Story: Older people

Ageing population

Ageing population

New Zealand's population is ageing rapidly. This 2002 cartoon highlights the need to build more facilities like rest homes, the likelihood that older people will continue doing paid work into their 70s, and the increasing demand on health and other public services caused by an ageing population. The cartoon suggests this will need to be paid for, either by allowing more wealthy immigrants to settle in the country or by increasing the low birth rate.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: DX-023-130
Cartoon by Ashley W. Smith

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Peggy Koopman-Boyden, 'Older people - Demographics of older people', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/26688/ageing-population (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Peggy Koopman-Boyden, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 22 Aug 2018