Healthy Ageing for Tamariki: Expert Urges Early Investment to Ensure Future Wellbeing

Aotearoa’s path to a healthy older population must begin at birth, according to a leading ageing expert. Speaking on Thursday, 24 September 2026, Professor Ngaire Kerse, the Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well at the University of Auckland, warned that the nation cannot expect to build a thriving population of seniors while significant numbers of children remain in poverty. Reporting from Waatea News highlights a crucial link between childhood conditions and long-term hauora. Professor Kerse, alongside researcher Dr. Claire Dale, noted that an estimated 169,300 children in New Zealand, approximately 14.3 percent, were living in poverty in 2026. They argue that persistent disadvantage in the early years accumulates into chronic ill health and social challenges that follow individuals into their kaumātua years. Data from the Growing Up in New Zealand study further supports the importance of the first 1,000 days of life. The research indicates that stable finances and warm, safe housing serve as protective factors against chronic conditions such as asthma and obesity. Professor Kerse suggests that healthy ageing is not merely about individual lifestyle choices made late in life, but is instead shaped by the social and economic opportunities available since childhood. For Māori, this focus on lifelong health equity is particularly significant. The research suggests that ensuring tamariki and whānau have access to quality healthcare, education, and community support is essential for reaching older age in good health. As Aotearoa’s population continues to age—with over 900,000 people aged 65 or older recorded in 2024 and 2025—the call for systemic investment in the youngest generation has become a priority for public health advocates. The message from the University of Auckland experts is clear: to ensure the wellbeing of future generations of kaumātua, the work must start by supporting the housing and health needs of today’s tamariki.