37810 (2026). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Seniors

37810 (2026). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Seniors: What research, analysis, reports, briefings, aide-mémoires, emails or other written advice, if any, did the Minister receive regarding the development or adoption of the revised Better Later Life indicator framework, listed by title and date?

Hon Casey Costello: Titles of advice that I receive are proactively released on the Office for Seniors website (https://officeforseniors.govt.nz/our-work/proactive-releases/reports-to-the-minister-for-seniors/).  In considering how best to monitor outcomes from the updated Better Later Life Action Plan, the Office for Seniors highlighted that the previous framework of 60 measures had limitations, including previous measures not adequately representing the outcomes being sought through the Action Plan. Given this, the Office for Seniors sought agreement to a shorter set of indicators that more clearly link to the Strategy's objectives. For example, the Better Later Life Strategy focuses on housing choices and options. Measuring satisfaction with housing options more clearly links to the stated aims than some of the previous housing measures. I approved the new indicator framework on 23 July 2026. While measures of housing affordability, material hardship, income adequacy, proportion of income spent on housing and income after housing costs no longer form part of the Better Later Life indicator framework, they are still available through the General Social Survey and the Household Income and Living Survey. These data are published regularly by Stats NZ and monitored by the Office for Seniors. I continue to expect the Office for Seniors to advise me on issues impacting older people, including those related to housing and the cost-of-living. Consultation was not recommended to me or undertaken on the new indicator framework.