1 September 2026— The Christchurch
Methodist Mission (CMM) will present its petition for
increased and targeted investment in social and affordable
housing for older people to the Minister for Seniors
Hon. Casey Costello on the steps of Parliament today at 4.45
pm.
The petition was launched on 1 October
2025 as a key action in CMM’s Doors to Dignity
campaign that calls for cross-party support for
policies that will ensure older New Zealanders can access
safe, affordable and age-appropriate housing.
CMM
Executive Director Jill Hawkey says that the presentation
over the over 3,000 signatures to Minister for Seniors Hon
Casey Costello for presentation in Parliament later this
week comes amid a growing body of evidence showing growing
housing distress and insecurity among older
people.
“The housing crisis continues to deepen for
older people. We are seeing more over 65s in housing
distress as rents increase beyond what superannuants can
afford to pay. The solution is simple: after the elections,
the incoming Government will need to prioritise the building
of new affordable housing for older people.”
Recent
Ministry of Social Development figures reveal a growing
crisis: over-55s are now the largest demographic on New
Zealand’s social housing waitlist, with over 6,200
applicants. Specifically, the number of over-65s on
the register climbed 34% over four years, rising
from 2,079 in 2021 to 2,781 in 2025.
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“The New
Zealand Council of Christian Social Services recently
reported that 147,000 New Zealanders aged over 65 live in
accommodation they do not own, highlighting the growing
importance of affordable rental housing for older people,”
says Hawkey. “This is clearly a worsening crisis for older
New Zealanders.”
The Doors to Dignity petition seeks
practical policies so older people can age with dignity,
stay connected to their communities, and avoid homelessness.
Proposed solutions are featured in CMM’s Doors to
Dignity report, launched last year on the International
Day of Older Persons.
More information about the
campaign and the petition are available at
doorstodignity.nz.
