Golden years provide shining opportunities
As Helen Clarke retires from the UN, she joins a large community of Kiwis for whom age is no barrier to an ongoing career. Helen King reports.
NEWZealand will become more dependent on its ageing workforce as more and more of us push back the age when we want to retire.
In the next 20 years, over-65s are expected to make up at least 12 percent of the workforce and Stephanie Claire, chief executive of Age Concern, believes it’s time the older generation were viewed as a valuable asset in the workplace.
‘‘They contribute to the economic development of the country by working, purchasing, and paying taxes.’’
Claire advocates for people to stay longer in employment if that’s what they want. ‘‘There are three reasons older people stay in employment: contribution, money and connection.’’
Already, traditional ideas of retirement are changing as many people choose to stay in the workforce for longer.
‘‘People ask me all the time what my exit plan is and I tell them there isn’t one,’’ says Margi Robertson, lead designer for fashion brand Nom*D, who has been in fashion since 1975.
‘‘I don’t know what else I’d do to be honest. I’m not really a gardener or into golf.’’
She’ll be turning 65 next year. ‘‘I don’t have a gold card yet but it’s looming.’’
Robertson doesn’t see age as a restriction in an industry that often celebrates youth.
‘‘I love what I do. It’s an amazing feeling when you’ve been around for a while and lived through so many changes.’’
Clyde Chiplin laughs when askedf if it’s hard working when older. Clyde, an engineer in his late 70s, has been working since he was 15 and still works from his immaculately kept garage in Papatoeteo.
‘‘You’ve got to be active, you’ve got to keep your mind occupied otherwise you’d just sit in your chair and fade away,’’ he said.
‘‘I see people with a lot of experience getting made redundant at 45 or 50 and they can’t get another job. Some of them would have worked their way from a factory worker to manager but nowadays you need dots after your name.’’
Auckland clinical psychologist Malcolm Falconer agrees his experience is one of his strengths. At 66 he’s been in the industry for more than two decades. ‘‘I think in my field age brings wisdom which isn’t usually associated with youth.’’
Working also allows him to keep himself feeling stimulated.
‘‘I like to keep interested. I would be bored if I wasn’t working and I still enjoy doing what I do. In my line of work I get to see people get positive outcomes so there’s a sense of making a difference.’’
In the Beehive, politicians often discover their talents – and connections – are still in demand when they quit politics.
Don Brash has no intention of retiring at 76.
‘‘I think it would be an awful situation if you no longer had any mental stimulus. I’ve been unbelievably lucky, I was in parliament at 65 as leader of the National Party.’’
Labour spokesperson for Health, Annette King, is looking at her next career move at 69 as BEVAN READ / FAIRFAX NZ she nears the end of a 30 year career in parliament.
‘‘We shouldn’t write people off just because they’re in their 60s.’’
She points out her former colleague, Helen Clark, who retires after eight years as director of the United Nations Development Program on Tuesday, still has a huge amount to contribute at 67.