Is New Zealand prepared for the future?

The country is facing an ageing population, which means more boomers and fewer children.

Auckland is growing ever bigger while some regions are declining. And then throw into that the curveball that is Covid-19.

Have we planned for this future?  Are our policymakers up to the task of preparing us to deal with the looming challenges?

Massey University Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley has discussed all this in his new book, ‘The New New Zealand. Facing Demographic Disruption’.

He told Francesca Rudkin that we will see a very different New Zealand by 2030, with the country fast approaching over 20% of the population being over 65. 

"We go from that baby boomer era of the last century into an old-dominated society."

Spoonley says that he has looked at what parties are currently offering this election, and there is "not a lot there" to deal with our changing population, specifically around the ageing population. 

"Dealing with this change is going to be enormously disruptive."

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