Office for Seniors - Te Tari Kaumātua

What Office for Seniors - Te Tari Kaumātua does

Office for Seniors (Te Tari Kaumātua) is a New Zealand government agency operating as a branch of the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), headquartered in Wellington with approximately 7 staff. Its statutory role is to improve the lives of older people across New Zealand — a population of roughly 900,000 today, projected to reach approximately 1.2 million by 2034 — by providing information, promoting wellbeing and concerns of older people, and raising awareness of issues facing the ageing population. The agency is led by a Director (Nicky McDonald, with George Minton serving as Acting Director) and reports to the Minister for Seniors (Casey Costello), implementing the Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua strategy 2019-2034 and its associated Action Plan 2025-2028.

Name

Office for Seniors - Te Tari Kaumātua

Legal name

Ministry of Social Development (on behalf of the Crown)

Website

https://officeforseniors.govt.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Office for Seniors (Te Tari Kaumātua) is a New Zealand government agency under the Ministry of Social Development that delivers free information, policy coordination, and services — including the Elder Abuse Response Service, Age-friendly Communities Programme, and Better Later Life Strategy — for the country's 900,000-plus seniors aged 65 and over.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Social Services — Seniors Affairs

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), Technology & Digital Skills for Seniors (Devices, internet safety, telehealth) (EDAAAMAH), Civic Engagement, Volunteering & Leadership Education for Seniors (EDAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Seniors policy services
• Elder abuse prevention
• Age-friendly communities
• Government social services
• Older persons affairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Office for Seniors is a New Zealand government agency within the Ministry of Social Development that delivers a portfolio of free services and programmes for older New Zealanders. Its core offerings include the Elder Abuse Response Service (a free, confidential 24/7 helpline), the Better Later Life national strategy and 2025–2028 Action Plan, the Age-friendly Communities Programme with grants and a national network of 36 districts, and information resources to help seniors age well. The agency also supports digital inclusion initiatives, the SuperGold Card programme, and ageing research grants in partnership with the Selwyn Foundation.

Product overview

The Office for Seniors (Te Tari Kaumātua) is a New Zealand government agency that does not offer a unified software product but instead delivers a portfolio of programmes and services focused on improving the lives of older people. Core offerings include the Elder Abuse Response Service (a 24-hour helpline), the Better Later Life Strategy with its associated Action Plan 2025-2028, and the Age-friendly Communities Programme with its toolkit, network, and grants. Additional services include the SuperGold Card programme, Business of Ageing research publications, the Seniors Newsletter, and digital inclusion initiatives. The organisation also distributes free elder abuse awareness resources and partners with The Selwyn Foundation on ageing research grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elder Abuse Response Service A free, confidential 24-hour helpline providing support for older New Zealanders experiencing or at risk of elder abuse, with trained regional coordinators who assess situations, manage risk, and connect victims with police, health providers, lawyers, banks, and government agencies.
• Better Later Life Strategy (He Oranga Kaumātua 2019–2034) National strategy (He Oranga Kaumātua 2019–2034) focused on four outcome areas: financial security and economic participation, healthy ageing, housing choices, and social connection — guiding government work to support older New Zealanders.
• Better Later Life Action Plan 2025–2028 Implementation plan for 2025–2028 focusing on three priority areas: health and care services, housing, and cost-of-living. Includes actions such as modernising the SuperGold Card, improving driver licensing systems, and strengthening elder abuse protections.
• Age-friendly Communities Programme A programme supporting councils and communities to develop age-friendly plans and initiatives based on the WHO Age-friendly Cities and Communities Framework, including grants, toolkit resources, training materials, and a national network of 36 member districts.
• Age-friendly Fund Annual grants programme providing $5,000 to $15,000 for community-led projects that support age-friendly communities, funding the development of age-friendly plans or implementation of new age-friendly initiatives by councils and community organisations.
• Selwyn Foundation Ageing Well Grants Research grants of $25,000 each supported by the Office for Seniors in partnership with The Selwyn Foundation, including Early-career Research Award and Community Research Award categories for projects supporting healthy ageing and independence.
• SuperGold Card programme A discount and services card for seniors, with a planned upgrade announced in Budget 2026 ($36.4 million operating and $6.46 million capital funding) to add a photograph and enhanced security features, making it usable as a form of official identification from October 2028.
• Elder Abuse Awareness Resources Free prevention resources including digital posters, social media graphics, printed resources (leaflets, wallet cards, posters, publications), and awareness ribbons available to order from Bluestar, updated ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
• Kete Tiaki Toolkit Elder abuse prevention toolkit developed by Te Ahi Kaa Indigenous Solutions with Office for Seniors funding, featuring the AEIOU framework for building trust, opening kōrero, identifying protective factors, exploring options, and connecting to support.
• Business of Ageing Report Annual report from NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) documenting the economic and social contributions of people aged 65 and over, including paid work, self-employment, tax contributions, consumer spending, and unpaid work such as volunteering.
• Seniors Newsletter Regular email newsletter providing latest news, information, and updates for older New Zealanders, delivered via Mailchimp, covering NZ Super payments, Winter Energy Payment, elder abuse awareness, and Better Later Life initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 Age-friendly Fund grants provided to communities (2018-2023)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Selwyn FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Partnership with Selwyn Foundation to administer Ageing Well research grants ($25,000 each) supporting research and community innovation for ageing well. The Office for Seniors supported the administration of the grant process. Recipients include Dr Sophie Nock (University of Waikato) and Dr Carl Webber (University of Auckland) for 2026.
• Te Ahi Kaa Indigenous SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Te Ahi Kaa Indigenous Solutions developed the Kete Tiaki toolkit (elder abuse prevention resource) with funding from the Office for Seniors and input from local kaumātua of Te Pūaha o Waikato, Hei Tiaki, Social Wealth, and Miraka Davis. The toolkit provides guidance on tackling challenging discussions and keeping people safe.
• Digital Inclusion Alliance AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2021Delivers the Digital Literacy Training for Seniors programme, which won the 2021 IDC Smart City Asia Pacific Awards education category. Funded through the 2019 Wellbeing Budget.
• 20/20 TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2021Co-delivers the Digital Literacy Training for Seniors programme alongside Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa, helping older people from diverse backgrounds develop digital skills.
• Elder Abuse and Response Services (EARS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSD funds Elder Abuse and Response Services (EARS) to address immediate needs of older people experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse and neglect. The Elder Abuse Response Service is a free, confidential 24-hour helpline.
• Regional Elder Abuse NetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2023, Office for Seniors has piloted Regional Elder Abuse Networks across five regions to strengthen community-based responses to abuse of older people (AOP) prevention.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• WHO Age-friendly Cities and Communities Network: The WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities is the international convener that OfS's Age-friendly Aotearoa NZ Network affiliates with. It is comparable as the upstream global framework and peer network that OfS coordinates for NZ member cities such as Auckland, Hamilton, and Nelson.
• Ministry of Social Development (MSD): MSD is OfS's parent ministry in the New Zealand government, delivering superannuation, employment, and welfare services to seniors. It is comparable as the immediate administrative and funding umbrella under which OfS operates, though OfS is a sub-unit rather than a peer organisation.

