Retiree support
Janet Clews is asking all groups that work with older folk in Auckland to get in touch, no matter how small.
The mayor’s Senior Advisory Panel was tasked with telling councillors what people aged over 65 want – but she said there were many smaller organisations across the city they knew nothing about. Clews is chairwoman of the panel and said it was tasked with giving councillors feedback on public transport, mixed housing options, urban design, cultural programmes, public spaces, the environment and other issues.
But the panel was mostly connected with larger groups such as Age Concern, Grey Power and some recently formed ethnic groups.
Clews said she was disappointed there was an absence of established local groups ‘‘which may have been toiling away in the community for years without any acknowledgement at all’’.
The panel’s database of groups had been put together ’’over a short time frame’’ by a contractor, she said. ‘‘The Glen Eden Senior Citizens Association was nowhere on the database and it has been going for more than 50 years.’’
With the council about to consider its 10-year budget it was ‘‘more important than ever’’ for older-people’s groups to get in touch, she said. Email seniorsadvisory.panel
@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz to connect.