Ageing in other cultures

The culture you identify with may influence your experience of ageing. As older New Zealanders become more ethnically diverse, experiences of ageing and services for older people will change.

Older Māori in New Zealand

In the future there will be more older Māori and they will make up a larger proportion of the Māori population.

The Māori population is ageing at a faster rate, but at a later time, than the non-Māori population. The number of Māori aged 65+ is expected to grow by around 5% per year to 32,100 in 2011.

Health and wellbeing

Good health is dependent on a balance of factors affecting wellbeing. Wairua (the spiritual), hinengaro (mental), tinana (physical), te reo rangatira (language) and whānau (family) elements interact to produce wellbeing.

The wellbeing of te ao turoa (environment) also contributes. A person’s health and wellbeing cannot be separated from the health and wellbeing of the whānau group and their relationship with the environment. In addition, te reo rangatira provides a focus of identity and expresses values and beliefs.

Health status

Māori life expectancy has continued to improve in the past decade, but measures of health status have deteriorated.

Mental health and wellbeing for older Māori

Self identification as Māori can be a positive influence on mental health, providing a sense of connection with others, with cultural heritage, and with the environment. In addition, traditional Māori grieving processes appear to have a positive benefit for health, with less need for prescription drugs, proportionally fewer visits to a GP and fewer delayed grief reactions at six months after a bereavement.

A study of 397 kaumātua showed that kaumātua tend to live active lives, physically, socially and culturally, are optimistic about ageing and have positive self-assessed health status.

However, other older Māori have been distanced from traditional Māori perspectives. They may be doubly isolated from systems of support and social networks and may be at greater risk of depression. Increasing separation of older Māori from their whānau in both urban and rural settings is being seen.

Older Pacific people in New Zealand

The older Pacific population is increasing and is expected to be 11 times its current size by the middle of this century. This population is predominantly urban, with two-thirds in Auckland and the second largest concentration in Wellington.

Health and wellbeing of older Pacific people

When consulted, Pacific people felt that respect for elders is different in New Zealand. Islands-born children are seen as respecting their elders and following their custom and culture, while New Zealand-born tend to be outspoken.
Older people in New Zealand Pacific communities were considered to be more inactive and housebound, spending much of their time watching television. In the Islands they would be more active, engaging in fishing and gardening, etc.
Older people were valued, and their children and relatives preferred to care for them in their own homes up to the time they died. Health services may not reach these people because they are not directed at the homes of Pacific peoples.

Future challenges

There is evidence that older Pacific Islands people experience language, transport and cost barriers in trying to access health care services. There is often a lack of information on services available. Older Pacific people may also find services culturally inappropriate. There is a disproportionate level of chronic or degenerative diseases. Opportunities for positive ageing will also be restricted by lower incomes.
Not all Pacific Islands populations are eligible for retirement pensions in New Zealand and may therefore be fully dependent on family for income support.

Older Chinese in New Zealand

Chinese peoples began migrating to New Zealand over 130 years ago and they are currently the largest minority group after Maori and Pacific peoples.

Although there can be differences between New Zealand born and Chinese born family members, traditional family values continue to have a strong influence on relationships between the generations. Chinese children are taught to respect and honour their elders, and adult children are expected to look after their parents.

Most older Chinese in New Zealand experience cultural barriers when attempting to participate in the wider community and many do not have access to wide social networks and range of activities. This can limit opportunities to stay active and involved. In response some Chinese communities are developing local services to provide culturally relevant social activities.

Local Age Concerns, especially in the Auckland area provide some specialist services for older Asian migrants. (See our Picture of the Week).

Other Ethnic Communities

There is limited research on older people within ethnic communities in New Zealand. Overseas research indicates that ethnic families are more likely to live in extended households, often prefer to look after family members at home and rely on informal social supports.

Language and resettlement issues can be significant for older members of ethnic communities including older refugees.

These groups may face additional barriers to participation and access to services including:

• lack of information in an appropriate medium and language
• isolation from social networks
• lack of knowledge of entitlements
• lack of culturally appropriate services.

As the cultural diversity of the older population increases there is a growing need for the development of culturally relevant services and for increased training of health and support workers in cultural issues.

Resources

> VISIT Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Maori Affairs

> VISIT the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs

> VISIT the Office of Ethnic Affairs 

> VISIT Refugee Services — a not-for-profit, non-government organisation committed to supporting the successful resettlement of former refugees within a welcoming and inclusive society.

Bibliography

The Bibliography of New Zealand population ageing research June 2005 – December 2008. 

A treasure trove of information designed to promote and enhance New Zealand research on population ageing.

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