Broad incumbents

• AARP: AARP is the largest US nonprofit advocating for people 50+, with policy, advocacy, community programmes, and member services. It is the closest large-scale analogue to Office for Seniors' information-provision, advocacy, and community-engagement mandate, operating as a national convener for older adults.

Direct peers

• Selwyn Foundation: Selwyn Foundation is a major NZ charitable foundation funding ageing-well research and community innovation, and is OfS's partner on the Ageing Well research grants programme. It is comparable as a peer funder/operator in the senior wellbeing space and a core partner in OfS's research strategy.
• Age UK: Age UK is the UK's national charity for older people, providing information, advice, advocacy, and services that closely mirror OfS's mandate — including helplines, policy influence, and Age-friendly community work — making it a direct peer across national ageing-wellbeing agendas.
• Age Concern New Zealand: Age Concern NZ is a federation of regional organisations providing community services and advocacy for older New Zealanders. It overlaps directly with OfS on elder wellbeing, falls prevention, elder abuse response, and community-based support — but operates as an NGO rather than a government agency.
• Older People's Commissioner for Wales: The Older People's Commissioner for Wales is an independent statutory officeholder promoting and protecting the rights of older people in Wales. The role is highly comparable to OfS's statutory advocacy and wellbeing mandate, including policy influence on government and commissioning of research and community engagement.
• CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons): CARP is a Canadian advocacy and member-services organisation for older adults focused on policy influence, member benefits, and information. It parallels OfS's role as a senior-focused national voice, though it operates as a private membership nonprofit rather than a government agency.
• National Council on Aging (NCOA): NCOA is a US nonprofit focused on improving the lives of older adults through advocacy, community programmes, and partnerships with state/local agencies. Its federal-grant-funded model and information-provision role closely align with OfS's evidence-based policy, age-friendly, and digital inclusion work.
• COTA Australia (Council on the Ageing): COTA Australia is the peak national body representing the interests of older Australians, advocating on policy, providing information, and supporting an age-friendly network. Its governance advisory role to government parallels OfS's position as a Crown entity under MSD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OfficeforSeniors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/te-tari-kaum%C4%81tua-officeforseniors

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Office for Seniors - Te Tari Kaumātua