Our Vision -Tā Mātou Matakitenga
Older people live a valued life in an inclusive society.
He pāpori e whai whakaarohia ana, e whakanuitia ana, e tautokona ana, e whai mana anahoki te hunga kaumātua
Our Mission -
To Tatou Mihana
Age Concern Horowhenua promotes wellbeing, rights, respect and dignity for older people.
He mahi mō ngā tika me te oranga o te hunga kaumātua.
Our Values - O Tatou Uara
Our values underpin everything we do.
Ko o tatou uara e pou here ana i a tatou mahi katoa.
Our services help older people in our community to live their best lives! Our work is best outlined under these categories:
- Elder Abuse Response: Supports older people suffering from abuse, neglect and in need of social support. These services work to move older people from a position of vulnerability to one of resilience
- Health Promotion: Assists older people to stay independent, healthy and active. Supporting older people to stay well informed, active and safe so that they can live well.
- Social Connection: mitigates loneliness, promote community involvement and enable mobility. These services work hard to reconnect older people back into their local community.
We work with many other local bodies and organisations on issues of concern for older people, ensuring older people are heard and are well represented in their communities.
We provide services across the Horowhenua Region, from South Manakau to Levin and across to Foxton and Shannon.
As a member of Age Concern New Zealand we work closely with a network of local Age Concern organisations which provide similar services to older people throughout the country.
Our History
Age Concern has been a presence in Horowhenua for nearly 20 years!
The concept of the Age Concern organisation emerged from a realisation that the growing proportion of elderly persons in our District needed a more specifically aligned social and welfare advocacy. Initially this need in our area was serviced from Palmerston North Age Concern, but the growing needs of Horowhenua became too time-consuming for Palmerston based case-workers.
At a Public Meeting held in Levin in 2001, it was decided to form an Elder Abuse and Welfare co-ordination Society. These early advocates were greatly assisted by the MP Darren Hughes. Later it was realised that Affiliation with Age Concern NZ was the best option for the Society and a Constitution for Age Concern Horowhenua was drawn up - primarily by Ewen Paynter. As he also worked for Muaupoko Tribal Authority the first ACH office was located in the Authority building in Oxford Street.
Later, because of the generosity of the late Sir Collis Blake the office moved to rooms at Tararua Medical, and in late 2020 the office was moved to Durham Street, to be more central and accessible to those who use our services.
In 2022, we gave our brand a makeover. Our community told us Age Concern is a name they respect and trust. So, no change there! But they also told us our brand needed a refresh and update. We listened and launched our new look. Today, the Age Concern whānau is still making a difference—together. We lead, advocate, connect and collaborate nationally to deliver local services that support the wellbeing and rights of older adults.
