
New Zealand
High confidence
verified
SNZ editorial review
Evidence boundary: Commissioned July 2025 evidence synthesis, released 19 August 2025. Investment recommendations and cited secondary health/cost evidence are not implemented policy, proven intervention effects or present-day medical guidance. Mixed reference years and older-population heterogeneity apply.
Short Answer
Sarah Hogan and Philippa Miller-Moore’s NZIER report for The Selwyn Foundation sets out five investment priorities for improving later life: better longevity data, suitable housing, life-course planning, integrated support for independence and social connection, and specialist...
Key Points
- •The document cover says July 2025; NZIER’s publisher page is dated 19 August 2025. These are report and release dates, respectively.
- •Authors are Sarah Hogan and Philippa Miller-Moore; commissioned by The Selwyn Foundation, with quality assurance and Haemata peer-review advice acknowledged (physical p.2).
- •Priority 1 calls for more granular longevity data and reporting to reflect diversity within older populations and challenge age-based assumptions (physical pp.6–7).
- •Priority 2 emphasises suitable, affordable and accessible housing, including the position of older renters and housing security (physical pp.8–9).
- •Priority 3 extends long-term life planning beyond retirement finances to health, housing, work, relationships and other life domains (physical pp.10–11).
- •Priority 4 concerns integrated care, social connection and maintaining independence; priority 5 concerns specialist geriatric, frailty and rehabilitation services (physical pp.12–15).
Full Summary & Notes
Sarah Hogan and Philippa Miller-Moore’s NZIER report for The Selwyn Foundation sets out five investment priorities for improving later life: better longevity data, suitable housing, life-course planning, integrated support for independence and social connection, and specialist care for frailty. It argues that treating everyone aged 65+ as one group obscures substantial differences and reinforces ageism. The July 2025 document synthesises existing research and offers recommendations rather than reporting an original cohort study or a tested programme. NZIER’s publisher page dates its release to 19 August 2025. The recommendations span government, community and service responses; publication does not establish adoption, funding, implementation or demonstrated clinical or fiscal effects.
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