Age-proofing Aotearoa — Rethinking our infrastructure for an ageing population
Helen Clark Foundation and WSP
Sector evidence
Sector body
2026-10-09
Next review not yet scheduled
New Zealand
Medium confidence
verified
SNZ editorial review
Evidence boundary: October 2025 infrastructure recommendations and dated projection/model scenarios, not enacted policy or current bed capacity. WSP and underlying Sapere executive/body age denominators conflict; detailed Sapere Figure 14 uses 80+, 2022/23 and historic DHB geography. Demand individuals, available beds and projected shortfalls are distinct. Preserved 55-page spread PDF differs from current 108-page publisher PDF.
Short Answer
Kali Mercier’s Helen Clark Foundation/WSP report examines how housing, transport, aged care, health facilities and public spaces could respond to an ageing population.
Key Points
- •Published 19 October 2025 by Helen Clark Foundation/WSP; author Kali Mercier is acknowledged as WSP Fellow and foundation Deputy Director. The preserved PDF has 55 physical pages, including spreads.
- •Using 2024 Stats NZ projection scenarios, the report gives 1.4–1.6 million people aged 65+ in 2051 and 2–2.5 million in 2078; ranges and projection vintage must remain explicit (physical p.12).
- •Recommendations include coordinated long-term cross-government leadership, infrastructure planning informed by ageing, and improved regional population projections (physical p.9).
- •Age-friendly housing, mixed-use neighbourhoods, transport alternatives, seating, toilets and accessible walking environments are discussed alongside health and care infrastructure (physical pp.9–10).
- •The 149 Northland / 272 Canterbury ARC-bed comparison is labelled per 1,000 aged 65+ in WSP’s executive (physical p.7 / printed p.3), but 85+ in its body (physical p.29 / printed pp.47–48). The detailed original Sapere Figure 14/body use 80+, 2022/23 data and historic DHB geography; the denominator conflict is unresolved in WSP.
- •The cited 40–84% ARC-demand growth to 2039/40 comes from July 2024 Phase 2 model scenarios for individuals, not a measured bed shortfall. The almost-12,000-bed 2032 comparison comes from a separate January 2024 historical-build/constant-utilisation model.
Full Summary & Notes
Kali Mercier’s Helen Clark Foundation/WSP report examines how housing, transport, aged care, health facilities and public spaces could respond to an ageing population. It recommends coordinated long-term leadership, better regional projections and accessible communities that support independence and connection. Its population forecasts and care-demand scenarios use dated assumptions rather than guaranteed outcomes. A material source conflict needs caution: regional care-bed comparisons are labelled 65+ in the executive summary, 85+ in the body and 80+ in the detailed Sapere figure cited. This catalogue preserves the original 55-page PDF containing spreads; the current publisher serves a differently paginated 108-page PDF. The report’s October 2025 recommendations are not evidence of policy adoption or current care capacity.
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